A third installment! This feels like the last actual chapter, but there are other little snippets in this world that have been floating around in my head. So, if you enjoy this world, you may see a few little mini-chapters from their future together at some point!

Warning: This chapter is rated M for adult content. If you're not 18, peace out!

Disclaimer: JK Rowling is a queen. I am but a loyal subject.

*This chapter has been revised since posting!

Hermione stared into the vanity mirror as she applied her coral lipstick carefully, so as not to smudge it. Her hands shook, and she felt tears that were both happy and afraid well in her eyes as she stared at herself, grateful for Ginny's charm that would make sure her makeup didn't run. Her hair was half down, the top half pulled up and braided back, and she touched the braids absently, wondering why she'd never thought of braids to contain the chaos that was her hair before.

"You look beautiful," Harry said from his spot behind her. Hermione smiled at him in the mirror, tears receding, and took a deep breath.

"I'm scared," Hermione admitted with a little laugh, then covered her red cheeks with her hands. "I feel like I'm not supposed to be scared."

Harry laughed and put a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Being scared just means it's real." He gave her shoulders a squeeze.

"Do you think Draco's scared?" Hermione asked, eyebrows raised, an almost-grimace on her face.

Harry smirked at her in the mirror and squeezed her shoulder. "Terrified."

At that, Hermione grinned.

"You OK?" Ginny asked as Draco stared out the window, hands in his pockets.

"What?" Draco asked, turning toward her with wide eyes. "Oh. Yes. Fine, Red." He smiled, then turned to once again gaze out the window at the people milling around outside, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

"Malfoy," Ginny said as she leaned against the back of the couch. "It's alright to be nervous."

"I'm not nervous," he said, spinning to face the woman who'd become one of his very good friends over the last year, his grey eyes wide.

Ginny laughed. "Sure. OK," she said, crossing his arms. "I saw Hermione a little while ago."

Draco swallowed and took an involuntary step forward. "How did she seem?"

With a smile, Ginny stepped away from the couch and straightened his Muggle tie before patting his chest. "She seemed nervous, and happy, and she looked absolutely beautiful."

Draco took a deep breath and nodded. He wanted to say that of course she looked beautiful, that she always looked beautiful, but before he could reply, there was a quick knock on the door. Blaise Zabini popped his head in and grinned. "Looking good, Red," he said with a wink, and Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Is it time?" Draco asked one of his oldest friends, eyes wide.

Blaise nodded and grinned even more broadly. "Let's go get you married off so I become the most eligible man out there." He winked at Ginny again, and they followed him out.

Hermione between the gauzy curtains that lined the sides and back of the garden, a knot of nerves writhing in her stomach. Near the front, on her side, sat the Weasleys - all of them. They'd all come, even Ron. Over the last year, they hadn't been the most supportive of her relationship with Draco, but they were all here. Her eyes darted over to the other side, toward the front, and she covered her mouth with her hand as a smile stretched across her face. Narcissa was here. She truly hadn't been sure if Draco's mother was going to show up or not.

If the Weasley's had been unhappy about her love for Draco, it was nothing compared to Narcissa's reaction to the news that her pureblood son was going to marry a muggleborn.

"I'm so nervous," Hermione said as she and Draco walked to the Great Hall, hand in hand. They'd been engaged only an hour, but it would be hard to keep it secret if she wore the ring, so they'd decided to tell anyone who asked. "How are people going to react?" she asked, eyeing the moonstone ring on her left ring finger with a huge grin.

"Hopefully better than they reacted our first day back," Draco said with a smirk, and Hermione elbowed him.

"It's gotten better since then," Hermione said with a scowl. She was right, it had. A few of his friends had even come around a little.

Draco stopped outside the doors to the Great Hall and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning back to see her face.

"Regardless of how they react, this is a happy day," he said, smirking as he looked down at her. "The happiest day."

She grinned back and nodded, standing her toes to kiss him once. "The happiest day," she agreed.

