Just a Wizard

Chapter Seven

"Carter was right, it isn't really all that late," Hermione said as they were driving along.

"Oh, I know that. But if we didn't leave now, I wouldn't be able to have any time alone with you before I took you back," Ron said, smiling across at her before turning his attention back to the road.

"Oh," Hermione said softly, feeling inordinately pleased that he wanted to be alone with her again. She watched as he drove along and turned down a darkened road that seemed to go on forever and then just end, apparently in the middle of nowhere.

"There," he said as he turned the engine off. "This'll do for now."

"Where are we?" Hermione asked, trying to look out of the window but seeing only her own reflection in the glass.

"Just somewhere we can get a little privacy, without Carter finding us and butting in," Ron said, releasing her seat belt and his own and pulling her unresisting body across the car into his lap. "That's much better." He studied her face, noting that she looked slightly wary. "What's the matter, not getting scared on me all of a sudden are you?"

Hermione swallowed before she answered, studying his face where it was so close to hers. "Not really...I just...it's a bit dark out here," she muttered.

Ron frowned. "Are you scared of the dark or me?"

"I'm not sure...the dark I guess. Maybe a bit of you, too," she admitted, chewing her lip.

His thumb came up and pulled her bottom lip from between her teeth, rubbing gently over it where she had bitten it. "Why would you be scared of me?"

"I can't think straight when I'm close to you...you make me feel out of control," she stuttered, her wide eyes fixed on his.

Ron chuckled. "At least you're honest about it, but that isn't anything to be scared of. Now tell me why you don't like the dark?"

"They - uh - they locked me in a dark room. There were no torches or candles and I didn't have my wand, but I didn't ask for anything, because they would probably have killed me." Her voice was flat as she said this and her eyes had taken on a faraway look.

"Who, Hermione? Who locked you in a dark room?"

His voice made her jump and she stared at him. "Oh, I...er...I shouldn't have said anything."

"Yes you should, it's probably past time that you told someone about this. Why shouldn't it be me?" he asked reasonably, one hand stroking the small tendrils of hair away from her face.

"Because you won't look at me again in the same way, the way you usually look at me," she admitted.

"How do I usually look at you?" he asked her, amused by her response.

"Sort of like...well, like you want to eat me," she said, seeing that same look in his eyes now.

"That's pretty accurate, but all in good time. Tonight we let each other know a few things that other people don't know. How's that?"

She nodded and he sighed when he felt her settle against him, her posture becoming more relaxed. "Okay, how about I go first? I know you must want to hear about my marriage, because if the gossip mongers have already gotten to you then you'll probably have the wrong idea about the whole thing." He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her, his head dropping slightly so he could rest his chin on her hair.

"Lavender and I fell in love pretty damn quick, which I suppose was probably stupid, but that's the way I was at the time because I didn't know what I really wanted. Anyway, I married her and I thought everything was okay and when she got pregnant I felt like my world was complete, you know? Until I found out she was sleeping with someone else, and that the baby was his and not mine. I've got a bad temper, which I'm sure you remember. I went a little crazy, and beat the guy up. I didn't even remember that I could have used my wand. I acted like a common muggle I was so angry. I don't hurt women, but I wanted to kill her for what she'd done, for betraying me," he confessed and Hermione could feel how tense he was.

She looked up at him. "She broke your heart, didn't she?"

"I thought so at the time, but I think I got over it too quickly. I'm not sure I was as in love with her as I thought."

"It was the baby that hurt the most though, wasn't it?" Hermione asked, narrowing her eyes.

He looked down at her and gave a small smile. "You see deeper than anyone else has Ninny. Yeah, it was the baby that hurt the most. I wanted a child so much...and then to find out it wasn't even mine. You've probably heard that I didn't have much use for women after that, save for one thing. And that was all true, at least for a while. I was hurting and I used people, maybe I even hurt their feelings. I don't know, I didn't bother to find out one way or another, and I guess I feel a bit guilty about that. But Lavender took me for a hard ride. One that nearly had me hating all women, at least until you came along. I heard through the grapevine that she stayed with the guy, so I guess that's where she is now and she's probably happy, although he hasn't got as much money as I have, and she did love money. I guess she found him better in bed than me too, judging by some of the things she said to me at the end. Apparently she only 'suffered me' and she said I was pretty useless even when she was in the mood."

Hermione winced, only being able to imagine how much that would hurt a man's ego. "Well, I don't know about the...er...bed part, but I love the way you kiss and your voice...it..." she broke off and swallowed, feeling shy telling him what she liked about him.

"My voice is what?" he prompted, a slight smile curving his lips.

