Harry and Ginny trudged back up to the castle, Ginny having her arm wrapped around his arm as they walked. He could feel the exhaustion of the fight with Ron washing over him. It was hard telling his former best friend to leave. Not to call him his best mate anymore. It hurt a lot. Ron had undergone such drastic changes he was not sure where to begin.
Harry and Ginny were silent as they walked the grounds towards the entrance hall. Harry questioned everything. Ron had been a constant in his life, even when Hermione had not. He remembered their first year, Hermione would come around and make waspish remarks about their rule breaking. She would badger them to keep them in line. And it worked to a degree. The incident on Halloween had done it.
The more he thought about it though, Harry realized it was Ron who caused the incident in the first place. Ron had been the one to say those hurtful things to Hermione. And himself and Ron were the only people she even tried to socialize with that year. The three had been close since then, though, right?
Harry recalled second year where Ron had been more kind towards her, but third year, however, he made up for it in spades. From fighting with her about her new pet, Crookshanks, to their falling out over the Firebolt. Hermione had never been lonelier. And it was because of Ron that happened, and Harry had sided with him. What did that say about him? Ron's behavior in the fourth year had been no better. He thought Harry had backstabbed him for more glory in the Triwizard Tournament; Hermione had been the one to stick by his side.
If it had not been for her, Harry likely would never have made it through the tournament. He and Ron had fought for over a month, only to barely make up in time for Ron to ruin Hermione's night at the Yule Ball. While Ron had been better in their fifth year, he was also playing a lot more Quidditch while Harry served his detentions with Umbridge and was overall miserable. Hermione never complained about his misery and how he reacted to his friends.
Sixth year had been different though, with Ron and Hermione fighting worse than ever, because of Lavender. Harry had only found out recently that Lavender and Parvati bullied her in the dorms. The pair had been vicious towards Hermione on several occasions, leading her to mistrust them and keep her distance. Seeing Ron with Lavender nearly broke her. Harry had always wondered, and it was not until Hermione told him that during her and Ron's patrols in fifth year and early on in sixth year, as prefects, that Hermione confided in Ron about the bullying.
So, Ron knew full well that Hermione was being picked on by Lavender Brown and still decided to go out with her, just so he could learn to kiss and snog. Harry could not blame Hermione's tears or her refusal to speak to Ron for some months. Part of him now wished that the pair had not gotten together at all. Sure, it did make some of the Horcrux hunt easier, especially Ron pulling Harry out of the lake with the sword of Gryffindor in hand. However, Hermione would have done the same if it had been just the pair of them.
Harry felt tired by the time they reached the Great Hall. Ginny was still holding onto his arm, but limply. She too looked drained. The entire ordeal with Ron had affected them both badly. But he knew he would be expected to return to the dance. Harry drew in a deep breath as Professor McGonagall came out.
"Harry? What are you doing? Are you and Miss Weasley alright?"
"Everything's fine Minerva." Harry reassured her. It felt weird to him saying her first name like that. The older witch always should be Professor McGonagall to him. "Just caught a gatecrasher, is all."
"A gatecrasher? Good heavens! Who was it?" Minerva asked.
"No one really. No one worth mentioning. If it's alright, I think I might turn in early?" Harry replied. It felt weird asking her for permission.
"Of course. You both look exhausted. And I daresay, everything is well in hand here." Minerva McGonagall bade them both goodnight and swept back into the Great Hall to rejoin the dancers.
Harry and Ginny headed quickly out of the entrance hall and towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"You don't mind staying the night in my office, do you?" Harry asked.
"No! The alternative would be awkward anyway." Ginny replied as they slipped through the corridors. When they finally made it to Harry's office and quarters he sat down on the edge of the bed. Suddenly the dam of emotions inside him broke. Harry started to cry and sob. Ginny sat next to him, wrapped her arms around him and joined in.
