The Things We Do For Love

Whipped

After their extended nap, Harry awoke just before sundown having been torn from his slumber by another vision. Voldemort had retrieved the elder wand from Dumbledore's grave and now knew for certain that Harry was on the hunt for his horcruxes. When he destroyed the cup along with the goblins, he was pulled into a vision as well where Tom's mind ended up dwelling on Hogwarts and Ravenclaw house.

At the time, he was too distressed and hurt to give thought to the vision but now that his mind was clear, Harry knew the last horcrux was housed inside Hogwarts and had something to do with Ravenclaw house. It fit every part of the puzzle, he remarked to himself. Tom had an affinity for historical magical artifacts and it only made sense that a horcrux must have been an artifact significant to Rowena Ravenclaw as they were to Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin. A trip back to Hogwarts was looming at large and the final battle was nearing.

Voldemort having the elder wand, however, presented a very grave threat to Harry and his friends. Even if he were to find the horcrux in Hogwarts, Tom would make haste in going to the castle with his army. If it was already difficult to take the dark tosser down, then it was nigh impossible now. Still, Harry couldn't afford to falter in his resolve. They needed to get back to Hogwarts and he needed to end Tom for good. Hermione stirred against him and drew him from his musings.

"What...time?" She murmured in between a wide yawn that would make a lion proud. Her golden brown curls fell against her face and he could faintly make out a smile behind the mass of hair.

"Just after four." Harry sat up against the headboard and let out a wolfish yawn himself. He felt her fingers trace through the full beard on his face and he damn near purred at it. She began lightly scratching it and his eyes fell closed while his head lolled back, a soft rumble erupting through his chest and out of his mouth.

"Easy there, boy," Hermione crooned as if he was her pet. As it stood, he probably wasn't far off from that. Her fingers continued to scratch his facial hair and he was reduced to nothing more than a few animalistic growls. "You like that, huh?" She giggled at him, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

"Very much so." He pulled her upwards to lay on his chest before they would have to rejoin the others and make plans to return to Hogwarts. He could steal a few moments of peace with her until then. His eyes scanned over her body until he remembered his promise to her from last night. None of the love marks he left had faded before he returned. "I told you," said Harry with a cocky grin.

"Hmmm?" Hermione looked up at him in a questioning expression.

"The marks I left haven't faded and I'm already back." Harry winked at her then pecked her forehead, drawing an amused smile from his girlfriend. She shook her head at his antics and settled back into his arms with a relaxed sigh. He held her close and breathed in her distinct scent, lulling himself to an unworried state.

The couple stayed like that for a while longer until a knock on their door alerted them. "Harry, Hermione, are you two erm...awake?" Ron's voice rang through the door in askance. They could tell his voice was strained, most likely because he didn't want to 'catch them in the act'.

"Be right there, Ron." Harry rose from the bed, snorting at Hermione's annoyed huff as he did so, and quickly dressed himself in his discarded clothes. She followed him soon after and smacked his behind on her way to opening the door to greet their friend. "Bloody minx," he grumbled to himself.

Ron looked like he wanted to be doing anything else but they didn't miss the sigh of relief he made when he saw them fully clothed and decidedly not looking like they were shagged senseless. He was maturing and gradually accepting their new relationship but still felt a bit bothered to be around them. Harry thought that was fine and mentally praised his former best mate for at least making an attempt to accept his and Hermione's relationship.