"Oi! Get a room!" Ginny said as she bounded over, a grin stretched across her face. She tugged Hermione away from Draco and hugged her, then pulled her hand toward her face and squealed when she saw the ring.

Harry walked up sheepishly, a small grin on his face as an apology for his girlfriend's actions. He offered Draco his hand, and with a smile, Draco shook it. It was getting easier and easier to shake Potter's hand.

"Congratulations, I suppose," Harry said with a shrug. "I would say it's a bit fast, but for you it's been, what?"

"Nearly a year," Draco said.

"Nearly a year," Harry echoed. A genuine smile broke out over his face as he clapped Draco on the shoulder. "I suppose, since you've been dating my best friend for a year, and now you're to marry her, we'll have to become friends as well," Harry said, his expression open and kind.

"I suppose so," Draco said with a smirk, trying to hide the strange emotions that welled up from that statement.

Other students walked around them, slowing and whispering before hurrying past. Hermione had been watching the boys talk, a smile stretched all the way across her face, but it slowly melted away as the other students and their invasive glances filtered by.

Draco took her hand and brushed his thumb over her knuckles. "The happiest day, remember? No matter what."

She nodded up to him, her smile sad.

"I mean, on what other day, in the history of Hogwarts, or maybe even the world, would Potter and I decide to become friends?" He gave her an exaggerated incredulous look.

Hermione brightened as she laughed. "You're happy for me?" she asked Harry, her face scrunched up as she prepared for either answer.

"I'm happy for you," he said, his smile genuine and large. She let go of Draco's hand to hug her best friend. When she pulled back, she slipped her arm back around Draco's waist and sighed. "The happiest day."

They were all quiet for a moment as this new version of reality settled it. Ginny broke the silence. "Well, can't put it off forever. Let's do this," she said, turning toward the doors of the Great Hall. "We'll all sit at the Gryffindor table. OK? We've got your back, Draco," she said with a wink.

Draco smiled and nodded, that strange emotion he'd felt with Potter welling up again. He slipped his fingers between Hermione's and together, they walked in.

It was quiet at first, reminding them of that first day where everyone stared and whispered, but then something strange happened. A few of the younger kids at the nearest table - Ravenclaw - started to clap. It was like something out of a movie. They started to clap, and it rippled outward, starting slowly and gaining speed until most of the Hall was clapping, whistling, and smiling at them. Hermione relaxed against Draco as they walked to the Gryffindor table, where her friends were giving them wolf whistles and pats on the back as they passed. At Hogwarts, news spreads quickly.

"He can't sit here," Ron said as they approached, a sneer on his face. Ginny rolled her eyes and shoved her brother over, making room for Harry as Hermione and Draco sat on the opposite side of the table, avoiding Ron's gaze. Aimee was nowhere to be seen.

"Shut up, Ron," Ginny said, turned her back on him and focusing on her friends across from her. "OK, so, I'm your maid-of-honor, right?" Ginny smirked at Draco before looking at Hermione.

"So I've been told," Hermione said, lifting an eyebrow.

Ginny opened her mouth with a grin to response, but before she could, the Great Hall went silent again a the doors opened with a bang. All eyes turned toward the doors. Hermione tensed and leaned into Draco.

Coming toward them - one with a look of worry, the other with a look of fury - were Headmaster McGonagall and Narcissa Malfoy, respectively. They stopped in front of the young couple, all eyes on them, the Hall quiet again.

"Draco, come," Narcissa said. Beside Draco, Hermione bristled. His fingers found hers and squeezed.

"Mother, may I ask what you're doing here?" Draco asked, meeting his mother's steady gaze with his own, years of training to be polite, but also to never back down, ingrained in his brain and rising to the surface. She hadn't come to see him when he'd been cursed. It was ridiculous that she was here now.

