Love is a Battlefield

Dedication: This one's for Leyah and Saifan, even though they won't let me marry their Harry.

* * * * *

I wanna be with you
If only for a night
To be the one who's in your arms
Who holds you tight
I wanna be with you
And there's nothing more to say
There's nothing else I want more than to feel this way

"I wanna be with you", Mandy Moore

Friday, 31 October, 2008

Hermione smoothed down her charcoal grey robes as she entered the lab. Tabitha was already hard at work, her strawberry blonde hair falling around her shoulders as she bent over a solid gold cauldron. Scales sat on the bench next to her, and several empty vials lay scattered all around. Stirring the potion slowly, Tabitha was muttering to herself.

"Good morning," Hermione said brightly as she placed her briefcase under her desk. Hermione and Tabitha shared the large room, which doubled as both an office and a lab. Each had her own desk against opposite walls, and in the middle was an elaborate collection of cauldrons and books and hundreds of vials of ingredients that enabled them to make any potion known to wizard if the whim so took them.

Tabitha glanced up from her brew. "Morning," she replied. She turned back down to her work, but looked up again as Hermione went through the mail on her desk. Something was different about her colleague and friend. She was… glowing. "How are you?"

Hermione smiled brightly. "I'm just fine, thank you. Yourself?"

"Good. Glad it's Friday." Tabitha watched Hermione for a few more minutes, and when she started to hum softly as she read her mail, Tabitha raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Something you'd like to share with me?"

Hermione looked up, her curls bobbing slightly, thrown by the question. "Huh? Like what?"

Tabitha stopped stirring and gave Hermione her full attention. "I don't know. Something's got you in a happy mood, though. You're positively glowing. It's not like you to be so cheerful this early in the morning." She smiled as she said the last sentence. It was no secret that Hermione was not a morning person.

Hermione blushed slightly and got up to make herself a cup of coffee. Tabitha narrowed her eyes. Hermione was blushing? Something was definitely up.

"Okay, Granger," she said, knowing she was one of the few people able to get away with talking to her superior in such a manner. "Out with it." Still Hermione said nothing, sitting back down at her desk and blowing into her cup to cool her coffee. Tabitha realised she would have to guess herself; Hermione obviously wasn't going to tell her. "Okay, I know it's not from last night. You didn't enjoy yourself that much."

Hermione did respond to that. "It's not that I didn't have a good time, Tab. Nathan was a perfect gentleman."

"But not the gentleman you want, huh?" Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Tabitha beat her to the punch. "It's okay, Hermione. I know nothing happened with you two. Nathan did enjoy himself though; he thinks you're lovely." Tabitha paused, wondering if she should pursue this line of questioning. "However, he seemed to think your heart already belongs to another." She paused, waiting to see if Hermione would bite. "Is he right?"

Hermione sat back in her chair and brought her legs up to rest them on her desk. "Right about what?"

Tabitha let out an exasperated sigh. "About Harry! He said you're in love with Harry. Is he right?"

Hermione started to respond in the affirmative, but something stopped her. The change in the nature of her relationship with Harry was still very young and she wanted to explore their romantic relationship before the whole world became aware of it. Not that she didn't trust Tabitha, of course; Tabitha was a good friend and there wasn't anyone else at PGW she trusted more besides Elias, but this was something new, something special. Something she wanted to develop and enjoy before the news got out, which it undoubtedly would. Hermione didn't mind their close circle of friends knowing but was reluctant to share the news with anyone else yet, so she decided to be vague about it. "Is that what he said? Hmmm," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand before moving her feet off the table and turning back to her mail.

Tabitha wondered why Hermione was refusing to answer the question. Perhaps Nathan had got it all wrong. Perhaps Hermione hadn't sorted anything out with Harry and things were still frosty. She knew something was wrong between the two best friends; Hermione had been distraught more than once over the last few weeks, unable to concentrate at work and making careless mistakes that she would have berated a junior employee for making. Tabitha had gently tried to pry, wanting the younger witch to know she had an ear if she wanted one, but all Hermione would say was that she and Harry weren't talking, and that was it.

However, it looked like Hermione wasn't going to confirm anything and Tabitha didn't want to push it, so she let it go for now. If Nathan was right, Hermione would give herself away; as much as she'd be reluctant to admit it, she wore her heart on her sleeve so, if she were truly in love, it would show.

"Do you want to have a look at this potion then?" Tabitha deftly changed the subject. Hermione nodded and got up out of her seat, then moved over to the bench to take a look, grateful Tabitha hadn't pursued the issue any further.

* * * * *

Draco strode down the corridor, heading for the plush offices of Magical Memories, which was located in the heart of Diagon Alley. Ginny's business occupied one half of the floor it was located on; as it had expanded, she'd taken on more co-ordinators, and now had a competent team of seven working for her. Attached to her offices and occupying the other side of the floor was a chic wedding boutique, which featured a mirror that would show brides in full wedding regalia without them actually having to dress up.

