The Ritual
Part 3

By Chem Prof

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Chapter 3, Ginny’s Reaction

Weddings were nice in a lot of ways, Hermione thought to herself, but there was at least one annoying thing about them.  They refused to acknowledge the concept of the single girl.  It was as though the bride was rubbing every unattached girl’s face in the fact that she now had a man and they didn’t.  Perhaps a more charitable way of viewing it was that the bride was so happy with her guy that she wanted every other girl to experience her happiness and have a guy too.  In any case, it was apparently not permissible for a girl over a certain age to attend a wedding by herself – she had to have an ‘escort’.  Hermione wasn’t sure exactly what that age was, but at seventeen she was clearly over it.

Now, ordinarily this would not be a problem, as Hermione had acquired a boyfriend in the last few days (the most perfect boyfriend in the world, of course) who would make a fine escort for her to this wedding.  Unfortunately, the people planning this particular wedding (i.e. – Mrs. Weasley) had other ideas on who was to escort whom.  The invitations that had just arrived made it very clear that she was expected to be escorted by Ron, and that Harry was expected to be the escort for Ginny.

This had temporarily put their plans for the rest of the afternoon on hold, while the trio debated on how best to resolve this problem.  In addition, the word had come from the Burrow that Ron’s presence was needed there for the rest of the week, to help them prepare.  They eventually came up with a plan.  Ron would find a time to talk with his mother and let her know that he and Hermione had come to a decision that they were not going to be a couple, and therefore it would be awkward for him to be her escort to the wedding.  

This naturally led to the next question.

“Should I tell Ginny?”

Harry started to say yes but was stopped by a look from Hermione.  “Harry, that’s not fair to Ron.  She’ll kill him.”

Harry shrugged.  “Better him than me.”  Hermione’s eyes narrowed and Harry hastily added, “but more importantly, better him than you.”  This softened Hermione’s look into a slight smile and she was about to respond when Ron interrupted.

“Oy, thanks a lot guys.  It’s so nice to be useful.”  Everyone shared a laugh before deciding that Ron shouldn’t have to say anything to Ginny about Harry and Hermione.  That would be their responsibility when they arrived at the end of the week.  That still left the escort question up in the air.  Hermione decided that she and Harry would send an owl to Fleur (it was her wedding, after all) explaining that in case she didn’t know, Harry and Ginny had broken up a month ago, and despite what she may have heard, Hermione and Ron were not dating.  Therefore, to avoid any potential awkwardness, and since the two of them were both unattached, Harry would be escorting Hermione for this occasion.  This would lay the groundwork for the conversation the two of them would need to have with the younger girl.  Hermione knew that Fleur was rather fond of Harry and would most likely go along with their request

So Ron had packed up and left for the Burrow, leaving Harry and Hermione temporarily alone in the house.  This had led to the current situation Hermione found herself in, namely naked and lying stretched out on her stomach on Harry’s bed.  She paused to reflect on what an incredible statement that was.  If the idea of her being in that situation had come up just a week ago, she would have dismissed it as preposterous.  And even more incredible was the reason she was lying in this position.  It was so that Harry could finish what he had started downstairs in the drawing room.  To be more precise, so that he could give her a mind-blowing orgasm.

Unbelievable.  She, Hermione Granger, the girl guys never took a second look at, was now with the most sought after boy in the wizarding world.  She couldn’t help inwardly gloating a bit. Take that Lavender Brown!  Lavender Watch-Me-While-I-Snog-The-Daylights-Out-Of-The-Boy-You’re-Interested-In Brown.  And take that Ginny Weasley!  Ginny I’m-So-Beautiful-I-Can-Have-Any-Boy-I-Want-So-I’ll-Just-Toy-With-Some-Other-Guys-While-I-Wait-For-Harry-Potter-To-Notice-How-Beautiful-I-Am-And-Become-Smitten-With-Me Weasley.

And to make matters even better, Harry was turning out to be an incredible lover.  When he was pleasuring her he paid attention to how she was reacting and tried to make the experience as good for her as possible.  No Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am for him.  He wasn’t interested in just getting it over and done with, he took his time.  He had just spent several minutes running his hands all over her arms and legs and shoulders and lower back and was only now focusing all his attention on her bum to begin working his fingers into position to pleasure her.  This attention caused Hermione to abandon all her other thoughts as her mind became overwhelmed with the feelings he was generating inside of her.