"We're leaving," Narcissa said, avoiding Hermione's gaze. She sniffed and looked down her nose at her son. "We're going home for a while, Draco. Come along."

"No," he said as Hermione's fingers tightened in his as if to hold him in place.

"Draco," Narcissa said, her voice tense, "this is not the time or the place for this conversation. Come along. Now."

Draco stood, never letting go of Hermione's hand. McGonagall stood off to the side, her jaw clenched.

"I'm staying here, Mother," he said. He looked down at Hermione, saw the combination of rage and fear in her eyes, and he pulled her up next to him, lacing his fingers with hers more securely.

He briefly thought back to the man in that other place who'd attacked them - a shadow of the Death Eater who'd cursed them. If that scumbag hadn't gotten the drop on him, he would have done anything - anything - to keep Hermione safe, to make her happy. Just because they were in the real world didn't mean that fact had changed. Her happiness was paramount.

"Draco, you're making a scene," Narcissa hissed, eyes flashing. Beside him, Hermione's shoulders straightened, her arm pressing into his, giving him strength.

"No, Mother. You are," he said softly. "I'm assuming you're here because you heard of my engagement." He rubbed Hermione's forefinger with his thumb.

"Yes," she hissed her jaw clenched. "I don't know what you're playing at, but you need to come home. I've already contacted Durmstrang, and they've agreed to let you finish up your education there." She looked at Hermione, her eyes fierce. "Whatever this girl has done to you, we'll fix it."

Before Hermione, Draco would have either flown off the handle at this point or would have buckled and conceded - both a coward's way out. But her hand in his, their life together, had changed him. He took a deep breath, and his voice was surprisingly calm and reasonable when he responded.

"I'm eighteen, Mother. I came of age a year ago. You can't make me go anywhere, can't dictate who I choose to be with. I choose to stay here, with my fianceé, who's done nothing except offer me forgiveness and love. Something you always said you wanted for me." He squeezed Hermione's hand and lifted his chin. "I've missed you, Mother. I was in that other place for nearly a year, and I missed you," he said, the slightest bit of sadness in his voice, "and I hope that, in time, you can grow to be happy for us. Because this - my relationship with Hermione - isn't changing. We are getting married, Mother."

Narcissa stared at him for a long moment, uncharacteristically silent, her lips parted. Then, she snapped her mouth shut, looked at Hermione one last time with an unreadable expression, and stormed out of the Great Hall, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.

McGonagall sighed into the quiet, all student eyes on her, and put her hands on Draco's and Hermione's shoulders after the Great Hall doors shut behind Narcissa. "Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger," she said, her normally stern expression softening, "Congratulations." She smiled and gave their shoulders a squeeze. "This is what we fought for." McGonagall walked away, following Narcissa's path out of the Great Hall.

As the doors closed yet again, the Great Hall erupted in sound. As they retook their seats, Draco looked to Hermione, an apology written across his face.

"Don't," she said before he could speak. "It's not your fault."

"She's my mother," he said, his shoulders slumping. "Which means it's somewhat my fault."

"It's not," Hermione said firmly before she pressed a kiss to his shoulder, then leaned her cheek against it.

"He stood up for you," Ron said to Hermione from beside Ginny, his expression pained. "To his mother. In front of everyone." Ron sighed as his shoulders fell forward. He looked to Malfoy, nodded once, and went back to his meal.

"Well," Ginny said, eyes wide as she looked between her brother and the couple in front of her, "I suppose we have a wedding to start planning."

Things had gotten better with Narcissa since then. It had taken some time, but she'd slowly warmed to them, having Hermione over for tea - it had been extremely awkward - and attempting to help her by teaching her how to host like a pureblood. But seeing her here, at their wedding, was nothing short of a miracle. Hermione was tempted to go out there and hug her, to tell her thank you, but the string quartet near the front started up and the guests quickly found their seats. Hermione stepped back and smoothed her dress of nonexistent wrinkles while taking a deep breath. Beside her, Harry grinned, rocking back on his heels.

