(no subject)
Title: Very Bad Things
Pairing: Ron/Hermione with Harry/Ginny
Rating: NC-17 for sexual situations and violence
Warning: het, angst, non-con, violence, language
Title: Very Bad Things
Pairing: Ron/Hermione with Harry/Ginny
Rating: NC-17 for sexual situations and violence
Warning: het, angst, non-con, violence, language
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The nighttime streets of Diagon Alley were full of young people these days. It had only been five months since the defeat of Voldemort and the entire magical community was surging with festivity and a renewed joy of life. After the preceding years of hiding and being too afraid to be out of doors, they were making up for it in style now.
Harry Potter worked his way through the crowds and romancing couples, the musicians and young wizards showing off their skills. He would ignore the looks and whispers he heard along the way. He had grown accustomed; apparently there was nothing to be done about it.
He had sent a note by owl to Ron and Hermione earlier in the evening asking them to meet him in front of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes at 8:00 that evening. It was short notice he knew, but he also knew he could count on them to be there. When they came into view, he stopped to admire them. He smiled as he watched them together. Seeing them like this reminded him of what he’d been fighting for all these years. It was what his parents had, and then lost; what he wanted for himself so badly, but had yet to allow himself to have. There were times when Ron and Hermione’s romance alone had been enough to push him through one more day of the blasted ‘good fight’ he had unwilling been forced into the day he was born.
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Anyone looking at young witch and wizard dancing to the music in the air would see how obviously in love they were. Well, she was dancing; he was more like swaying lamely from side to side. His hands lightly trailed over her hips while she moved playfully, seductively. They were clearly enjoying each other and the rest of the world didn’t seem to matter.
Standing under a lamppost outside the joke shop, they were waiting to meet Harry. They had already planned to spend an evening out when they received a short note by owl asking them to meet him here. Harry had been gone for a few days gaining information on the last Death Eater he intended to capture, so they anticipated some news. They would deal with business when he arrived, until then, it was just the two of them. So often that’s how they had gotten through the dark days together. They would put every bit of energy into each other for the brief moments they could, putting the entire world aside, just turning everything off and not letting anything it in. There were times when the only thing they could do was find a better place in each other’s eyes.
“I’ll never get you to really dance with me, will I?” Hermione asked with a playful smile, as she moved along to the music. She knew his eyes were roaming over her wriggling figure and pausing at her cleavage for a moment before looking back up at her.
“I don’t need to, do I love?” Ron responded, his head bobbing along following her moving body, “I just need you to dance next to me, and then I look brilliant!” he joked. She smirked at him and moved into his arms, resting her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head and let his hand roam over her back.
“Isn’t this magnificent? Like the whole world is ours? We don’t have to wait for anything anymore. No more hiding and running and fighting. Moving on with our lives - we can finally be normal!”
“Mm - hmm,” he moaned in agreement, and pulled her against him even tighter, just a hint of a hip thrust in his action. She smiled up at him and they kissed, and it lingered. He let his hand stray down the back of her dress to the curve below her waist. She turned and pushed at him gently.
“Will you stop that!” she said softly, “people will notice!”
He laughed at her. “Who cares? And I’ve got news for you, Love, the way you’re looking tonight, people have already noticed.”
“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes at him.
“It’s true you naughty witch. I’ve seen more than a few blokes turn their heads at you. You’re going to be the fantasy of a fare few rub-offs tonight I’ll wager.”
“Ron! Don’t be so vulgar - and, just disgusting!” Hermione flinched, and yet she only scolded playfully. She was plenty used to Ron’s colorful language by now. Not much he said really bothered her anymore, but she felt duty bound to act appalled. Their roles were etched deep after years of banter, and they liked it this way.
“But, I don’t look like I’m trying to attract attention, do I?” she asked, now sounding honestly concerned, crossing her arms nervously in front of herself.
Hermione was completely taken with the new freedom in the world, and her developing relationship with Ron. She gained some confidence with her age, and with Ron’s compliments. She liked to impress him with her appearance now that they were no longer on the run, living out of a rucksack wearing same old dirty jeans and jumpers. However, the proper girl inside still struggled against the sensual young woman she had become. Tonight she was wearing a sleeveless, fitted white linen dress with silver buttons all the way down the front, and set it off with a pair a black knee-length boots. Her hair was loosely coiled on top of her head. Ron generously complemented her and wasn’t shy about looking at his favorite features. Even if she was simply wearing jeans and a jumper, she was beautiful in his eyes, but he couldn’t help it if he enjoyed it when she dressed up for him too.
“No love, you look damn sexy and completely respectable, of course.” She shoved at him with mock reproach, but then leaned into his chest again, stealing a quick kiss on his neck. She was just about to nip on his collarbone when she spotted Harry coming towards him over Ron’s shoulder and pulled away from him.
“Harry!” she said fondly and came forward to embrace him. They had all seen each other only a few days before, but it was still cheering to see one another safe and sound.