-ooOoo-

“OK, what’s going on here?” Ginny demanded as she cornered her brother coming out of the parlor.  First he had showed up and immediately huddled with their mother, and then the two of them got together with Phlegm.

“I was just straightening Mum and Fleur out on some things,” Ron answered evasively.  Ginny’s glare and the hand that was fingering her wand let him know he wasn’t going to get off that easily.  “All right, I just let them know that I’m not going to be escorting Hermione to the wedding.”

“Why not?” Ginny demanded.  Then a look of realization came over her face.  “Oh, Ron, you two didn’t get into another argument again, did you?  Look, she’ll get over it – she always does.  Just give her a few days and …”

“No Ginny, it’s not that simple,” Ron interrupted.  “She and I aren’t together and we aren’t ever going to be, so just drop it.”  With that he pulled away and ran up the stairs to his room.

Ginny stood there thinking about what she’d just heard.  That sounded suspicious.  After the way Hermione went after Ron all last year she wouldn’t have given up on him that easily.  Unless …

“Mum,” Ginny called out, hurrying through the house before finally tracking her mother down in the kitchen.  “Ron just told me he’s not escorting Hermione to the wedding.”

“That’s right, dear,” Molly answered somewhat hesitantly, not looking up at Ginny.

“So, is Hermione not coming then?”

“No.  Fleur just got an owl from her and Harry.  Harry’s going to be escorting her.”

“What!”  Ginny just stood there, stunned.  Despite her suspicion, she still couldn’t believe that she had been right.  Sure, it could be innocent, they could be coming just as friends, but Ginny didn’t think so.  She had known for years that Hermione was completely smitten with Harry but either didn’t realize it or had deluded herself into ignoring it.  So long as both of them just looked at each other as best friends nothing would come of it, though.  Had something happened to open their eyes?

“I’m sorry sweetheart,” Molly consoled her, interrupting Ginny’s train of thought.  “Why didn’t you tell me you and Harry had broken up?”

“I … we … er, that is, it’s only temporary,” Ginny stammered.  “It’s just until …”

“That’s all right, dear.” Molly continued, coming over to give her a hug.  “There are other boys out there and you’re still young.  We’ll find you someone else to …”

“No!” Ginny shouted, pulling away.  “No, you don’t have to.  We’ll work this out.  I’ll get him back.  I’ll figure something out.”  She dashed out the door to the garden, thinking furiously.  What am I going to do?  They probably expect me to throw a tantrum and start throwing hexes around.  But I’ll show them …

She had stopped using the love potion after Harry had finally kissed her and they started dating.  She knew from her mother’s stories that you should only use a love potion to get the guy’s attention in the first place – real love had to develop without it.  But this separation that was messing up their relationship had happened too soon.  He hadn’t had a chance to really fall in love with her in the short time they were together before Dumbledore’s death.  And with them apart now, there was no real chance to use it again.  If she slipped it to him when he arrived for the wedding, and he suddenly started lusting for her out of the blue again like last time it would be too suspicious.  Besides, it would just wear off again when he left. 

She would have to find some other way to get his attention this time.  She began pacing back and forth, pausing occasionally to kick a garden gnome, considering her assets.  She was much better for Harry than Hermione.  She was prettier, she was more athletic, she was great at quidditch.  She was wittier, too, and fun to be with.  Everyone thought she had a great sense of humor.  She was especially good at taunting, humorous insults, and clever putdowns.  She smiled at the memory of the zinger she had got off at Hermione last term.   ‘Don’t start acting as though you understand quidditch.  You’ll only embarrass yourself.’  It had been one of her proudest moments.  Right behind the time Harry kissed her in front of the whole common room.  By contrast, Hermione was boring.  She did nothing but nag Harry and Ron to do their homework, or anything else they were supposed to do.  A plan began to form in Ginny’s mind and she smiled.  She decided that she had just the thing.  Something that was sure to get a teenaged boy’s attention.

Meanwhile back in the kitchen, Molly sighed and returned her attention to the wedding invitation list.  Hmm, let’s see, she thought.  That Longbottom boy seems nice.  She pulled out a piece of parchment and began to write a note to Augusta Longbottom.