He checked his watch and noticed it was close to twelve; he was right on time. Ginny had asked him to swing by the office so she could show him something; they'd already picked the location where they wanted to wed but still had to work out the finer details for the ceremony.

As he pushed the glass doors open, he could see she was having a meeting with her staff; gathered around a large oval oak table, there were albums and bits of paper spread out everywhere, with none of the tabletop visible. It looked like a brainstorm of some sort; Ginny was walking around the table, listening intently as everyone threw out ideas, sometimes two at a time. As Draco watched her circle her employees, a sense of pride for her achievement in running the business washed over him. While most witches would have been happy to sit back and allow Draco to take care of them, Ginny had been determined to follow through on her dream of owning her own business, which she'd attained through long hours and sheer hard work. He smiled to himself as he continued to watch her, somehow finding her control of the meeting incredibly sexy.

She was wearing a cream coloured woollen robe; small pink flowers edged the bodice, giving it a somewhat feminine touch. As if she could feel his eyes on her, she looked up as the door shut behind him and greeted him with a grin. He winked back at her and seated himself on one of the lounges in the waiting area.

After ten minutes, Ginny dismissed her crew for lunch and one by one they all ambled out, a few greeting Draco. He stood as they passed him and stopped to chat with Andie for a few moments before sending her on her way with a peck on the cheek. He liked Andie a lot, and knew Ginny was also fond of her right hand witch, believing her to have a lot of potential to go far in her chosen career.

He waited until they were all gone before making his way into Ginny's office where he found her sitting on the table, waiting for him. Draco liked Ginny's office; it was bright and airy, with plenty of sun able to shine through when it was out. The walls were painted a neutral off white colour, and tasteful yet unobtrusive pictures hung on the walls. A small potted plant was in one corner to add a bit of colour. "Hello, handsome," she greeted him.

"Hi, beautiful." He went over to where she sat and kissed her thoroughly before joining her on the table. He weaved his fingers through hers as they sat side by side silently, Ginny moving her head to rest it on Draco's shoulder. A few moments later, she turned and kissed his shoulder, then got up and wandered over to her desk where she had a small blue album hidden underneath the various folders. Picking it up, she made her way back to Draco and stood before him, her back turned towards him so he could see over her shoulder. He draped his arms around her loosely and kissed her neck as she opened the album. Flipping through the pages, she found what she was looking for.

"How do you like this dress?" she asked, biting her lip. She thought it was perfect but wanted Draco's opinion, hoping he'd like it as much as she did. While Ginny was aware that it was traditionally bad luck for the groom to see the bride's dress before the big day, nothing about their wedding was conventional, so Ginny had no reservations in getting Draco's approval beforehand.

Draco leaned forward and peered at it intently for a few seconds. "I think it's lovely," he said. "And I'm sure it will look even lovelier on you. But you could wear a sheet and still look beautiful, so it doesn't matter what you wear."

Ginny smiled broadly then pulled back a bit and turned so she could look at her fiancé. "Really? You like it?"

Draco grinned at her doubt. "Yes, I like it. But I love you." With that, he tightened his grip on her and leaned in to kiss her. Ginny brought her hands up to rest on his arms and kissed him back with equal fervour. There was no place in the world Ginny Weasley would rather be than in Draco Malfoy's arms; it was only a matter of weeks now before they finally made their relationship legal, and Ginny couldn't wait - when Draco kissed her like this, she simply wanted to melt.

"Ginny, I didn't ask you if you …" Andie trailed off as she walked back into the office to find her boss busy kissing the man that almost all witches - and quite a few wizards - had a crush on. They broke apart and looked up at her. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I just wanted to see if you wanted any lunch." Andie blushed furiously for walking in on what had obviously been an intimate moment.

"That's okay," Draco said, releasing Ginny and sliding off the table in one fluid motion. "I was just going to ask her if she wanted lunch myself." He looked over at the young witch who stood in the doorway, still red in the face. "Andie, you want to join us? My treat."

Andie went to shake her head, but Ginny smiled. "Yes, that's a great idea. Do come with us, Andie."

Andie smiled shyly and nodded. "That would be nice, thank you." Draco laced his fingers through Ginny's, then gallantly offered his arm to Andie, who slipped her arm through it and allowed him to lead her out of the office.

* * * * *

Hermione rubbed her neck absently as she sat on the stool, quill poised over the sky blue parchment in front of her. Her team had decided to head to the Swish and Flick for a long lunch; they'd unsuccessfully tried to coax her to come with them. She'd begged off, wanting to use the couple of hours they'd be gone to catch up on the week's notes so she would have the weekend free to be with Harry.