"It's really deep, really, well, sexy. Especially when you make your accent all exaggerated and you sound just like Royalty out of one of those old muggle films... it makes me go all weird, sort of shivery. You, Ron Weasley, are the sexiest, most handsome man I've ever met. I can't imagine anyone wanting your money more than they'd want you," she said, not thinking about her words.

He looked almost amazed, surprised that just the sound of his voice could affect her so deeply. Mind you, he thought, he found her voice stimulating as well. But the thing that struck him the most was that she didn't care about his material possessions. "You wouldn't care if I was still dirt poor would you Hermione?" he asked, his big hand cupping her face.

"It doesn't matter to me what you've got, it never did. You're you, that's what I always l...er...liked about you. Still do," she said softly.

He wondered if she had been about to say something else but he didn't want to push her just yet, and besides, he wanted to learn about her. "Come on, I've told you about the bad stuff that happened to me, now it's your turn. And Ninny, I'm not going to look at you any differently, not ever." He looked at her tense, almost frightened, expression and pulled her face into his chest, letting her talk to him without having to look at him, knowing that this would be better for her.

"I don't remember when it started, because it's all I ever remembered from my time in the Legion anymore. Everything was fine in basic, and for the first few years. It's when I was selected for special ops training that it all turned sour. Being the first witch ever selected created a lot of bitterness I imagine, and it all boils down to jealousy I'm afraid. They couldn't take being beat out by a witch. I was the top of my class, and I'd earned it but none of the wizards there cared. To them I was trespassing on their sacred turf. They used to make fun of me for being bookish, and call me mudblood, like Malfoy did back at Hogwarts. It really didn't bother me too much because I was used to it. But when they couldn't beat me down that way anymore because I didn't give them the time of day, they would start being rough on me in physical training or duelling practise. I was in and out of hospital wing so many times my first few months there, but no one ever seemed to realise that they were doing it intentionally. I suppose they must have been convincing liars, although I can't ever remember them speaking, not to anyone. It's weird, but I have memories of their mouths moving, but I can't remember their voices, their talking voices I mean. I can hear how they sounded when they went mad and shouted that last time, but I can't ever remember hearing either of them talking calmly, just talking..." she tailed off and he heard her swallow. "There's not an awful lot to tell. They both just kept beating on me, and hexing me until finally I mustered enough strength and will to fight my way free."

"What about the room?" Ron asked, trying to keep his voice calm because right now he wanted to go back in time and kill the filthy bastards who did this to her.

"That's were it all took place that last time," she said and shrugged.

"How did they get you there Hermione? What did they do?"

"Everything seemed to even out after a while. I didn't let them get to me, and it seemed they'd given up trying. Roman and I eventually became friends, and dated a few times. We even - slept together - the night before our final exercise. He was my first, and I was rather giddy at the time if you catch my drift. What I didn't know, and as they say, hindsight is twenty -twenty, is that it was all a ploy. A plan to break me down and get me out once and for all. The exercise took place in the forest outside of the base, and Roman lured me to a building, saying that if we just hid out long enough, sooner or later most of the others would be pegged off and we could come out looking like we'd been participating all along. I knew it was wrong and protested it, but he was a sweet talker and I fell for it. Next thing I knew I was shackled inside a dungeon. I didn't find out until later that I'd been missing for three or four days. The things they did... I can't bring myself to say... It was pain beyond anything I'd ever imagined, but I took it. I wasn't going to let them break me. Then, when they both decided to sexually assault me is when I panicked. I mustered every bit of strength I had left and in my desperation I suppose my wandless magic took over. I remember thinking of , Baltus Copperfield since he'd been my friend and confidant throughout basic, and had helped me before. I remember screaming desperately in my mind for him to save me. Next thing I knew I had apparated myself into his private quarters. It was quite embarrassing really, since he was in an intimate situation with a girl from the Officer's Pub at the time."

She felt his chest rumble as he chuckled and could feel his lips turn up into a grin as he kissed the top of her head. She smiled slightly and went on. "But anyway, he took me to the hospital wing, and for a long time I couldn't even go outside, and I panic in a crowd ever since. They tell me I have agoraphobia. Which is a fear of leaving a safe place. I suppose it's also a bit of Androphobia. Which is a fear of men." She looked up at him briefly and then snuggled back against him, feeling safe. "But it's over now, isn't it? Remus saved me, when he got me out of there, he really did. But I never really got over it, never really went back to being the person Remus reminds me I used to be. I suppose I'm a coward now. Not at all the feisty and fearless Gryffindor that aided you and Harry in defeating Voldemort. Funny how I can face him, but facing a man I trusted and thought of as a friend turns me into a snivelling child." she said fiercely, her frown deepening. She shrugged. "Anyway, Remus often called me to make sure I was okay and I always told him I was, even if I barely had enough money for food that week." She took a deep shuddering sigh, feeling an intense sense of relief to be unburdening herself of all the pain of her past. "I felt so alone all the time, but I knew I had Remus and Emmeline in the background if I ever needed them. I just didn't think I ever would," she said, her voice quiet.