"This is it, last chance to back out," he said with a playful grin. She swatted his arm and grinned. Harry peeked out and his smile grew. "He's out there," Harry said, just as the music changed. "His best man looks really good," Harry said, and Hermione swatted him again, making him laugh. Over the last year, Draco and Ginny had become extremely close, and when he'd ask if it would be OK for him to steal her as his best man, Hermione had been thrilled, as had Ginny.

"My maid-of-honor looks nice, too," she said, winking at him.

"Man-of-honor, 'Mione. Man," he deadpanned, and she laughed. He grinned and offered her his arm. "Ready?"

She took a deep breath, the nerve endings all over her body tingling. "Ready," she said, taking his arm. With Harry, she stepped out into the aisle, the assembled guests stood, and she walked toward her future, standing at the front of the room in the Muggle, three-piece suit she'd loved, her heart in her throat.

Draco stared, lips parted, his breath caught in his throat. Hermione walked toward him, her cheeks pleasantly pink and a grin on her beautiful face. She held Harry's arm, but her eyes were on him. Draco assumed the gathered guests were watching her, but he didn't notice them. All he could see was her. Her dress was simple - fitted around her torso, thin straps holding it up, flowing to her ankles, embroidered with daisies in white thread. Her bouquet was made up of daisies with a few yellow roses tucked in. Her hair had been braided back but still curly and wild. From head to toe, she was perfect. And she was his.

When she finally reached him he remembered to breathe. Harry gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek and she smiled as she let go of his arm and took Draco's hand. Harry took his place as man-of-honor and winked at Ginny, who winked right back, standing up straighter in her pale green, knee length dress.

As the officiant - a nice, older gentleman from the Ministry - began the ceremony, Draco stared down at his almost-wife. The nerves he'd felt before were suddenly gone in the brightness of her smile, the feel of her hands in his. When the officiant asked if anyone had an objection to their marriage, he felt a spike of fear - Weasley, his mother, there were so many people here who might object. His eyes left Hermione's for a moment and met his mother's. She gave him a tight smile and a nod, and his grin broadened as he looked back to Hermione and the absolute last bit of fear vanished.

"In the Muggle tradition," the officiant said, after no one objected, "Mister Malfoy and Miss Granger have asked to recite their own vows." He smiled at the couple. "Mr. Malfoy, whenever you're ready."

Draco took a deep breath and squeezed Hermione's hands.

"We wasted years," he began, his voice quiet, but magically magnified so that all the guests could hear. "Years of bickering, time that could have been spent becoming friends, getting to know another. Instead, we spent it with so much animosity. Then, we almost lost our chance when - when things got bad." He faltered and she squeezed his hands, a reassuring smile on her face. "But we didn't. We got a second chance in our eighth year at Hogwarts. And then, the most amazing, most wonderful thing happened. You were cursed." There was a titter of laughter through the crowd and he smirked. "Someone tried to curse you and wound up cursing us both, and it was the best thing to ever happen to me. In that other place, we found each other. Being there with you for all those months - I was given the chance to realize you were my other half. Without any preconceived notions about who we were supposed to be, we just were. Together." He took a breath and he saw tears in her eyes. "I can't imagine my life without you. It would be like walking around with only half of myself. For the rest of our lives, I promise to love you, to laugh with you, to support your dreams. I promise to let you win some arguments - " she rolled her eyes and laughed as a tear slipped down her cheek. "I promise to take care of your when you're sick. To be your partner in everything. No matter what." He cleared his throat. "I love you, Hermione Jean Granger. I love you more than I ever thought I could love anything, and I am so happy, so honored, that after today, you'll be my wife." He brought her hands to his lips and kissed her fingers, and she laughed as tears trickled down her cheeks. Quickly, he plucked a daisy from the Harry held for her and tucked it behind her ear.

Hermione laughed lightly and mouthed, So cheesy, with the biggest smile.