Harry. Just thinking his name made her smile. Although they'd only really taken the first step the previous night, Hermione was sure of her love for him. She'd never felt this way about any of her previous boyfriends; while she'd enjoyed her time with them, a small part of her had always known it wouldn't last forever. But with Harry, everything felt different. Like it was just… right. Just meant to be.

"A sickle for your thoughts," a voice said, snapping her out of her reverie. She looked up and her breath caught in her throat. Harry was standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame; his robes were a cerulean blue that fit his frame nicely. The sight of him made her heart skip a beat.

Hermione managed to recover quickly, coming back with, "Only a sickle?"

Harry chuckled and stepped into the room. "Okay, maybe a galleon," He made his way to her and leaned over her. "How about a kiss instead?" Hermione barely had time to nod her assent before his lips had descended to meet hers; she immediately gave in to the exquisite sensation that his touch generated. Harry placed a hand on either side of her waist to steady himself; Hermione reached up to slide her arms around his neck. Her senses shifted into now familiar territory; she could feel her body instantly responding, craving more.

He gave her a lingering kiss then pulled back far enough to be able to look into her eyes. "How's your day been?" he asked quietly, kissing her once more.

"Slow," she whispered back. "Not that I'm complaining, but what brings you here?"

Harry grinned at her, and Hermione's heart did a little flip flop. "I missed you," he answered. "Wondered if I could steal you away for lunch."

Hermione smiled back, but then her face fell. "Oh, Harry," she began. "I can't, I really can't. I've got tonnes to do here and I want to clear it all so I have the weekend free."

"The weekend free? Why, got a hot date?" he teased.

"Oh yes," Hermione played along. "He's tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome. We're going on our first date tonight, and if I can get through all this work, I can leave here early to get ready for it."

The corners of Harry's mouth curled up slightly, as if he was fighting a losing battle trying not to smile. "Well, don't let me keep you then." With that, he leaned forward again, capturing her mouth in a slow, passionate kiss that left Hermione breathless. "I'll see you later." He straightened up and headed for the door. His passage was blocked, however, with the arrival of Tabitha.

"Harry! Hi," she said, surprise noticeable in her voice.

"Hi, Tab. I was just leaving." On impulse, he kissed the older witch's cheek and disappeared without a second glance at Hermione.

Tabitha watched him leave over her shoulder, then looked back at Hermione and entered the room. She could see a somewhat dreamy look on Hermione's face, and her lips were slightly swollen. Smiling to herself, she faced her boss. "What was he doing here?"

Hermione shook her head slightly, looking at Tabitha for the first time since she'd entered the room. "He just came to say hi," she replied in a quiet voice. Lifting a finger up, she touched her lips softly, then closed her eyes before snapping out of her daydream. "Let's get back to it, shall we? I want to leave here on time today." Tabitha nodded and the two witches once again adopted their professional demeanours and got immersed in their work.

* * * * *

Harry splashed some aftershave on his face and examined his reflection one last time. The irony of the day's date was not lost on him; twenty-seven years ago to the day, he'd lost his parents and his life had irrevocably changed. And now, he was about to embark on a relationship that would once again change his life - this time for the better.

He was already dressed and ready to go and Hermione wasn't even home yet. Smiling to himself, he attempted to smooth his hair down once more as he made his way to the stairs. He was only on the second step from the top when he heard the familiar *pop*.

There she was, standing before him like an innocent temptress. Her robes were wrinkled and her hair was falling out of the braid she'd pulled it back into, but Harry thought he'd never seen anyone look more beautiful than Hermione did at that moment. She quickly looked around, then noticed him bounding down the stairs. The smile that spread across her face was luminescent.

She dropped her case haphazardly on the floor and stood rooted to the spot. Harry made it to her in two steps and took her in his arms, kissing her gently. "You're late, Dr. Granger," he said with a mock frown. "I thought you were coming home early?"

"I know, I'm sorry," Hermione replied, reaching up to gently caress his cheek. "I got stuck on a potion, and I wanted to make sure everything was tidied up so I wouldn't have to go back in tomorrow."

Harry loosened his hold on her and turned his head to kiss her palm. "Why don't you go get ready and I'll make you a coffee?"

"That would be wonderful, thank you." Hermione headed for the stairs, but stopped and turned back. "Where are we going, anyway? Should I wear something in particular?"

Harry gave her a mysterious smile. "I think pants might be a good option. A skirt or dress might get a bit awkward."

"Awkward?"

He nodded and Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly. "Harry, what exactly are we doing tonight?"

"Don't you trust me?"

He heard Hermione let out a small sigh. "Of course I trust you. Honestly!" Harry chuckled when she said that; it reminded him of Hermione in school, when she would place her hands on her hips and tut at him and Ron.

"Great. Now go get dressed or I'll dress you myself." He gave her a lascivious wink and watched as she turned and climbed the stairs.