-ooOoo-

Harry and Hermione arrived at the Burrow at the end of the week somewhat anxiously.  They had received a note from Fleur acknowledging their owl and informing them that it was just fine that they were coming together, and that she was delighted for them.  They hadn’t received the Howler they had been half expecting, or any other communication from Ron, Molly, or Ginny.  They decided that they would walk up to the house holding hands, but not making a big deal out of it.  Just as they got to the ramshackle structure the back door opened and Ginny and Ron came out.

“So,” Ginny asked in a sweet tone of voice.  “Are you two together now?  How nice for you.”  Harry and Hermione shot astonished looks at Ron, but he just shook his head in an ‘I didn’t say anything’ gesture.  “I can understand that, though,” Ginny went on.  “It must have been dreadfully lonely for you, cooped up in that gloomy house all alone.”

Hermione’s eyes narrowed as she realized what Ginny was doing, discounting their relationship as though it were just an unfortunate matter of circumstance, and they would get over it when things got back to normal.  But Ginny breezily continued.

It’s so hot today.  Let’s go for a swim in our pond.”  And with that she flipped her long flowing red hair back and slowly pulled her tee shirt over her head, revealing a form fitting swimsuit.  Unfortunately for her, Harry didn’t notice.

“You have a pond?” he asked in surprise.  “Why didn’t I ever know that before?  I mean, Hermione and I were here for six weeks last summer and you never mentioned it?”

Ron scratched his head.  “I don’t know mate, I guess it never came up.  We sort of skipped over that six weeks pretty quickly, didn’t we?  All I remember doing was playing two on two quidditch every day.”

Harry shot a look at Hermione but she was just as confused as he was.  As far as she was concerned, swimming in the pond would have been far preferable to playing quidditch.  Meanwhile, Ginny had removed her shorts and stood before them in just her swimsuit.  Hermione’s eyes narrowed again.  She knew exactly what Ginny was trying to do.  The small redhead shot a sultry smile at Harry and turned and walked down the path, her hips swaying seductively.  Ron gave the two of them an uneasy look and turned to follow her, pulling off his own shirt as he went.

Hermione noticed that Harry’s gaze was locked on the spot where Ginny had been and elbowed him.  “Harry, stop staring at Ginny!” she hissed.

Harry turned to look at her in surprise.  “I wasn’t staring at Ginny,” he protested.  The look on Hermione’s face expressed her disbelief.  “She’s not even here any more,” he pointed out.  Hermione was forced to concede that the other girl was, in fact, out of sight now.

“Actually, I was just thinking that you have a much nicer figure than she does – I mean you’re curvier and all,” Harry explained.  This brightened Hermione’s expression considerably.  “And besides, that suit really didn’t show very much, did it?”

Hermione laughed and gave him a hug, and decided his compliment about her figure deserved a sound snogging.  Since no one was around just then to object, she gave him exactly that.  Once that was accomplished she took his hand and they followed the path that the two Weasleys had just taken.  Ginny’s plan was about to backfire spectacularly.  Since wizarding fashions were years and years out of date, the one-piece suit that Ginny was wearing was dreadfully old-fashioned.  Hermione didn’t even think her mother would have worn something that covered her up that much.  An idea occurred to her that would turn the tables on the younger witch.

When the pair arrived at the pond, Ginny was stretched out on a small platform a little ways out, apparently having got herself just wet enough to make the suit cling to her body, and was now displaying the result.  Hermione thought she looked rather like Esther Williams in Million Dollar Mermaid or one of her other movies from the 1940’s and 50’s.  As it happened, her suit also resembled one that Esther Williams would have worn fifty years ago.  Meanwhile, Ron had waded in and was standing in waist deep water waiting for them to arrive.

“Oh Harry, you don’t have a suit, do you?” Ginny called out.  Don’t worry, I brought along an old one of Ron’s.  It might be a little small,” Ginny paused to give him a sly wink, “but I guess it will have to do.”  Then she appeared to suddenly come to another realization.  “Hermione, I’m sorry, I don’t have a suit for you.  I don’t think any of mine would fit you.”

“That’s all right Ginny, perhaps I’ll just swim in the nude,” Hermione shot back.  There was a moment of complete silence, then Ginny laughed uproariously.  The thought of her conservative friend doing something so daring was unthinkable.  Ron joined her laughter, but shot a nervous look at Harry first.  He knew that Hermione being nude wasn’t as unthinkable as Ginny thought, but he couldn’t imagine that she would do it here in front of all of them.  Harry sent Hermione a look of surprise, but then smirked and chuckled along with the others.  Hermione paused for a few moments and then burst into laughter herself, acknowledging the joke.  Then she pulled out her wand.