"Miss Granger," the officiant said. "Your vows."

Hermione took a deep breath and grinned. "You always have to steal the show, don't you?" she asked with another laugh, and the audience laughed with her. He reached up with his thumb and wiped away a tear, and she pressed her cheek into his hand for a moment.

"Before the curse, we were starting to be friends," she said, readjusting her grip on his hands. "At least, that was my goal. To be your friend. Even then, with all of our baggage, I saw something in you that I wanted to know better."

He nodded and smiled and she took a half step closer to him.

"And even though we weren't friends yet, you still tried to save me from that curse, stepped in to take it yourself, and got stuck in that place - that really wonderful place - with me. And for nearly a year, I had you all to myself. You read books with me, watched terrible movies, ate mediocre takeout, and let me ramble on and on about the most inane things. We had all those months to learn each other in a way that, if we'd been here, may never have happened." She took a deep breath as a fresh wave of tears started to fall. "You showed me who you were, and you saw me for who I am. We feel so deeply in love, it was like a fairy tale. And then, we came back." Her voice broke. "We came back and I was so afraid that, with the memories of who we were before returned, we wouldn't last. But we did," she whispered. "In spite of people being against us, in spite of whispers and jeers, I had you, and you had me, and that was more than enough." She smiled. "I promise, for as long as we live, to take care of you. When you're sick, when you're tired, when you're happy, I'll take care of you. Because I know you'll take care of me, too." She smirked. "When we argue, I'll let you think you let me win. I won't even rub it in later." He shook his head with a smirk of his own. "I promise to be on your team, no matter what. I promise to build a life with you that we can both be proud of, to help you achieve your goals, to love you through everything." She adjusted her grip in his again. "I love you, Draco, so much. More than anything. And I cannot wait until you're my husband."

Draco was unashamed of the tears welling in his eyes as she finished and he kissed her knuckles again.

The officiant, nearly forgotten by the couple, stepped forward again and motioned for Harry and Ginny to hold out the rings - Draco's was platinum, Hermione's rose gold, both simple, unadorned bands that were magically bound together.

Draco slipped the rose gold ring on Hermione's finger, repeating what the officiant's words with a goofy grin on his normally composed face. His expression reminded Hermione of the way he'd used to be during their time in that other place, when the weight of this world wasn't on their shoulders. As Hermione slipped the platinum ring on his finger, the magic in their rings synced. They gasped as magic surged through them and their hearts, at least for a few moments, beat as one.

"By the power vested in me by the Wizengamot and the Ministry of Magic, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The officiant smiled and took a step back.

There was a beat of silence, of a wonderful tension in the air, and then the newly married pair stepped into one another, his hands cupping her face, her hands going around his waist, and their lips meeting in the most perfect kiss. When they pulled apart, another beat of silence, and then their gathered friends and family were on their feet clapping and whistling. Even Narcissa was smiling as they passed, her hand laying over her heart.

Hours later, Hermione stood in front of a large mirror, removing her lipstick, heart fluttering like a caged bird behind her ribs. She'd changed out of her dress, and at Draco's request, into a pair of gray sweats and a tank top. When she came out of the bathroom in their rental cabin - the place Draco had found for their honeymoon - Draco was waiting for her in his own sweatpants, sitting on the little couch, a bowl of popcorn on the small table, and a movie paused on the small telly.

Hermione laughed. "Dune?" she asked, flopping onto the couch next to him, leaning into his side.

He kissed her cheek, his lips lingering as his warm breath caressed her cheek.

"Do you really want to watch this?" Hermione asked, nose brushing his jaw before placing a kiss there.

"We never finished it before," he said with a smirk. Hermione looked up at him and smiled, then slowly crawled into his lap, her knees falling on either side of his hips.

"Do you remember what happened the first time we tried to watch it?" Hermione asked as she lowered her lips to his. He smirked as his hands wrapped around her hips, grasping her bum. They both remembered their first night together - vividly - even if it had been in that other place.