He busied himself by making coffee and reading that morning's edition of The Daily Prophet. Finding nothing to hold his interest, he sipped his coffee and fed Crookshanks before going out to the owlery to change Hedwig's water and give her a pat. She hooted softly as he stroked her feathers gently. "You're a lovely old girl," he said softly. "Have a good sleep. I'll see you in the morning." She hooted again and nipped his finger, then folded her wing over her head, ready to settle in for the night.

Harry went back inside and waited for Hermione. He'd just finished draining the last of his coffee when she appeared, and the sight of her took his breath away. She looked absolutely stunning. She was dressed in pink tencil pants and a knitted pink top with small blue forget-me-nots embroidered on the bodice. She'd left her hair down, but had swept the sides up in combs with matching blue flowers in them. She wore no jewellery bar her diamond necklace, and her face was seemingly devoid of all makeup except lipstick, which gave her lips a fullness that enhanced her appearance.

"Wow," Harry murmured softly. "You look gorgeous." Hermione coloured slightly and smiled, bowing her head shyly.

"Shall we go?" she said, holding out her hand to him.

Harry glanced at the mug on the table. "What about your coffee?'

"I can get one later. I'd rather eat; I'm famished." Harry smiled and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. They made their way to the foyer and grabbed their coats. "So, where are we going for dinner?" Hermione asked as Harry helped her into her coat.

"Oh, I don't know… fancy Italian?"

* * * * *

"I cannot believe we are standing in Florence!" Hermione's voice was wondrous as she took in her surroundings. After Apparating to Diagon Alley, they had taken a portkey to the Italian equivalent in Rome before ending up where they currently stood, in the looming shadow of the Palazzo Vecchio. The wind was chilly so Hermione had buttoned up her coat and stood close to Harry, who'd wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm. "When you asked me if I fancied Italian, I didn't know we'd be coming to Italy for it!"

Harry grinned. "It's nice here though, isn't it?" he asked, rubbing his hands up and down her arms.

Hermione leaned up and kissed his cheek. "It's wonderful." They just stood there for a moment, taking in their surroundings as Hermione looked around in awe. The piazza where they stood presented her with an image she had seen many times, but only in film and photographs. The ground around them was dotted with statues and fountains, and she gazed in awe at the life-sized replica of Michelangelo's David. She smiled slightly at the small crowd of tourists gathered eagerly around it as she knew from her many books that it wasn't the authentic piece. The real David stood in the famous Accademia gallery, clear on the other side of the city. She breathed in deeply, inhaling the rich scent of leather from the nearby shops, and caught a hint of something that smelled delicious. She remembered then how hungry she was. "Is the restaurant far?"

"No, it's just around the corner." Harry dropped his hands and laced his fingers through hers as he led her across the piazza and down a small cobbled pathway which ended in a narrow doorway. He pushed open the door and allowed Hermione to walk over the threshold first.

Harry had chosen well. The room was heated so they were able to instantly shed their coats, which were whisked away by a little waiter who appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared just as quickly. The room had no lights; instead, the illumination came from hundreds of floating black and orange candles that hovered near the ceiling, and a pair that sat on every table. Hermione wondered why they'd picked those particular colours but she quickly realised it was Hallowe'en. Smiling to herself, she followed Harry as a waiter led them to a table in the corner. She allowed the waiter to seat her, then picked up the small piece of parchment that sat before her. As she unrolled it, she realised it was a menu. Studying it carefully, she tried to decide what she wanted.

"What are you going to order?" she asked, looking up at Harry.

He was skimming the menu in front of him. "Hmm, I don't know. The fettucine boscaiola sounds good. How about you?"

"I can't decide between the lasagne and the gnocchi."

They were interrupted by their waiter who introduced himself as Mario. Harry ordered a bottle of house wine and he returned swiftly, allowing them to taste it before filling their glasses. After Hermione had settled on the gnocchi, they placed their orders and stared at each other across the table.

Hermione had wondered whether it might feel a bit awkward with them being on an official date, but it wasn't at all like that. Harry slid his hand across the table and she met him halfway, clasping her fingers around his. No words were necessary; they were happy just to sit there and smile at each other until their orders arrived, which they did with spectacular promptness.

The wait staff were charming, the food was excellent, and the company even better, so it was a contented Hermione Granger that exited the restaurant later that night. Lacing her fingers through Harry's, they wandered around Florence, once again taking in the sights and observing the locals. Hermione was thrilled when they came to the piazza del Duomo and unsuspectingly found themselves standing before the famed "Gates of Paradise". Still hardly believing where she was, she thought it impossible that the night could get any more magical. But as they moved on, Harry suddenly pulled her away from the main piazza and down what appeared to be a part of the city that sat on the outskirts.

"Where are we going?" she asked, using her free hand to pull up the collar of her coat. The temperature had dropped somewhat and it was cold.

