Wake Up
a Harry Potter story
by Hermione Eveningfall
Harry Potter smiled to himself as he and Hermione entered the common room after the traditional Hogwarts Christmas Eve feast. They curled up on one of the red velvet chairs by the window, contendedly full and sleepy as they gazed at the snowflakes practically glowing as they fell in the dark.
At the moment, they were the only two occupants in the tower, for many of their fellow students had decided to either go home for Christmas or were still in the dining hall. Harry sighed softly as allowing Hermione to lean her head against his chest. As he listened to her gentle breathing, he thought back to the events previous year.
It was so strange to know that he was never going to see Sirius again. The first couple of nights following his godfather's sudden death had been the most difficult, and Ron and Hermione had been there every step of the way for him. Hermione especially, and Harry felt his affections growing stronger for her as the year went on. It wasn't until the start of their sixth year that they decided to take their friendship to a higher level. Ron was still currently unattached, though he and Lavender Brown were growing rather affectionate with each other lately as well. In fact, Ron was spending the Christmas holiday with her in Paris.
Hermione murmered something inaudible and lifted her head, reaching up to stroke Harry's cheek with her fingertips. He smiled softly as she then moved to caress his famous lightening shape scar, and laced his hand through hers. "I love snuggling with you, Harry." She whispered, sitting and allowing him to wrap his arms around her waist.
"Me too." He replied, sniffling a little and quickly rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. He'd been feeling a little under the weather since the last day of classes, and wondered if it had anything to do with the great snowball fight he, the Weasley brothers, Seamus and Dean participated in that night. He'd come in sopping wet and shivering, and it took hours before he properly warmed up. Maybe I'm weaker because I'm still grieving, he thought, resting his head against the back of the chair.
"I want to," Hermione suddenly spoke up, causing him to glance at her in surprise.
"Want to what?" He asked, confused.
"You know what." She grinned mischeviously, and started to unbutton the top of his shirt.
"Oh...that? Now?" He asked, looking around.
"Harry, I've really been thinking about this, and I want to. I love you so much, and it just seems silly to keep waiting."
"You really want to?" Harry asked, startled, and she nodded.
"I think we should." She kissed him on the lips, making him shudder with pleasure as he kissed her back.
"Well, if you want to, we should maybe think about taking it someplace a bit more private," he suggested. "Someone might come back."
Hermione thought for a moment, and slid down from his lap. "We'll go to the owelry." She nodded. "I'm sure no one's going to be up there this time of the night."
Harry laughed. "The owelry? How about the astronomy tower? That's where everyone goes to do this sort of thing that I know of."
Hermione grinned. "All right. But grab your invisibility cloak, just in case." She helped him to his feet and watched as he made his way up the staircase towards the boy's dormitory. She folded her arms, wetting her lips anxiously as she waited for him to return. When he came back, she took his hand and he covered them both with the cloak, before making their way through the portrait hole.
They scurried down the dimly lit hallway, keeping a look out for their classmates or any stray professors who might be wandering the school. They reached the astronomy tower by walking up an narrow spiral staircase, and Hermione used the "Alohamora" spell to unlock the door. When they walked through, they shut it, and then removed the cloak.
"Hermione, I want you to think very carefully about what we're doing," Harry told her. "I know you may feel turned on right now, but sometimes it's just impulsive, and this is a big deal."
Hermione nodded. "I know."
"And you're aware we've only been dating for about three months?"
"And we've been friends for five years," Hermione added.
"If you're absolutely sure, then we'll go ahead," Harry continued, and she sighed.
"I'm ready, Harry." She insisted.
"All right."
Before the two of them knew what was happening, their clothes were piled on the floor, and they were lying on the cloak on the floor. Harry gazed into her eyes, taking a deep breath. At first he felt her smoothe skin, taking in what he could detect of her sweet scent through his stuffy nose. He lowered his body against hers, and the two of them wrapped themselves in the cloak, to preserve a bit of modesty. Hermione arched her back, grasping his bare shoulders as he gently eased himself inside of her.
However, he was barely halfway in when he felt a terrible itch in his nose, one that could only disappear if he allowed himself to sneeze. He quickly turned away, and Hermione noticed the awkward expression on his face. "Harry?" she asked, her breathing heavy and beads of sweat popping out on her forehead. "Harry, what are you doing?" She swallowed.
"Hashoooh! Eh-Hashhhhheh!"
She quickly lifted her upper body from the ground. "Bless you! Are you all right?"
He sniffled. "Yeah."
"You're not getting sick, are you?" she felt his forehead, though he wasn't all that warm. "Not warm yet."
"Just a chill, I think, but I should be fine." He looked at her. "Now where were we?"
Hermione smiled, lowering her body again, and preparing for another attempt. "Just...there! Ahhhh!" She gasped, more in surprise than in pain. She'd never felt anything like this before, and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. It didn't necessarily hurt, just a bit more pressure down there than she was used to. Harry was very gentle and slow, stopping when he thought he might be hurting her.
"I'm...I'm fine," she insisted, trembling a little. "I...oh! Oh..." she felt a new sensation, something so amazing and fulfilling that she felt her heart swelling. What was this! She closed her eyes, grunting a bit as he continued to move with her emotions, and she found herself smiling wide.
"Hang on a second..." He sniffled just as the sensation dwindled, and Hermione frowned.
"Oh Harry," she sighed as he rolled off of her.
"Hah-Ishhhhh! Eh-Heh-IShhhhhh! Uh-HEshhhhh!"
"Bless you. Harry, I don't think you're feeling well enough to continue." She chewed on her lower lip, listening as he coughed afterwards. He glanced at her, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I just...I can't do this. I tried, but I..."
She wrapped the invisibility cloak around her waist and walked over to him, allowing him to hold her and lean his head against her shoulder. "It was amazing what we did do," she whispered into his ear, and he stroked her bushy hair.
"Amazing?"
"Umm hmmm. Harry, I never felt something so incredible before."
He sniffled, and nodded for the door. "I'm glad you are comfortable with it." He kissed her lips. "It really is a shame, though. I think we were actually getting somewhere."
She laughed. "Yeah, but your health comes first, Harry. As you said, we have the rest of our lives to do this. If I'd known you were getting sick, I wouldn't have pushed it so quickly."
Harry shook his head. "It's not your fault."
"Well, it is...I kind of pressured you. You did tell me maybe we should think about it and wait a while, but..." she shrugged. "My teenage hormones are turning on full force now, I believe."
The two of them put their clothes back on, shivering a little in the castle's usual damp chill. Harry accepted a tissue from a travel pack Hermione kept in her jeans pocket, and he gratefully blew his runny nose before they pulled the cloak back over their heads. The walk back to Gryffindor tower seemed longer than the walk to the astronomy tower, probably because Harry kept having to pause to sneeze every couple of minutes. When they walked through the portrait hole again, he let out such a loud sneeze that it seemed to echo. "HASHOOOOH!"
Hermione jumped, rubbing his back afterwards. "Bless you! Want me to tuck you into bed?" She asked, and he gave her a tired smile.
"Sounds good."
She took his arm, and the two of them made their way up the staircase, disappearing through the dormitory door.