"And you came here because you needed them? Because you lost your job?" Ron prompted when she remained silent for a minute.

"Sort of. I saw Roman some weeks back, and went into a sort of relapse, and...well...he made some threats and stuff, but Remus said it would all be okay." She moved away from his chest again and looked up at him. "It will be okay won't it?"

"Hermione, if Remus said it would be okay, then it will be," he said, keeping his expression carefully neutral so he didn't give away the fact that he didn't know about her brief interlude with Castleton. He intended to ask Remus all about it when he took her home that night. "You know you belong to all of us at the agency now, and there isn't one of us that will let anything happen to you, especially me." He dropped a kiss on her forehead and then hugged her fiercely, his frown deep as he thought about what she had told him. "I'm so sorry for what happened to you, Ninny, but you can believe me when I say nothing like that will ever happen again."

"I'm sorry, too, about Lavender. Sorry I left without telling you how I felt, and wasn't here to help you though it all," Hermione said in return and she felt his chest rise and fall on a deep sigh. "She needs to have her head tested, not wanting you. You're a hunk."

Ron chuckled. "You know something? For the first time I'm glad she didn't want me, because now I finally get to hold you, and that's worth everything that's happened."

Hermione snuggled closer to him and hugged him tighter. "I'm so glad we're back in one another's lives."

"I can say the same, Hermione. I wish I'd been brave enough to do this before leaving Hogwarts. I think we've both laid some ghosts to rest tonight, and it's probably about time. Now let's do what I've wanted to do for since we parked," he murmured, nudging her head away from him so he could cover her mouth with his.

She gave in instantly, her lips parting so she could welcome his tongue inside, her own tangling with it. A soft moan of pleasure worked its way out of her throat as he crushed her against him, his kiss becoming deeper and more passionate as she clung to him with complete trust. His hands slid up her back and gently unfastened her bra without her even being aware of it and he moved one hand underneath her top so he could search out her soft skin. Hermione didn't even protest once, she was so eager for him to touch her, and it sparked off a deep emotion in him that had him drawing his head back and staring down at her with glittering eyes. "Do you have any idea how easy it would be to just lay you down right here and make love to you?"

She managed to open her eyes and simply nodded, biting her lip and staring at his mouth where it was hovering so close to her own.

"Do you want it again?" he asked, his voice husky and his lips curving into a smile when she nodded again.

"And if I wanted to make love to you, right now, would you let me?"

"I'd let you," she whispered, raising her gaze from his mouth to his eyes.

"Without any promises of forever after or anything like that?" he prompted her, raising both eyebrows.

"After the way Lavender treated you I wouldn't expect that. But it'd be okay, I wouldn't mind," she said, and he studied her carefully, seeing the slight indecision that she couldn't hide.

"Hmm. I think you'd like me to make love to you, but I think your conscience would beat you to death afterwards and I won't do that to you. Besides, I have a conscience too, you know. Some women I could do that to with a clear conscience, but not you." He gave her a brief kiss and then put her gently back in her own seat. "That being the case, we're going home, right now."

"Now? But..." she started, but he reached across her and fastened her seat belt, pinning her against the seat and stopping her words.

"No buts Hermione, I'm taking you home," he said, his eyes a mere inch away from hers, "before I do something you'll regret!"

"But I wouldn't..." she tried again, not wanting to end their closeness. This time he kissed her to shut her up.

"I said no buts," he growled at her, nipping her bottom lip gently and smiling before he moved away and started the car.

Hermione tried to smile back but found that she couldn't. Why had he stopped so suddenly? She wondered. There was only one reason she could think of and that was because of what she had told him about her past. She turned her head away and looked out of the window as he drove them back to Remus' house, but her eyes weren't seeing the dark scenery going by. She couldn't believe how much it was hurting her that he had stopped, especially when she had been so willing. Even though he had said that he wouldn't look at her any differently after what she had revealed, he had. He must find her disgusting, she decided, and her eyes filled with weak tears that she tried to dash quickly away before they got home. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't stop crying and eventually, when they pulled up in front of the house, Ron noticed.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" he asked her softly, his face a picture of surprise when he saw the tears streaming from her eyes. He hadn't had any idea she was even upset.

"I..." she tried, but she couldn't find the words. "Nothing. I'm sorry, I shouldn't...I shouldn't have told you...I ruined everything!" she said and quickly got out of the car and ran into the house. Her movements were so quick that Ron hadn't even taken his seat belt off when the front door slammed behind her.