"You'll see. It's a surprise."

"A surprise? But I thought… " Hermione never got to finish the sentence because Harry jerked her forward into his arms, covering her mouth with his own. She could taste the wine they'd drunk earlier and, as he increased the pressure and ran his tongue along her bottom lip, she whimpered softly, unable to deny him anything. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him as close as she could. Hermione felt she could just drown in Harry's kisses. The small fire inside her that he'd started months ago was burning stronger every time he kissed her; it now threatened to consume her completely.

Finally, he released her but kept a tight grip on her hand, pulling her towards their destination. They climbed a small hill, and when they reached the top, Hermione gasped. Below them was a large field, every inch of it taken up by what lay ahead of them.

It was a carnival.

* * * * *

Hermione's eyes widened as they stepped through the barrier that led into the carnival. While it was nighttime outside, the sky above the field was a clear blue. They had no need for their coats because it wasn't cold, so they checked them in with the rather nasty looking goblin who sat near the entrance. He threw their token at them and Harry slipped it into his pocket for safe keeping.

As they wandered around, Hermione could see that this particular carnival, while magical in nature, was clearly modelled on Muggle ones she had been to as a child. She learned from the free map and programme given to them as they entered that this particular carnival was a travelling one that moved every week to a different location. A sign at the ticket booth stated that this was its last night in Florence.

However, it became blatantly clear that this carnival was something special. Hermione was amazed to come across a ride that she guessed was based on a Muggle roller coaster. Baby dragons of every colour and breed flew through the air, small carriages strapped to their backs with wizards tucked safely inside. Some of them had their hands in the air, laughing. A few looked distinctly green in the face. There were no rails, but the dragons were obviously trained to follow a particular route. A few times it looked like they might collide, which only led to more screaming from the occupants strapped to the dragons in question, but at the last minute, one would swerve away.

"This looks awesome! Let's go," Harry said, weaving through the watching crowd.

Hermione tugged his hand and stopped. "You've got to be joking. I'm not going up in one of those!"

Harry put on his best puppy dog face, making sad eyes at her. "Come on, Hermione. It's completely safe and should be lots of fun. I promise I won't let you fall. Besides, this is the first carnival I've ever been to. I want to enjoy it." His statement tugged at her heartstrings as she realised that the Dursleys would never have taken him anywhere where he would have enjoyed himself, and she instantly felt ashamed of herself. She made a silent vow then and there to make up for what he'd missed in his childhood - hugs included.

"I'm sorry, Harry," she said, stepping forward and sliding her arms around his waist. "You're right. We're here to have fun." She leaned up and kissed him firmly. "I love you," she whispered.

Harry smiled at her and smoothed a stray hair back. "I love you too. Now let's go meet a dragon!"

Hermione laughed at his little boy enthusiasm and allowed him to lead her to the ride.

* * * * *

Hermione began to have second thoughts fifteen minutes later as they were being strapped into the carriage. It seated four people, but they were alone as they'd been last in the queue. While it didn't look too bad from the ground, now that she could actually see how high up the dragons could go, she was a bit frightened. She glanced over at Harry and couldn't help but smile at the expression on his face - one of pure enchantment. Flying didn't bother him, of course, so this ride would be right up his alley. Hermione wasn't sure, however, that it would be as much fun for her.

She slipped her hand into Harry's as the dragon, a lovely Welsh green, began to lift from the ground. Harry responded by transferring her hand to his other one and wrapping an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. She relaxed a little, resting her head on his shoulder.

He spread his wings and soared up into the air, Harry and Hermione locked safely in place with charms that would not allow them to fall out. Hermione felt her heart leap into her throat as they got higher and higher, and she began to wonder if they would ever stop. Finally, the dragon paused, hovering mid-air, seemingly waiting for a signal to begin.

Suddenly he lurched forward, hurtling towards the ground, and Hermione felt like she was going to throw up - he was moving too fast. She closed her eyes and squeezed Harry's hand more tightly as the dragon changed course and swooped upwards to avoid crashing into the ground. Hermione opened her eyes as their dragon snorted, a shot of flames coming out of his nostrils.

She looked around her, taking advantage of the height and looking over the city of Florence spread out beneath her. It was a little disconcerting to see the city shrouded in dark while they were bathed in light, but it made a pretty picture. Hermione also looked over her head at the other dragons swishing past, and the rainbow of colours was an interesting sight.

Just as she began to enjoy the ride, it was over. Their dragon gently fluttered back to the ground, and they were helped out of the carriage by a young wizard - obviously a dragon tamer - who instantly made Hermione think of Charlie Weasley. She opened her mouth to ask him if he might have known Charlie but Harry had pulled her clear of the ride. He turned to her with worried eyes and placed a hand on her cheek.