“Actually, I’ll take care of the suits for Harry and me,” she announced.  With that, she transfigured a snug pair of swim trunks for Harry that went down to about mid-thigh, showing off his muscular legs and nice bum, and followed that up by transfiguring her own clothing into a string bikini.  A very small, sexy, white string bikini that displayed assets that only Harry had ever seen before.  (She considered making the bottom a thong, but decided that would be overkill.)  After Ron had left Grimmauld Place earlier that week, Hermione had taken Harry up to the roof to introduce him to the joys of nude sunbathing.  As she had expected, Harry had taken to it in no time.  While he had only picked up a slight bit of color in the few days they had indulged themselves, Hermione tanned relatively quickly and the white bikini set off the golden tone of her skin wonderfully.

The reactions of the others were amusing, at first.  Harry smiled at her and nodded his appreciation, running his eyes lovingly up and down her body.  Initially, Hermione ignored the other two, since his approval was all she cared about.  In one case that was fortunate, in the other it may have been a mistake.

Ron immediately was very glad that he was in waist deep water.  A part of his body just below the surface of the water instantly reacted to Hermione’s near naked condition, and he had to consciously will himself to ignore it.  Another part of his mind was loudly berating him.  ‘You idiot!  You could have had that!  How could you not have noticed?’  He had spurned her advances in no small part because he’d thought her not very attractive, and because she didn’t wear revealing clothing that made her look good.  How wrong he had been!

Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione had joined hands again and moved out into the water, where Harry had finally given in to his impulse and taken Hermione into his arms.  Just as he lowered his head to kiss her a wave of water crashed over them.  They looked up to see Ginny with her wand in her hand, sputtering with fury.  To her dismay, Hermione’s bikini looked even better soaking wet.  The now semitransparent top molded itself completely to the curves of her breasts, with the cool water hardening her nipples and the darker skin around them into a prominent display.  The three of them ignored the groan that came from Ron’s direction as Ginny shouted out another spell.

“Diffindo!”  However, this was just not going to be her day.  The cutting curse, which she had intended to slice through the straps of Hermione’s top, embarrassing the older girl into running shrieking out of the water and back to the safety of the house, had quite the opposite effect.  As her top slid into the water, freeing her breasts, Hermione put her hands on her hips and glared at the scheming little witch.  But before she could say anything Harry grabbed her and spun her around, pressing her bare breasts into his chest in order to cover her.  (And from his point of view, it felt pretty good too.) 

Ginny was horrified at this result, as she could see from the way he held her that this was quite a familiar position for them to be in, as though having their bare chests in contact was an everyday occurrence.  (Actually, she was right about that.)  She screamed again and raced out of the water, running back to the house where she flew up to her bedroom and flung herself sobbing into her bed.

Meanwhile, Ron had moved into deeper water.  The part of his brain that was still functioning was relieved that his two friends were ignoring him, because the part that was controlled by his other head had directed his hand to slip into his swim shorts and start stroking frantically.

Eventually the higher parts of his brain prevailed and were able to convinced him that yes, this was Hermione, and yes, she did have a lovely pair of breasts, and yes, he had never seen a naked pair of breasts before but really, Lavender’s were probably better (he resolved to confirm that as soon as possible) and really, this was his best friend, and really, you don’t wank off while lusting after your half naked best friend, who also happens to be the girlfriend of your best mate.

To his relief, said best friend never noticed because she was busy thanking her boyfriend for protecting her modesty by seemingly trying to remove his tongue from his mouth with her own.  From the writhing she was doing and his response to it, she might also have been planning on mutually engaging in the activity that their red-haired friend was performing solo.  Fortunately for all three of them, they all managed to bring themselves under control at approximately the same time, and any more embarrassing revelations were avoided.

The rest of the weekend was rather tame by comparison.  Bill and Fleur got married, Ginny sulked, Harry and Hermione held hands most of the time and kissed whenever they got a chance, and Ron ate a lot.  Then the trio returned to Grimmauld Place to continue their mission.

-xox-XOX-XOX-xox-

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