"What the hell...?" he said to himself and got out of the car to follow her. He knocked on the front door and waited for what seemed like forever before a very angry looking Remus threw the door open and glared at him.

"What did you do to her?" Remus snapped, his teeth gritted in genuine fury.

"I didn't do anything," Ron defended himself, looking shocked. He ran a hand through his hair and tried not to look as puzzled as he felt. "She was fine, then we drove home...I don't get it."

Remus lost some of the stiffness from his posture and stared at Ron, pursing his lips. "What happened on the way home to make her that upset then?"

"Hell if I know! We talked about our past and I thought we were getting on okay. Hell, I even stopped myself from having sex with her right there in the car because I actually have a lot of respect for the girl..." he tailed off and shot a wary look at Remus. "That..er..that didn't come out quite how it should have."

Remus actually gave a slight smile. "Don't worry about it, at least the word respect was in there somewhere. So that was all?"

"Yeah, except now she's crying her eyes out and I have no idea why!"

"Oh come on! You must have said something, or done something to upset her. Think!" Remus said, starting to get more impatient. "Did she say anything?"

"She said she was sorry and that..." Ron broke off and hit himself on the forehead with the palm of his hand. "Merlin I'm dumb. She thinks I'm looking at her differently!"

Remus frowned. "What? What does that mean?"

"She told me about Castleton, but she didn't want to at first. She said I'd look at her differently when I knew the whole story. She must think that's why I didn't...er...you know..." he looked uncomfortable and Remus relented a little.

"I get it, you don't have to paint me a picture. Well, go on, get up there and explain it to her," he said, motioning Ron past him.

"Firstly, I want to ask you what she was going on about earlier, something about seeing him again?" Ron asked, eager to find out the truth.

Remus told him all about what had happened with seeing her attacker again and what he had been doing and Ron found himself getting angry, swallowing the emotion with some difficulty. Remus nodded and gave a smile. "At least she has us on her side now, doesn't she? He won't get anywhere near her, if he even has the brains to try and find her again! Now go on, get up there." He grabbed Ron's arm as he walked past. "And do a good job of it, I don't want her any more upset than she already is, got it?"

Ron nodded and then narrowed his eyes. "How long have I got before you send in the Aurors to remove me?"

"Count yourself lucky that I'm not in too bad a mood. I'm going to bed myself so I won't be timing you. Her room is the last one on the right. Feel free to stay the night, the guest room is opposite Hermione's room, and that's where I expect to find you in the morning." Remus stared at the younger man and then smiled knowingly. "On your own."

"Dammit, I was hoping you wouldn't say that!"

"You may be out on your ear after ten seconds if she won't listen, so don't count your chickens. Goodnight," Remus said and disappeared into one of the downstairs rooms.

Ron watched him go and then made his way up the stairs to Hermione's room. He stopped outside the door and listened, hearing small muffled sounds coming from inside. Great, she was still crying. This definitely wasn't going to be easy, he thought, and he turned the handle, not bothering to knock and give her an excuse to tell him where to go.

Hermione was sitting in the middle of the bed with her face pressed into a pillow which she was hugging to her chest, and her head jerked up when she heard the door open, her eyes widening with shock when she saw Ron standing there.

Ron didn't give her a chance to say anything or get up from the bed, he slammed the door behind him and then strode straight over to the bed, picking her up and settling her on his lap once he had sat down. She struggled slightly against him, but he held her easily and just pulled her head to his chest, one big hand stroking her hair as he held her. "Want to tell me what that was all about?" he asked, his voice quiet.

Hermione shook her head and relaxed against him, her head tucked under his chin so she didn't see his mouth form a thin line as he let a bit of irritation flow through him. "I'm not leaving until you do, so you might as well get started. Then I can decide whether I should be angry and whether or not you deserve to get your bum paddled!"

His words made Hermione jerk her head back and stared up at him, surprised that he sounded angry when he was holding her so gently. "You wouldn't..."

"Bloody Hell, yes I would, Hermione, so I suggest you tell me what had you so upset you decided to run away from me like I'd done something wrong!"

"You didn't do anything...it's not your fault..." she stammered and then fell back against his chest, hiding her face from him.

"What's not my fault?" he prompted, hugging her against him.

"That you think I'm disgusting, that you don't want to touch me," she said, her voice so quiet he could barely hear her.

"Disgusting? Why the bloody hell would I think you're disgusting?" he said, his voice a deep growl.

"Because of what I told you," she said, sounding resigned.

"I don't think you're disgusting. Hell, if I thought that I wouldn't even be in here right now, would I?"

Hermione frowned as she thought about that. "I guess not. But you stopped...in the car."