"Are you okay?" he asked in a husky voice that made Hermione warm all over. "You look a bit pale. I'm sorry, I know what you're like with heights. I shouldn't have suggested… "

"Harry, I'm fine. Really." Hermione cut off his words with a smile.

Harry looked at her uncertainly. "Are you sure?"

Hermione nodded with a smile. "I'm sure." She looked deeply into his emerald eyes, his forehead crinkled with worry, and what she saw in his eyes took her breath away. She only hoped her own warm chocolate eyes reflected even half the love that his vivid green ones did. Breathing slowly, she leaned up and kissed him gently. His arms immediately slid around her waist, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss, and yet again Hermione found herself melting against Harry, unable to resist the feeling of his lips against hers, his tongue invading her mouth.

Although it was only minutes, time seemed to stop as they stood in the middle of the park, wrapped up in their own little world. Finally, however, Hermione managed to remember where they were, and she reluctantly tore herself away from his mouth. Their breathing was shallow and it took a few moments for their heartbeats to slow down. Unable to speak, Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him towards another ride, anxious for distraction lest she embarrass herself with some very inappropriate behaviour in front of hundreds of strangers.

She headed for the first ride she could see. Called the Mermaid's Splash, it reminded Hermione of a water slide. The slide here, however, was in the shape of a mermaid's tail. They joined the queue and waited a scant few minutes, in which Harry took advantage of the time by settling his lips on Hermione's neck, before being ushered into a small boat. After a push from the wizard manning the ride, they were away. As Hermione looked over the side into the lagoon they entered, she could see slivers of colour sluicing their way through the water. It was a peaceful drift through the lagoon, and Hermione snuggled close to Harry, placing her hand on his leg. He covered it with his own and kissed her temple. Suddenly, they felt a lurch, and the boat began to rise out the water and up into the air. Hermione's eyes widened; there was seemingly nothing there - just the boat drifting upwards toward the sky. But it was obviously all part of the ride and minutes later, they splashed down gently into a smaller lagoon than the one down below. Hermione craned her neck and could see the top of the slide. When they reached it, the boat suddenly tipped and they went whizzing down the slide, mermaids appearing at the bottom to send a gentle spray of water cascading over them.

Hermione squealed as the icy cold water hit her body, sending a shiver down her spine. They got to the end of the ride and a grinning witch released them from the boat. Harry held out a hand and Hermione took it, stepping gingerly onto the shore, still shivering. They stopped just outside the ride to shake the excess water off. Hermione smiled as she reached up and grabbed Harry's glasses, which were splashed with droplets of water. She gently wiped them dry with her top then slid them back onto his nose. They then commenced their tour of the carnival, looking for another ride.

"Oh Harry, look!" Hermione said as they rounded a corner. "A merry-go-round!" She dragged him over, purchased two tokens and got in line. This merry-go-round was twice the size of a Muggle one and, instead of horses, there were unicorns. Hermione sat astride a pink one and Harry took a seat on the blue one next to her. Music strained through the air and the ride began. None of the unicorns had poles through them, but still moved up and down as a Muggle horse would.

Harry watched Hermione as they circled around, her hair flying behind her, her face lit up with childlike delight. This ride must have been one of her favourites as a child. He was glad he'd chosen to bring her here; at first, he was worried that she would think it too childish, but she was obviously having the time of her life. She felt his eyes on her and turned her head towards him, instinctively reaching out her hand. He met it half way and they stayed that way for the rest of the ride.

Once it was over they hopped off, fingers still entwined and Hermione still grinning. "I loved that ride when I was little," she said in explanation. "This was such a great idea, Harry," she added, placing a small kiss on his jaw. "Of course, it wouldn't have mattered where we were; it would still be a wonderful night because we're together."

"Agreed," he managed, drawing her close and burying his face into her hair. She slid her arms around his waist and held him tightly, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Hey, feel like some dessert? There's a gelato stall over there." Hermione nodded in the direction over Harry's shoulder.

"Is it your treat?" Harry asked, waggling his eyebrows at her.

"Sure, I'll buy you an ice cream since you bought dinner. Only one scoop though." She winked and slipped her arm through his as they made their way over.

After deciding on their flavours - Harry chose hazelnut, Hermione settled on peach - they continued their walk around the park, only occasionally commenting on a ride and the variety of folk that passed them.

"What's the peach taste like?" Harry asked, coming to a halt.

Hermione held her cone up towards him. "Want a taste?"

"Sure." Harry let go of her hand and brought his up to grasp the wrist that held her cone, pushing it back towards her and smearing her lips with the gelato. Hermione raised her eyebrows as he let go and slid his hand back into her free one, then brought their clasped hands to rest on the small of her back, pulling her forward.