"Why do you think I picked it for tonight?" he asked as he pinched her bum lightly, making her yelp. He kissed under her jaw, trailing his lips down her neck. "Do you remember our second first time?" he breathed, causing the wet skin of her neck to tingle.

"How could I forget?" she breathed with a laugh as her lips caught his.

"We've been engaged in this world for a month. Can you believe it?" Hermione asked as they walked, hand in hand beside the Black Lake, a nervous hitch to her voice.

"Not really," he said with a smirk. "I can barely believe that you still wanted me once we got back. There, sure, I was a catch, but here?" He shrugged.

Hermione pulled him to a stop and stepped in front of him, the setting sun making her eyes look warm like cinnamon. She scowled and poked her finger into his chest. "You really have to stop that!" she said. "In the other place, we fell in love. And sure, we didn't remember our pasts together, but we weren't different people in that other place. You were still Draco - the smart, handsome, funny, arrogant, sore-loser you are now - and I was still Hermione - the - "

"The beautiful, brilliant, irritating, messy, know-it-all witch you are everywhere." He smirked and she stepped into him, putting her hands on his chest.

"Exactly," she said, her scowl transitioning into a smile. "Getting to know you there, how could I not love you here?"

He sighed and kissed her forehead, closing his eyes. "I just feel like - " he stopped and kissed her forehead again. "It's just different here. We live in different places, our flat is gone, and - and I miss you." His voice was husky.

Hermione pulled back and in the warm light of the setting sun he saw how pink his cheeks were. "Draco," she breathed, and he was taken back to mornings spent watching her in the sunlight that streamed through the window in their bedroom, to nights wrapped in darkness and blankets as they whispered their secrets to each other.

He looked down at her and kissed her, kissed her like he used to before, and the spark that had been missing since their return was suddenly back. It ignited something deep inside her belly and she groaned as his hands found her lower back and pulled her to him.

"Hermione," he breathed as he pulled back and pressed his forehead into hers, gripping her waist tightly. "Merlin, I miss you."

"Where can we go?" she asked, eyes wide. "I miss you, too," she said. "I need you."

Draco groaned and pressed his chest against hers. "Can't go to Slytherin," he said. "Too many people we can't trust. Gryffindor?" He kissed down her cheek, stopping just below her chin and kissing below her ear.

"They're having a party tonight," she sighed. "Too busy."

Draco growled in frustration against her neck, making her shiver. "We can just wait," he said, his shoulders slumping. "I love you."

"No," Hermione said forcefully, and then blushed. "I miss you, Draco. I miss this." She looked all around until her face lit up, and with a triumphant look on her face, began pulling him toward a willow tree, tucked away near the castle.

The sun had just sunk into the horizon and the sky was made up of deep purple and magenta. Hermione parted the branches of the weeping willow - thankfully, a very different tree than the whomping willow - and led him beneath the branches.

Hermione conjured some bluebell flames and placed them in a cup she transfigured from a leaf. Draco removed his robes and laid them down, before transfiguring them into a soft blanket on the ground. They stared at each other for a long moment in the near darkness, chests heaving.

"Are you sure?" Draco asked into the low light, his voice wavering with insecurity that Hermione didn't understand. "Here, we've never - "

With the courage of a Gryffindor, Hermione stepped into him and pressed her lips to his, breathing life into the kiss.

They moved in a slow-burning frenzy. Her robes fell to the side. They were both wearing their uniform ties and Hermione laughed when Draco cursed as he struggled to remove hers. With fingers that were sure, they unbuttoned each other's shirts, slowly removing the rest of each other's clothing as they went, a practice that felt comfortable and new all at the same time.