Harry mourned the loss of his friendship with Ron. It felt terrible to realize how awful he had been towards himself and Hermione. All those years, and Harry was too blind to see how toxic Ron had become. How his need for a friend allowed him to make a mistake. One he was now paying for with his heart. Ginny seemed to be mourning the loss of the brother she knew as well.
Harry finally calmed down enough to realize that, while yes, he had lost Ron, he still had Hermione. Hermione had been the steadfast one all along and she was the one who really mattered to him. Harry promised himself he would look back on the good memories and laughter with Ron. But he would also keep the bad ones close, as a reminder of what to watch out for and why they were no longer friends.
As the couple let their grief subside, Harry looked at Ginny and kissed her for a long, long time. She returned it with gusto. After a few more long moments like that, clothes were shed, and the couple gave in to their passions for one another. And helped each other overcome their shared hurt.
Hermione and Matt had not noticed Harry slip out of the Great Hall. The couple were lost in one another, dancing, swaying, and moving to the music. With each passing song, the pair drew closer to one another. Hermione often pressed closely into Matt's chest on slow songs. He was all too happy to hold Hermione in his arms as they simply swayed and moved to the music.
They only stopped dancing to get a quick snack or a drink of either water or butterbeer, and once in a big while, sit down. Neville, Draco, and Ernie had all asked Hermione to dance, and Matt had been asked by Luna, Daphne, and Astoria. The couple did not mind switching partners for variety's sake, and both enjoyed themselves immensely.
At one point, Matt asked Cassidy to play a sea shanty or two, and he pulled Draco and Neville to dance with him before they pulled the girls in to join them. Matt thought it was hilarious to slow dance with Draco and Neville interchangeably, drawing much laughter from the girls as they put on a show for their partners. Draco would even admit later that it had been quite fun to do, and he had enjoyed this ball much more than the Yule ball.
As the night reached its conclusion Cassidy spoke out on the speakers.
"This last song is for all you lovers, out there. You know who you are!" she said, her voice and tone indicated she had seen Matt and Hermione together and this was her signal of approval. She started a nice slow and romantic song.
Matt held Hermione especially close, hands clasped together, bodies pressed into each other as they moved. Hermione's gaze never left Matt's. He loved looking into her beautiful brown doe eyes. It felt to both of them as if the world around them had melted away and it was just the two of them. That was all that mattered to either of them as they rocked to the music.
The song ended and Matt leaned close to Hermione.
"I love you."
"I love you, too." Hermione replied and stood on her tip toes. Matt's lips captured Hermione's and the couple held onto each other for what seemed like an eternity. His lips moved over hers and her mouth parted, her tongue slipping out. Matt obliged her unspoken request, and his tongue met hers. Hermione's arms wrapped around Matt, as he did the same to her, their bodies could not get any closer to each other, no matter how much they wanted to.
After what felt like forever the couple parted, gasping for breath and their faces flushed.
"That was intense." Matt said breathlessly.
"It was…" Hermione did not speak the second half of what she wanted to say '…and I want more.'
"Um…Room of Requirement tonight?' he asked her. Hermione emphatically nodded. Not wanting to look too suspicious or overeager the couple slipped out of the Great Hall, only Professor Babbling, Madam Pince, Filch, Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall were left anyway, presumably to clean up.
Cassidy was still there too, packing up her equipment and she grinned, as she watched her ex-boyfriend, and his new girlfriend rush off. She hoped it was for some rowdy fun.
Once they were sure no one was around, Matt and Hermione nearly sprinted to the seventh-floor corridor to the Room of Requirement. They needed privacy; Hermione and Matt had one more gift to give each other that night.
"Take your clothes off." Hermione said as soon as they were in the room. She pulled out her wand and set it on the small bedside table on the side she usually slept on. Matt did the same before slipping off his jacket. Neither was bothering to turn around. Hermione wanted it that way.
She let down her hair and reached around her back, unzipping the bodice of her dress. Matt was pulling off his shoes and socks as Hermione stepped out of her own footwear. She breathed a sigh of relief at the bodice not being zipped anymore, she felt like she could breathe. Her brown eyes wandered over Matt as he discarded his vest and unbuttoned his shirt.