"Harry, what… "

"Looks like I can't take you anywhere, Miss Granger," he said with a grin. "I guess I'll have to clean you up." With that, he leaned forward and licked her lips teasingly, then sealed his mouth over her own. Hermione could feel the gelato begin to melt and run down her outstretched hand, but she didn't care as she got swept up in the sensations of Harry's tongue tangling with hers. A flair of desire shot through her and she wondered if he had even an inkling of what he was doing to her. All thoughts of taking things slowly faded with every kiss; right at that moment, she just wanted to devour him.

Suddenly, she saw a flash and, startled, she pulled away to find a young child standing in front of them, camera in hand. He looked about seven, tall and dark haired, his shimmering blue eyes staring at them intently.

"Scusa, Signor, Signora," he said politely. "You wish to buy photo?" He waved the camera in front of them and a picture appeared from nowhere, like a Muggle polaroid.

Hermione held out her hand. "May I please have a look?" The boy nodded and shyly handed her the picture. She watched as the Harry and Hermione in the frame looked at each other, then slowly moved together and kissed. They separated, then did it again. The real Hermione giggled. "How cute! A photo of us kissing." She turned back to the boy. "How much is this?"

He bowed slightly and kept his gaze averted, almost as if embarrassed to name a price. "I would ask for two galleons, Signora." Hermione looked at Harry, her eyes shining, and he reached into his pocket and gave the boy two galleons. "Grazie!" he said, scarpering off to find more victims. Hermione slipped the photo into her pocket, then realised her gelato was well and truly melted, most of it on her hand. They dumped what was left into a nearby bin, then tidied themselves up with a simple cleaning spell.

As they strolled, Hermione realised they must have been there for hours, but it seemed like only minutes. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun, and that she was here with Harry made it so much sweeter. Harry. Her boyfriend. Mouthing the word silently, she realised how much she liked it.

"Ah, here's an easy game if I've ever seen one!" Her thoughts were interrupted by Harry, who'd spotted something in the distance. They hurried over to find a stall with a game. The prizes hovered overhead; all stuffed toys, with the biggest one being hippogriffs. "Can't let you go home empty handed, can I?" Harry said with a grin. "This will be a piece of cake!"

Hermione looked at the game and cackled. It was a miniature Quidditch pitch, tiny players zooming around on broomsticks. As the stall owner explained, the object of the game was to catch the Snitch when it was released. Giving Harry a small wand-like instrument, the older man, who sported a handlebar moustache and very little hair, told him to keep the wand trained on the red seeker, follow the Snitch, and catch it.

The game began, and Harry quickly got the hang of the wand, the seeker on the pitch turning whatever direction Harry made him. He showed off by having the seeker perform difficult manoeuvres. He made the other team's seeker believe the Snitch had been released by performing a Wronski Feint, pulling away at the last moment. A few minutes passed and Hermione saw as the Snitch was released for real, a small flutter of gold shooting through the air. Harry watched it intently, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Finally, the opportune moment arrived and Harry moved in for the kill.

"Thank you for playing, Signor, but the game is over." The stall owner smiled as the players suddenly floated back down to the ground.

"What?" Harry asked. "What do you mean, the game is over? I haven't caught the Snitch yet!"

"You took too long, Signor. The Snitch was gone."

"Too long?" Harry said indignantly. "You never said there was a time limit! The game doesn't end until the Snitch is caught!"

"You must be quick, Signor. The Snitch is not around forever."

Hermione looked over and knew that was totally the wrong thing to say to Harry; he'd been one of the fastest and best seekers Hogwarts had ever seen. She saw him tense up and knew he wasn't going to let this one go easily.

"Signor, you didn't say there was a time limit. I can assure you that my boyfriend would have caught the Snitch in a more timely manner had he been aware of such a limit."

The older man narrowed his eyes for just a moment, then adopted his friendly façade once more. He took Hermione's hand in his and kissed it. "I will make an exception for you, Signora. You may pick a prize to take home with you." Hermione smiled her thanks and chose one of the hippogriffs. He Summoned it down and handed it to her. Hermione accepted it and walked away, pulling a scowling Harry behind her. She slipped her free arm around his waist.

"That game was rigged," he said, looking ahead resolutely.

Hermione smiled and rubbed his side appeasingly. "Of course it was rigged, honey. You would have caught the Snitch, no problems. Don't let him bother you. Look." She waved the hippogriff in his face. "I got a hippogriff!"

Harry let out a deep breath and placed his arm around her shoulder. "He's cute." He managed a small smile.

"We should head home, it's getting late," Hermione said, looking at her watch. "I'll make us some hot chocolate, and we can see what's on TV and cuddle up on the couch. How does that sound?"

Harry smiled again, this time genuinely. "That sounds wonderful. Let's go get our coats."

They made their way to the entrance, retrieved their coats, and headed home.

* * * * *

Harry settled back onto the lounge as Hermione busied herself in the kitchen, preparing the hot chocolate. They'd had no problems with getting home and, just minutes after they'd made it, it began to snow lightly outside. Harry started a fire going in the lounge room and waited for Hermione to appear.