"You guess not. So that's what this is all about? You think I don't want to touch you?" Hermione nodded and he rolled his eyes. "Merlin, give me strength. You want to know why I stopped touching you?" he asked, his face taking on stern lines as he stared down at her. He watched as she nodded again and then he took her hand and put it squarely in his groin, spreading her fingers over the large swollen ridge of hard flesh there. "That's why," he muttered gruffly, still holding her hand against him as she tried to pull it away. He scanned her eyes for any hint of understanding, but she looked hopelessly confused and he found himself chuckling. "You have no idea what I'm on about do you?" He let her pull her hand away finally and then he dropped a small kiss on her nose, glad to see that she didn't look miserable any more.

"You turn me on so quick and so hard, that if I actually made love to you while I was in that desperate a condition, I'd hurt you. I'd rather chew my own arm off than do that, so when we do make love, I'm going to try and be a bit calmer, if that's at all possible," he said, his eyes twinkling as her face became redder. "Does that sound like the reaction of someone who finds you disgusting?"

Hermione shook her head and then looked down at what she had so recently been touching. "It's always like that around me Ronald Weasley!" she told him, her eyes huge.

Ron burst out laughing, laying back on the bed and pulling her so she was lying next to him. "Exactly the point Hermione..." She still looked bewildered. "Merlin, maybe I should just go ahead and strip you off so I can have my wicked way with you!" He looked at her and was surprised to find she didn't look appalled at that thought, but rather looked almost hopeful. "Do you want me to?"

"I...er...no, Remus..." she tried to explain, her words halting because she could almost picture him naked, lack of experience or not.

Ron raised his eyebrows and grinned. "We're wizards Hermione. In case you haven't heard we have these things called locking spells and silencing charms. Besides, Remus has gone to bed. So how about it? I think I can restrain myself if you can!" He was only half joking.

She bit her lip as she seriously thought about it. "We shouldn't."

"But you want to, don't you? You want me to strip off and let you do whatever you like with me, don't you?" he asked, leaning up on one elbow so his face was hovering just over hers, his mouth an inch away from her own. "Go ahead and admit it. You want to see me starkers!"

"Yes, I do," she whispered, just before his mouth came down and pressed her lips apart, his tongue shooting into her mouth and tangling with her own whilst one of his hands speared into her hair and turned her head at the right angle. He sucked her tongue into his mouth and then scraped his teeth across it, releasing it only to nip at her lips. When he broke the kiss and pulled back to look at her, he saw her staring back at him through misty eyes, the longing obvious to see.

"This is really stupid, you know that? I feel like a Merlin damned teenager again, creeping about behind my mum's back. If I take my clothes off and show you what it is you want to see, do you honestly think I'll be able to stop myself from using it?" Ron asked her, his lips curving upwards in amusement.

"I guess not," she whispered.

"You guess not. You keep saying that. The question is, do you still want me to?"

"Yes."

Ron swallowed and thought about it for all of five seconds. This is really stupid, Weasley, he thought to himself, but all the same he sat up and started pulling his shirt off.

Hermione watched wide-eyed as he revealed his upper body to her gaze, moving quickly on to his belt and then the zip on his trousers. He glanced up briefly and gave a wry smile at her fascinated stare. "You'd better go and lock that door, Ninny."

Hermione jumped up and did as he told her, turning back to him to find him standing next to the bed now, wearing only his boxer shorts. She tried not stare at how perfect he was, but she couldn't help it, he was gorgeous. His large, defined arms with the lion tattoo on his bicep excited her for some strange reason, as did his height and pretty much everything else about him too. His presence filled the room, making people notice him wherever he went. Her cheeks flamed when his hands moved to the waist of the shorts and he slowly started to pull them down. "You still sure about this?" he asked her, his movement stopping as he looked at her.

"I...no," she mumbled, looking acutely embarrassed.

Ron moved towards her and framed her face in his hands, bending to softly kiss her. "If you don't want me to, then I won't."

Hermione gulped and stared at the broad expanse of flesh in front of her face, her hands reaching out and smoothing across his chest, running through the red hair there and relishing the feel of his warmth. "It's not...I do want to see you...it's just a bit..."

"New?" he put in, smiling lopsidedly as her hands made his body harden uncomfortably.

"Yes," she said, her eyes on his torso and not on his face. She rubbed across his nipple as she had done before and he tensed, his arms shooting out and landing on the door frame above her head, balancing him as he let her continue to explore him. "Is this okay?" she asked unsteadily as she ran her hands over his stomach and felt the muscles there clench.

"This is more than okay, believe me. It's killing me," he growled as her hands ran dangerously low across his abdomen.

She stilled and looked up at him. "It hurts?"