Hermione was careful to unhitch the skirt portion of her robes, letting it fall away to reveal her tiny white panties. Matt looked over and turned a shade of red, he had never seen her lower half clad in so little before. Hermione looked down and blushed herself. There was an obvious wet patch right between her legs. She had apparently gotten more turned on than she realized.
Matt watched as she slipped out of the bodice, revealing her bare chest to him. He could not take his eyes off her small, in his opinion, perfectly formed breasts. He licked his lips as he finished taking off his shirt and undid his pants.
"I promised you'd get to see more." Hermion said and finally stripped entirely out of her clothes, standing before her boyfriend entirely nude. Matt swallowed hard and he was not able to hide the fact he was clearly aroused, his boxers showing an obvious tent. Hermione smirked and twirled around so he could see her backside as well.
"You're so beautiful." Matt said. His eyes wandered all over her form and he loved every inch of what he saw. They closed the gap between each other, and their bodies pressed into one another again. Hermione was blushing hard; she could feel how she made Matt feel as they embraced. He looked down into her beautiful brown eyes, smiled and moved to kiss her again. It was a short kiss as Hermine glanced down to his boxers, her hands on his waist. He gave a nod of his head, and his underwear slid free.
Carefully he backed up a step so she could see him fully, as she had done for him. Hermione looked over at her boyfriend, fully nude and bit her lower lip. There were some scars, his left leg showed a large one on his thigh and she could see another nasty one across his lower back. But they did not bother her. She was in love with what was inside the package, not the package itself. Hermione embraced her boyfriend and kissed him longingly.
Matt returned the kiss, his eyes closed, as he felt his way through the sensation. He wondered for the thousandth time how he had gotten so lucky as to be with the most gorgeous witch in the world. Hermione pressed into him, and he shifted backwards. Slowly the couple made their way to the bed.
Matt slowly sat down on the edge of the bed as Hermione climbed on, the pair's lips connecting, disconnecting, and reconnecting in a series of hot quick kisses. Matt was crab walking backwards to make space for her as she climbed onto the bed on all fours.
Suddenly, a soft warm hand was on Matt's member and looked down then up at Hermione. She grinned as she started to slowly stroke, gently. Matt let out a gasp of pleasure as he reached up to touch her. His hand rested on her breast, and he gave her a squeeze, eliciting a moan from her. Hermione balanced on her knees and with her other hand, gently guided Matt's hand lower on her body.
Matt groaned again as Hermione stroked him, her thumb caressing his tip as she went. Her own hand slid Matt's between her legs, her sensitive little slit was soaked. Matt turned red as her hand helped him spread her folds and she taught him exactly how to find her sweet spot. Hermione even helped him slip a finger inside her. She moaned as Matt's hand began to do what her own was doing to him.
"You're a quick study." Hermione said between breaths as Matt's hand slid gently in and out of her, his finger making gentle come-hither motions inside of her.
"I've got the best teacher." He replied with a grin. He leaned up to kiss her lips again. Hermione closed her eyes and met his lips happily. Her rhythm on his shaft increased and she twisted her wrist as she moved up and down him. He tilted his head back and moaned. Hermione loved the fact she had that effect on him. Small gasps escaped her own lips as she could feel herself reaching a climax.
Hermione's lips crashed into Matt's as he shuddered beneath her, hot liquid coating her hand as his own climax crested and he spent himself. Hermione's own came a moment later. The pair held onto one another for a few more moments before Hermione cast 'Scourgify' on them both to clean up their mess.
Matt was all too happy to wrap his arms around the nude form of his girlfriend as she draped herself over his body. The halls of Hogwarts may have been drafty and cold the last two months, but tonight, the couple of Matt Santini and Hermione Granger could not tell. They snuggled into one another and fell into a deep restful sleep.