AN: This story is a bit different than most of my other stories, being told in first person and a slightly different style. It still has Harry/Hermione pairing, magical bonds and other stuff you've already seen in other of my stories as well as at other authors. If you don't like variations on a known theme - don't read it. If, on the other hand, you like playing with various ideas, rearrange them, sequence them and see what if... then you may surely enjoy this story.

As always - the Harry Potter worls and its characters are not mine. The belong to JK Rowling and her associates. I only own the plot (barely).

1

It all happened due to the firewhiskey, I swear. Ask Sirius, if you don't trust me. He'll confirm my story, I'm sure. He'll first tease me and Hermione to death, of course, but we deserve it. We should have known better than to trust a Marauder and two pranksters, and yet I can't say that any of us regrets it. No, sir! It couldn't have turned better even had Hermione planned it herself.

I'm not clear enough, you say? Well, let me tell you the whole story, or as much of it as I could find out. I couldn't remember much after that night, so I had to dig for information, interrogating others, yet most couldn't remember much either, as none stayed too sober at the time. Still, I think I manage to find out most of it and make it into a concise sequence of events, the way they probably happened. I'm still unsure about some details, and there were some contradictions which I'm not sure I fully solved, but… Who cares? What matters is the final result, don't you agree?

It all started after my trial. What trial, you ask? Alright. It was the summer after my fourth year, after Cedric was killed and Voldemort resurrected. Our esteemed Minister at that time – Mr. Cornelius Fudge – wouldn't hear of that, of course, and he started a propaganda campaign to make me look like I was hallucinating. Someone of his followers probably got the idea that they would be better if they got rid of me altogether and sent two dementors to Little Whinging to take care of that.

Their plan didn't work. Both I and Dudley were nearly kissed, but I manage to produce a Patronus and get rid of the dementors. Although I saved us from fate worse than death, the minister thought he could now put me to trial, both for underage magic and for doing magic in front of muggles. You say that being underage I couldn't possibly be put on trial? That didn't seem to bother the minister.

Luckily, it turned out that Dumbledore could prove that my use of magic was justified and I was found innocent. Back at Grimmauld Place, I was given a small celebration by Mrs. Weasley and I felt glad to put that problem behind me. Sirius seemed to have a different idea, though, and he had no problem recruiting the twins to help him. With three brilliant minds working together, it was a sure bet that their plan would succeed.

A few days after that trial, Sirius told me, "I want to properly celebrate your winning the trial along with a belated birthday party. I've already secured a room on the third floor, far enough from Mrs. Weasley, and made sure to silence it. You, Hermione and Ron should come there after you hear Mrs. Weasley retire. Be careful not to make noise on your way, or she'll send you back to bed."

"You really need not bother," I told him. "Being here with you and with my best friends is celebration enough." I really felt that way.

"Oh, nonsense! It's about time you learned how to properly celebrate, the way your father and I used to do. Besides, being locked in here for my protection, I need some distractions once in a while, and it's not a bother at all. Just come!"

I smiled thankfully at him. "I will."

There was an order meeting after dinner and then Dumbledore stayed a bit later. By the time Mrs. Weasley went to her room it was almost midnight. Luckily, Ginny was already fast asleep by then, as Sirius said we should not bring her along, and Hermione wouldn't have been able to leave their room otherwise. Still, Hermione was wearing her nightgown and a dressing gown over it, as she had to pretend going to bed at the same time as Ginny. Ron was also wearing his pyjamas. I didn't have any, so I just stayed in my normal clothes. We sneaked stealthily up the stairs and along the short corridor. Sirius was waiting at the door and waved us silently into the still dark room. He quickly closed the door behind us, and the room immediately lighted with some festive lights, revealing a fully laden table with all kinds of snacks, both muggle and magical, and several kinds of beverage. I was not surprised to find Fred and George grinning at the far side of the room.

The walls were decorated with "Happy Birthday" banners and the large cake in the middle of the table had "15" written on it. Some lively background music was playing, adding to the festive mood.

Sirius lighted the candles on the cake and had me blow them off. Luckily, these were normal candles. I feared they would be the trick ones, that just can't be blown off – that would have been more in line with both Sirius's and the twins' doings. We then enjoyed the cake and some other treats and drank a bit. Besides pumpkin juice, the twins also brought some of the popular muggle drinks as well as butterbeer.

We were celebrating for more than half an hour when Sirius came to me with a tray full of glasses containing a pale yellowish liquid. "It's about time you taste this," he said.

"What is it?" I could already guess, based on the alcoholic scent.

"That's firewisky. Your father and I had our first experience with it when we were thirteen. It's way overdue for you to try it as well."

I wasn't so sure about it and I could see Hermione frown at the idea, which made it even less appealing. Sirius insisted, though. "Prongslet, you must drink and make your father proud. I promised him, soon after you were born, that I'll teach you to drink. Of course, Lily wasn't too happy about that, as you can imagine."

I could see that Hermione wasn't happy either, although the twins seemed quite happy to take some, and Ron was curious enough to take a glass as well. Sirius didn't wait for me to decide. He shoved a glass into my hand and another into Hermione's. "Let us all toast for Harry, our own Prongslet, our champion, who stood bravely against the ministry and against the dark lord. Let us all wish him long and happy life!"