"It's complete torture, but don't you damn well stop," he said, moving her hands on him again so she would get the message and carry on. She obliged eagerly, exploring all the solid muscle of him and tugging on the tiny line of hair below his belly button before sliding her arms under his and pressing herself against him. Her hands explored his back now and ran up and down his sides, making him tense over and over again. He hadn't been this responsive to such innocent play since before he got married, he thought as he felt his legs shaking.

"I think I'd better lay down," he said, walking backwards across the room until he could fall on the bed and take her down with him. "That's better, I didn't think my legs would hold me up much longer!" He looked at her confused expression and chuckled. "You're too much, you know that? Didn't anyone ever tell you that it makes your legs weak?"

"It does? Well, no, I didn't know that." She gave a small smile. "I made your legs weak?"

"Yeah, you sure did. Want to make them even weaker?" he asked her, grinning wickedly.

"How?" she asked, looking all too eager to try.

"Well, you could start by moving your hands just a bit lower, that would pretty much be guaranteed to do it," he said, not thinking there was any way she would actually do it. His breath left him in a rush when she did as he suggested and brushed her hands over the front of his shorts. "Fuck!"

She looked at his tense face and decided to touch him again and watch his reaction this time, just to be sure he was okay with it all. She licked her lips and took a deep breath, then let her hands fall on him again, her fingers testing the shape of him under the thin material. Apart from his jaw clenching and his eyes screwing closed, he didn't look as if it hurt, she thought, and gave a gentle squeeze. He gasped in a breath and grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry..." she began, thinking she had hurt him. She tried to pull her hand away but he pressed it harder against his violently aroused flesh.

"No," he said, his eyes snapping open and staring into hers. "Let me show you," he said, his voice deeper than she had heard it. He moved her hand and showed her how to touch him, how much pressure to use, until finally she got the hang of it and gently stroked him.

"I want...can you...can I take them off?" she asked hesitantly, getting braver by the second as she was doing things she had never before imagined.

Ron closed his eyes and prayed for more strength. "You can do whatever you want ninny, feel free."

"Really?"

"Really. Go ahead, I won't stop you," he invited, holding his arms out and laying there like a sacrificial victim, smiling as she started looking less tense, although her face was an interesting shade of red.

"Scarlet," he whispered, stroking one finger down her face before flinging his arm back on the bed again.

Hermione almost chewed through her lip as her hand went to the waist of the shorts and tugged them slowly down his hips. The elasticized edge got caught on the huge bulge of his arousal and he chuckled, twisting his hips to help her. Finally she freed him and her eyes grew enormous as she stared at a naked man for the first time. Her mouth formed a soundless 'o' as she stared and Ron started to feel slightly uncomfortable, not being the one in control for the first time in his life. He watched her reaction and felt a rush of emotion clench his stomach as he thought about sinking into her nearly innocent body, and he hardened even more under her fascinated gaze.

"Is that normal?" she asked, reaching out and touching him again, intrigued by how soft the taut skin felt under her fingertips.

"Oh, yeah, that's very normal," he muttered, wondering how he was going to survive this.

"But it's huge!" she said and then covered her mouth when she realised what she had said.

Ron burst out laughing and pulled her over on top of him, hugging her pliant body to his chest. "God, you make me feel good, Hermione. Give me your lips," he said, nudging her face up so he could take her mouth, kissing her deeply whilst he allowed his hands to roam over her curves. He moved his fingers to her hair and started to release it, stroking the long, thick tendrils down over her shoulders, relishing the silky feel of it.

Hermione felt him pull her top up and deftly take her arms out of it so it was left hanging around her neck, but she couldn't find the will to protest. She wanted to feel her naked skin pressed on his, and she lifted up when he began removing her bra so she could make it easier for him.

Ron stopped the kiss and suddenly sat up, staring at the beautiful curves he had uncovered, getting his first look of her body without any cloth in the way. He sucked in a sharp breath at how perfect she was, the skin creamy and smooth and the buds small, dusky rose against the Olive canvas of her skin. And they were real, he mused, more used to seeing the globes of a charm-enhanced chest. These were round and smooth and perfect all in their own right. His fingers traced the faint freckles on her chest and he smiled, moving his hands and cupping her gently, feeling her tremble under the unfamiliar touch, although she didn't fight it. He pulled her top all the way off and flicked the pendant he had given her, letting it rest in the valley between her breasts, then he manoeuvred them until she was the one laying on her back and he was looming over her, his head dipping so he could tease one taut nipple with his tongue, using his beard and his teeth to get a response out of her. He had no trouble at all, she was incredibly responsive to even his slightest touch.

She felt a heat well up in the pit of her stomach and work it's way out down all her nerve-endings until she was writhing underneath him, her nails biting into his back as he drew one nipple into his mouth and sucked, before turning his attention to the other one. She had never felt such sensations and she couldn't even speak, her voice gone as her breath gasped out of her mouth each time he drew on her flesh. He ran a hand down her stomach and caressed each inch of skin, his mouth following until he got to her jeans.