When their clothes were all discarded, they looked at each other for the first time in this world. She trailed her fingers down his sectumsempra scar - knowing what it was from made her heart ache even more than it had the first time she'd seen it. Her fingers trailed over his Dark Mark, rubbing soothing circles, while he lifted her arm and kissed the scars that spelled the nastiest word he knew. He'd kissed her scars before, and he kissed them now, and another piece that had been missing from their lives fell into place. She took his face in her hands and stared into his grey eyes as if asking permission.

After a beat, Draco took her in his arms, relishing in the feel of her bare skin against his. She grabbed his face and pulled him into a languid kiss, which stoked a fire in both their bellies.

Moving as if they were of one mind, they lowered to the ground, wrapped around one another. The cloak-turned-blanket was soft - a cushioning charm. Hermione lay there, staring up at him, her dark curls a halo. Draco leaned over her, his finger trailing along her collar bone, then up her jaw, to shift a curl behind her ear.

He kissed her shoulder. Kissed down her chest, kneading one breast in his hand while he kissed the other. He trailed light kisses down her abdomen, over her hip. His hand brushed over her warmth as he continued to trail kisses down the inside of her thigh. When he came back to her entrance again, he paused. He kissed her there, once, twice, making her moan breathlessly, before traveling back up the other side of her body, over her hip, and taking the other breast in his mouth. She sighed and writhed beneath him as his mouth moved up to her neck, her jaw, her lips.

He settled himself between her thighs as she loosely wove her fingers into his hair at the back of his neck. He stared down at her, his expression open and honest - he was nervous. This was their first time together in the real world, and he was afraid. Afraid she would reject him. Fingers in his hair insistent, she pulled his lips to hers, kissing away any doubt. He groaned into her mouth as he gently pressed inside of her. Her eyes and mouth popped open wide with a silent gasp as his forehead fell to her shoulder, a shudder passing through his body.

It felt like coming home.

Draco slipped his hands under Hermione's shirt and spanned her lower back. "I was so nervous that night," he said against her lips, his thumbs tracing lines down sides. "Nervous you'd change your mind."

Hermione looked down at her from her perch on his lap and pulled back slightly. "So was I." She brushed her nose along his. "I was so worried that you wouldn't want me like you had before."

His arms around her waist tightened. "I was worried that the Hermione Granger who remembered what a prat I was wouldn't want to see me naked." He smirked.

Hermione laughed. "Well, I obviously did," Hermione said, circling his neck with her arms. "Besides, even as a prat you were easy on the eyes.

He captured her lips with a little nip. "So I suppose this," he said, thrusting his still clothing covered body against hers just a little, "will be our third first time."

She looked at him, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Our first first time was in your flat." He kissed the little spot on her neck that he knew she loved so much, just below her jaw, and she shivered. "Our second first time was beneath the willow tree." He kissed her neck on the other side, his tongue flicking out against her warm skin, and she sighed. "And now, our third first time will be as husband and wife." He kissed a path to her lips and she melted against him. "Not many people get three first times with the same person."

Hermione smiled against his mouth as she reached for the hem of her shirt and peeled it off. She hadn't bothered to wear a bra. "Well, you know what they say," she whispered as she pulled his shirt off, too, her fingers trailing up his chest, over his scar, to rest on his lean shoulders.

"What?" he asked as he started tugging on her sweatpants, kissing her neck as he went.

"Third time's the charm." She laughed at his incredulous look.

"The first two not up to your standards?" he asked with a smirk as he stood, lifting her with him. He sat her on the ground long enough to tug her pants and knickers down, followed by his own. He picked her up around the waist again and her legs went around his hips, just like they had their first time, only now they were skin against skin - two puzzle pieces that always fit together.

"Oh no, they were, but there's always room for improvement," she said with a devilish smirk.

"Witch," he said as he attacked her mouth and carried her to the cabin's single small bedroom. "I'll show you improvement," he murmured. With a kick, he shut the door behind them, movie and popcorn forgotten. And as he tossed her back onto their bed with a smirk, she laughed and opened her arms as he fell into them.