Reminding me of Voldemort was not a good idea. I lifted my glass, thinking of Cedric, and drank it all in one gulp, as did Sirius and the twins. That was a mistake. It burned my mouth, my throat and my stomach like fire and made me gasp for air. Ron, who also tried to take it all in one gulp, seemed to choke on it, making the twins laugh harder. Hermione, though, drank it in little sips, grimacing at each.

Sirius roared with laughter. "The best way to overcome the burning sensation is to drown it with some more!" He pushed another glass towards me. The twins took one each and made Ron take another as well. Hermione was still holding her half-full first glass.

I've never checked what goes into that beverage that makes it so potent. As soon as I had the second glass, I felt like all my worries were going away, floating on alcohol fumes. I became much nicer to talk with, so Sirius told me. Even Hermione's frown seemed to melt away. Yet I didn't drink it all at once. I still held a half-full glass. Ron, who drank it all, was immediately offered his third by one of the twins – I could no longer discern them at that stage. Hermione finally finished her first glass and Sirius was quick to refill it. I think he already had four by that time.

As I reached the bottom of my second glass I was starting to feel unstable and my words came out slurred. This didn't seem to bother Sirius, who poured some more into my glass, but Hermione, although a bit inebriated herself, thought it was enough. "I'll help Harry to his bed. You two," she pointed at the twins, "should take Ron to your room. He's in no condition to go any farther." She turned to me. "Come, lean on me if you need to."

I don't remember how we managed to arrive to my room. I could barely hold myself upright by that time and walking was a task beyond me. Still, Hermione made sure that we reached the room with no mishaps and without waking any of the responsible adults. Once there, I fell on my bed. She took my shoes and my socks off and wanted to tuck me in bed.

"My shirt… and… my trousers. I sleep in.. Hic… my boxers only," I mumbled. Had I not been drunk I would have felt ashamed to let her see me in my (oversized) boxers only.

Hermione obliged. I think she also blushed, but I'm not sure and she certainly couldn't tell me later. She then tucked me in bed and I probably fell asleep immediately.

Something awakened me. It may have been a dream, or some noise, and maybe something else. I sat on my bed, trying to understand what it was, and then I suddenly felt really sick. I felt like all that I ate during the last month was trying to get out again – through my mouth. I barely managed to turn aside, so that my bed would escape the mess.

"Aw!" I heard a voice and some steps, sloshing through the mess, and then, "Harry, are you alright?"

It was so out of place, that I would have laughed, if I could, but my mouth was wide open, letting some more out. Hermione stood aside, supporting my shoulders and trying to let me know that she would help me, no matter what. It took a bit for my stomach to calm down, letting me finally breathe, yet I was covered in sweat.

Hermione dug a wand – I didn't know if it was hers, mine or Ron's – and vanished the mess that I made. She used some more spells to clean my bed and her clothes and an air-freshening charm to make the room tolerable again. "I'll bring you some water to wash your mouth and refresh a bit," she told me, moving swiftly out. She returned quickly, holding a glass of water and a small bowl, for me to wash my mouth into.

I took it thankfully. Once my mouth felt close to normal again, I lifted my eyes at her. Hermione was only wearing her nightgown now. Its front was quite wet and it was clinging tightly to her body, making her look almost naked. The wetness made the cloth translucent, so that nothing was left for my imagination. "Hermione, you're..." I said, pointing at her nightgown.

She looked down and I could see her blushing furiously despite the dim light. "The Dressing gown needs a through washing. I had only a few splatters on this, and I thought..."

"Take one of my oversized shirts, if you want," I suggested. Although I liked the view, I knew she felt extremely embarrassed. Besides, we were both still drunk, I was sure.

Hermione went to the foot of my bed and opened my trunk. She chose my Quidditch team jersey, though. She turned her back to me, took off her nightgown, letting me enjoy the view of her very trim behind, and then pulled on my shirt, which reached about halfway down her thighs.

"Move aside," she said, lifting the edge of my blanket.

"What are you doing?"

She sighed. "You're clearly in no condition to be left alone, just like earlier in the night, yet I can't sleep on the carpet now..."

"There's no carpet in this room," I intervened.

"No carpet? Oh! That explains why I needed to spread the dressing gown under my body to fall asleep."

"You could use Ron's bed," I suggested.

She grimaced. "Have you seen the condition he left it in? I'd rather sleep here, with you. Besides, after getting all wet, I need you to give me some warmth. Now move!"

I moved as far as I could, until my back was pressed to the wall. Hermione tucked herself in and sighed contentedly, closing her eyes.

I thought we would fall asleep quickly, being so tired and drunk. That didn't happen. I heard Hermione's soft breath and it sounded quite irregular, as if she was excited about something. I was certainly excited. Seeing her naked made my body react, and her proximity, knowing that only my jersey was separating our bodies, didn't help much. Just to add to my concerns, Hermione moved her hand under the blanket and it brushed against my erection, that was barely covered by my boxers.

She turned her face to me, looking very serious. "Do you want to do what your body implies?"

I wasn't sure about my answer, but she thought I didn't understand her correctly, so she elaborated. "I mean, I'd love to give you my vir...ginity and later get imp...reg...nated by you and give you children, but do you feel the same about me? Do you see any future with me at your side?"

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