Hermione watched helplessly as he undid the button and then pulled the zipper down, slowly pulling the material down over her hips and revealing her simple white knickers to his gaze.

"Beautiful," he murmured, admiring the white cotton that only accentuated what he so wanted to uncover. He nipped at the skin just below her belly button and she moaned softly at the wave of feeling it sent through her, earning herself another nip.

[A/N: Edited for content. Full version can be viewed at http://members.shaw.ca/nashira.lesath]

Ron tugged on Hermione's knickers and she lifted her hips to accommodate his actions. Ron's heart was racing with anticipation as parted her folds gently with his fingers. He took a second to steal a look at her face and was happy to see the girl opened mouthed trying to breathe and mix words into a sentence to describe the feeling. Heart beating out of his chest, Ron took the plunge and engulfed Hermione's softness fully making her buck and moan loudly in ecstasy. Ron began his rhythmic movements in an attempt to give her maximum pleasure. In no time Hermione was grabbing the sheet and panting loudly before she finally yelled and let her wetness fill his mouth. Ron teased with vigour until Hermione went limp before moving up to kiss her tenderly.

Hermione kissed him deeply before beginning the process again, but this time at the advantage of Ron.

A short while later when both of their minds finally returned to normal, Ron opened his eyes and met her awed gaze, her mouth hanging open, and he couldn't help chuckling. "What? Shocked?"

She shook her head and looked down at the thick flesh that had been so hard only a few seconds ago. Now it was softening, although it still looked fairly big to her stunned eyes. She couldn't believe it. She wasn't totally ignorant, but she had only a small idea that men looked like that or that their bodies did anything like that either.

Ron sat up slowly and let out a shaky breath, looking at the mess he'd made of himself and he grinned. "I guess I'd better get cleaned up, huh?" he said, moving to get off the bed, totally unashamed in his nudity. Hermione sat and watched him walk to get his wand from his trousers, finally realising her own state of undress and jumping up to wrap a gown around her. Before she could get the gown off the back of the door, Ron walked back out of the bathroom with a cloth in his hand, his eyes narrowing as he looked her over.

"Beautiful," he murmured, grabbing her arm and pulling her against him. He didn't mention the tiny scars he could just about make out on her back. He knew where they had probably come from. There would be time enough for her to tell him more about her past, when she felt more comfortable doing so. He proceeded to clean her hands off with a quick spell and then dropped his wand and bent to kiss her, his arms going under hers and lifting her off the floor. It wasn't a particularly passionate kiss, but rather a gentling one as he strove to stop his body from taking over again. As much as he wanted to, now wasn't the time to go any further. He carried her over to the bed and laid her down on it, pulling the covers back and then tucking them around her so that her tempting body was no longer on view.

Hermione stared up at him speechlessly as he moved away and put his clothes back on, not bothering to hurry and obviously amused by the way she was watching him. "See something you like?" he asked her, sitting on the edge of the bed, smiling with a genuine affection as he flicked her nose.

"Ouch!" she yelped, rubbing her nose. She found herself relaxing again in his company, even though her mind was replaying all they'd done, and she grinned cheekily at him. "I don't really see anything to like. I told you before, you have big ears, then there's the fact that you're out of shape..." she tailed off as his eyebrows rose and he stared at her in amazement.

"For someone who was shocked speechless just a few minutes ago, you sure recover fast. You think you're really brave enough to insult me? You think you can take the consequences this time?" He bared his teeth in a growl and grabbed her quilt-covered form and clasped her around the waist. "Want me to show you how out of shape I am?"

Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded. "Yes, I do," she answered honestly, and Ron was floored by how direct she could be.

"At least you don't hide how you feel, I like that. Unfortunately, much as I'd like to, I can't oblige you right now. I'm not supposed to be in here when Remus wakes up tomorrow, and I'd take all night with you, so I'd better get over to the guest room."

"You're staying here?" she asked him, drawing back enough to stare into his cobalt eyes.

"Hmm. Just across the hall, but don't go thinking you can sneak into my bed in the middle of the night. I'll be locking the door to protect myself!" he said, his eyes dropping to her mouth a second before his lips followed suit and he kissed her deeply, his arms crushing her against him. What was it he always found so irresistible about this girl? He thought. He broke off and grinned at her stunned expression. "You bringing me a nice cooked breakfast in bed?" he joked.

"If you like," she replied. "What's wrong?" she asked him when she saw him frown.

"Nothing's wrong Hermione. Normally you would freak out and call me a chauvinistic prat. Why are you being so complacent?" He was genuinely astonished. The women he'd known before, with the exception of his mum, hadn't been able to cook and would never have dreamt of actually waiting on him, thinking that it would be something too menial. Hermione offering to cook was not normal either. She had always been a feminist of sorts, and normally wouldn't be caught dead acting like a servant towards anyone.