She appeared moments later, carrying a mug in each hand. Setting them on the coffee table, she sat down next to Harry. As she reached over to grab her mug, she was startled by the sound of the phone ringing.

"It's a bit late for your mother to ring, isn't it?" Harry asked. They both knew it had to be Judy Granger; only Hermione's mother would think nothing of ringing so late. They'd installed the phone when they'd first moved in as Hermione's parents still preferred to communicate with their daughter the Muggle way.

Hermione crossed back into the kitchen and picked up the phone from its cradle. "Hello, Mum," Harry heard her say. "No, it's okay. We've only just got home." There was a few seconds silence. "Did I say I'd ring you? I'm sorry, I forgot." Harry got up and followed her into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder as she talked. "Harry and I just went out for dinner, that's all." He kissed her shoulder. "We had Italian." Hermione grinned and turned her head, placing a brief kiss on Harry's lips before going back to the conversation with her mother. "Yes, Mum, it was nice. No, we didn't just go to dinner, we went to a carnival afterwards." She rolled her eyes, and Harry smothered a chuckle.

As she answered her mother's incessant questions, Harry slipped his hand under Hermione's top and slowly began to stroke her stomach. Hermione stiffened slightly from surprise but quickly relaxed, trying to ignore the feelings his touch was provoking and her body's desire to respond. She tried to concentrate on what her mother was saying, but was having trouble focusing.

"Harry!" she hissed quietly. He chuckled and pulled his hand away but moments later, it was back again. This time, however, it didn't stay put on her stomach; slowly, he drifted a finger up her body, her skin burning a trail where he touched her. His hand continued up until it reached her breast. He cupped it and squeezed gently, causing Hermione to gasp and almost drop the phone.

"Mum, I'll have to call you back," she said in a rush, just managing to put the phone back on its cradle before Harry spun her around and crushed his lips against hers in a bruising kiss. Her hands flew up to tangle in his hair restlessly as they kissed, Hermione yielding to the fire that burned in her stomach. She wanted to taste him, to lose herself to the marvellous sensation that was Harry Potter kissing her. She pressed up against him as closely as she could, but it wasn't enough. Kissing him wasn't enough. She was so hopelessly in love with this man that kissing him would never be enough anymore. She only pulled away to suck in a greedy breath, then placed her hands on his face and pulled him back to her. He moaned slightly as her hands drifted down and pulled his shirt out of his pants, needing to feel his skin under hers. Harry realised that if they didn't stop soon, he wouldn't be able to so, with the last ounce of self-control he had, he gripped her by the arms and pulled away.

They were both panting for air, their faces flushed, their hair messy and their clothes in a state of disarray. "What's wrong?" Hermione asked breathlessly.

"Hermione," he rasped. "You wanted to take it slowly. We can't do this." Her face fell, and he continued. "If I kiss you again, I won't be able to stop." He was being brutally honest with her, and he watched as she tilted her head slightly, studying him intently.

"What if I don't want you to stop?" she said softly.

Harry looked deeply into her eyes, needing to be sure it was what she wanted. "Are you sure?" he whispered.

Hermione shook off his grip and stepped forward so they were scant millimetres apart. "Harry," she whispered back. "Make love to me."

* * * * *

Quite some time later, Harry and Hermione lay facing each other in his bed. Her fingers were on his lips, tracing them softly; he had a hand on her back, running it up and down her spine, savouring the feel of the smooth skin beneath his fingers. They didn't need to talk; every emotion they felt had been conveyed by their actions.

Hermione had never dreamed it possible that lovemaking could have been as incredible as it had been with Harry; she had completely lost herself in her desire to feel him close, to have him invade all her senses and make her feel like no one else on earth existed. Just when she had thought it not possible that she could fall more in love with Harry, he'd proven her wrong. There was nowhere else in the world she'd rather be than right where she lay, in Harry's bed. In his arms. Hermione knew at that moment that there was where she wanted to be forever.

There was no moonlight coming in through the window despite the fact the blinds were not shut; the snowfall had become heavier some time during the night, effectively blocking the moon's rays. Their eyes had adjusted to the darkness as they lay together, willing their heartbeats to slow down.

Harry kissed her fingers as they traced the outline of his lips; she moved her head closer to his on the pillow and he leaned in, his lips pressing against hers tenderly. Hermione responded, stroking his cheek gently as he kept up his caressing of her back. They kissed for a long moment, then Hermione shifted her body so that her head was on his shoulder, arm snaked across his chest. He placed his arms around her, pulling her closer.

"I love you," he whispered after a few minutes, but Hermione didn't answer. Her steady, rhythmic intake of breath told him she was already asleep. Kissing the top of her head, he settled back and let slumber claim him.