“Hi. Look at you,” he said stepping back taking in Hermione’s appearance, “you look…good….” She blushed and smiled, biting her lip.
“Oi Potter - eyes up!” Ron chided, playfully shielding Hermione as he came forward.
“You’re just jealous because she makes you look like shite,” Harry retorted.
“Yeah, she does.” He grinned at Harry. They shook hands and clapped one another’s shoulder in the most masculine sort of hug they would allow themselves.
“How are ya mate?” Rod asked, and then lowering his voice, “did you get what you were after?”
Harry’s expression returned sober and gave him a nod. Harry looked so tired, and much older than he ought too. They had seen their best friend acquire a remarkable amount of magical power since he became of age and they joined him in the war after leaving school. He didn’t have complete control or a good understanding of the power he possessed, but it was there.
They all sat on a nearby bench together. Harry casually looked around them to verify their privacy. They knew he was observing the crowds, one hand on his wand just inside his robe, listening, always on guard. Ron had done the same thing earlier.
“It’s almost over now guys, really over. He’s come back.” Ron and Hermione considered this information solemnly and squeezed hands. Harry was speaking of Draco Malfoy. He was the last Death Eater not yet killed or captured since Voldemort’s death. Between his father’s money and the protection Snape and his Aunt Bellatrix had given him, he had eluded the Ministry and the Order. He was the last person Harry was resolved to apprehend, before he would let himself rejoice in his victory with the rest of the world. Before he would fully get to enjoy the happiness of hope and future that Ron and Hermione had already succumbed to. Ginny….
“I want to go in now, tonight” Harry said, “are you two with me on this?”
“Of course, Mate”
“Yes Harry, certainly!”
He knew Ron and Hermione wanted to see this final chapter of their lives closed as much as he did.
“All right,” Harry said keeping his voice low, but trying to appear casual in the crowd, “I’m going to collect a few other Order members, just Lupin, Tonks, and Kingsley. I believe he’s alone, so there shouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“Are you sure he’s alone?”
“Pretty certain, yes. We can gather outside the Manor about half past ten, remember the place?” Ron and Hermione nodded. They had raided Malfoy Manor once before, a few months ago when Narcissa Malfoy had died, but it hadn’t led to any useful information about Draco’s whereabouts.
“Don’t you think it’s too soon Harry?” Hermione asked. “Have you put enough preparation into this? Is there enough time? You only just got back.”
“I can hardly stand sitting here as it is, Hermione. I don’t want him to get away again. And if I can get everyone else in line, I might even go in earlier.”
“No way, Mate. You wait for backup.” Ron interjected, “We all know you don’t need our help- you’ll take the poncey wanker before he knows what landed on him that’s for sure - but we don’t do these things alone, right? That’s your rule.”
Ron was one person who always cut through Harry’s exterior, and Harry couldn’t deny that he was correct.
“Yes, I know you’re right.” Harry sheepishly nodded his agreement. Ron checked him in the arm.
“Good then, we’re set?” Harry asked, standing and pausing to observe the two of them, “and, I’m sorry I’m putting a damper on your evening. You don’t really have to come if you don’t want to, I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Of course we’re with you, Harry,” said Hermione, squeezing his forearm in assurance.
“Hey what about Ginny?” asked Ron. “She’s not coming then?”
“No,” Harry said firmly, “I just came from seeing her. I asked her stay at your parents tonight. I just, well, you know. She distracts me, and I want to keep my head clear, that’s all. It’s so close to being over now”
They smiled at him sympathetically.
“See you soon.” And with that, Harry turned from them and went quickly back down the street.
“You’ll wait, right?” Ron shouted after him, but got no further response.
Ron and Hermione watched him until they knew he had disappeared. They both looked at each other soberly. Ron’s brow furrowed and he suddenly pulled Hermione into a tight embrace.
“What is it?” asked Hermione.
“I know we both have to do this tonight, but I understand how Harry feels you know; about not wanting Ginny there.”
“Now Ron,” Hermione chided, “you won’t start being like that will you?”
“No, ‘course not. I know it wouldn’t matter anyway, you’re so stubborn. But all the same, if I could tuck you in safely at the Burrow tonight, I’d do it. I saw you through the war, I want you to stay safe now.” He softened as a look of annoyance crept into her eyes.
“Hey, it’s cause I love you, right?” Ron said smiling at her with the same impish smile he used to get her to finish his homework in school.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Ron” Hermione said, pinching him on the stomach.
“I know - stop that tickles - but I always do anyway.”
He leaned down and kissed her once more until she pulled away slowly, both of them knowing they didn’t need to press this topic any further.
“Let’s get a cuppa first,” Ron said brightly, quickly changing the mood. He took her hand and began walking, “and then we can take off in a bit. I want to be there early, just in case Harry forgets his own rules.”
~^~^~^~ Continue to Chapter 2
A/N Huge thanks to my beta
mrspadf00t1 for all the guidance and reassuring me that I should even continue this story, in spite of its intensity.