"I - I'm not being complacent, I just thought it would be nice," she said meekly and looking down at her now fidgeting hands, wondering if she'd made a mistake by asking. "I don't have to do it. It was just an offer."

Ron sighed. She was feeling rejected and retreating into herself again. He put his arms around her gently and looked into her sorrowful brown eyes. "Let's get a few things straight." He said, stroking her back comfortingly. "I don't expect you to wait on me hand and foot. I don't want you doing things for me because you're afraid I'll leave if you don't, because that will not happen. It's okay to say no, and I won't be upset."

"I didn't... I wasn't," she shook her head in weak protest, eyes going wide and wondering just when Ronald Bilius Weasley gained the ability to read minds.

He lifted his hand to her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Yes, you were Hermione. You thought if you said no I'd be upset. I don't expect anything like that from you. I remember who you used to be. Hermione Jane Granger was feisty, self-assured, and never, ever afraid. You stood toe to toe with Voldemort himself. Or have you forgotten that you had him so angry and riled up with your clever mind and sharp tongue that he forgot he should be watching Harry, and effectively affording our best mate the opening he needed to kill the bastard once and for all? I've never been so proud of anyone as I was of you that day Hermione. As angry as I was with you for putting yourself in harms way, I was secretly proud as a peacock. That's the girl I fell for at Hogwarts and I want her back. She's in there somewhere, and I don't want you to be afraid to let her out."

"I'm trying. It's just hard... Thank you so much for that," She told him barely above a whisper, burying her face in his chest and clutching him so hard he nearly lost his breath.

"I know it is Ninny, just please don't think I'm just going to run away over silly little things. I don't want you to be afraid."

"I can if you'd like, I can cook. What would you like?" Hermione said suddenly, quickly getting off topic as she pulled away and swiped at her tear stained cheeks.

"You wouldn't think I was treating you like a servant or something?" he asked her, just making sure.

She smiled. "Of course not, I love cooking and I love...I'd love to cook for you, if you want me to."

He grinned and wrapped her up in a hug so hard she could barely breathe. "Oh, yeah, I'd like that." He let her go when she tried squirming away from him and then grinned and looked sheepish when she took a deep breath. "Sorry, guess that was too hard huh?"

She slapped his arm. "Just a bit, let me breathe next time okay? So, what do you want for breakfast?"

He reeled off a huge list of fried foods, making her smile that he could possibly eat so much, then halfway through his demands she reached out for his hand, stopping hesitantly just before she touched it. He looked down at her hand and stopped talking. "Do you need my permission to touch me?"

"I don't know. Do I?" she asked him, wondering how freely she could touch him.

"Hermione, you can touch me anywhere, at anytime, okay? As I said before, just feel free, I won't complain!"

"Are you sure? I don't want to make you uncomfortable,"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Didn't we just discuss this?" he said, taking her hand and stroking her fingers.

Hermione lifted her hand and brushed her fingers across his cheek, feeling the days' growth of stubble scratch at them as she traced his features slowly. "Do you have to go?" she asked shyly, wishing he could just lay there with her.

"Mmm, I do," he murmured, enjoying her gentle touch. "If I stay here I think we both know what'll happen, don't we?" he asked, arching one eyebrow and giving her a knowing look.

"I wouldn't mind," she whispered. She frowned as she stroked over his eyebrows. "Does it feel like that when...er...you know..."

"Like what?"

"Like...when you...what you did to me..." she stopped and cleared her throat, wondering how to put it into words. He saved her the trouble.

"Hermione, if you're asking what it'll be like when I'm inside you," he said, his eyes glinting wickedly as he looked at her red face, "then I have to say that when you climax, it'll be strong enough to blow your head off!"

"Ron!" she said, shocked by his terminology, just as he knew she would be. He grinned wickedly, making her heart thump harder in her chest.

"What's wrong, still not used to the way I talk yet?" he asked her, running his hand over her shoulder and around to the back of her neck, massaging the delicate column. "You will be, eventually. Maybe I'll even tone it down from now on, huh?"

"Hmmph, I just bet you will," she grumbled, giving him her best glare.

"Well, maybe not," he said, moving his hand around to lift her chin. "Time I was going. Kiss me goodnight," he demanded, smiling under her lips as she quickly complied.

He gently pushed her away after a while and tucked her down into the bed, kissing her fingers before turning and opening the door. "Goodnight, Ninny," he said softly, winking at her and then turning the light off before leaving the room.

She took a deep shaky breath and snuggled down under the covers, a smile on her lips as she fell almost instantly into a deep sleep.