Working things out...goes horribly downhill

Hermione's POV

And so ends the longest two weeks of my life. For many reasons, but I believe the strife and the restoration works on our relationship have paid off. Me and Cho are going out tonight, and it took a lot of work to get Cho to be positive enough to agree to it.

The first step was letting her know she's forgiven, followed by her believing it. I could've hated her for what she nearly did, but then I certainly never expected that either of us were capable of straying. Accepting the fact she could've strayed, but didn't, was much easier than being angry. That process with Cho took longer, since she was first she figured she should suffer the most. But then she only nearly cheated, I DID cheat. What we did wasn't important, it's what we want that matters?

The next phase involved a hell of a lot of sex. Particularly for me, it felt like I was cleansing my soul with every last bead of sweat, and every splash of orgasmic bliss. We had sex for the duration of two days, with breaks for sleep, takeout food and rehydration. We hit each other with every mastered move we possessed, and even with things we've never tried before. I loved every second of it.

At first, I was scared of whether I'd either be thinking of my tryst with Ginny, or find that Cho didn't quite satisfy me to the levels Ginny did. But that concern dissipated very quickly once we started. I think I unlocked Cho’s competitive and possessive streaks. That extra burst of emotion made all the difference.

We forgave ourselves. We impassioned our sex life. And yet Cho still is not quite ready. She still loves me, never stopped. And she was getting there with liking herself. But she is scared still. Scared of Ginny. Scared that one day she, or someone else, would try and steal me away again. Scared that they would succeed the next time. She was in self-preservation mode, and that was the hardest part by far.

It was up to me to convince her. And I did everything I could think of. I broke all contact with Ginny, which actually meant I had to break contact with all the Weasleys, not ideal and hopefully only until Cho feels completely reassured. Ron was the only exclusion, and it's ironic to think I once thought he was the brat of the Weasley family. Speaking of whom Ginny tried her best, but I was a better witch, I used that advantage in full. She had no way to get at me.

But it weren't just her. I got hit on by a lot of people male and female, usually I ignore it and if it continues, politely put them in their place. But sometimes I found it harder to ignore and just let it happen, though I never flirt back. That had changed. I was quite savage in how I went about publicly lecturing people, but it was the only way. They had to know and respect that I'm taken, and doing it publicly let others know never to attempt it.

I am Cho Chang’s fiancee. I will be her loyal and adoring wife. When news got back to Cho of my public messages, she smiled at me. I knew I'd done it. We made love that night and she agreed to an official date of dedication. And that date was tonight.

I acknowledged through my mirror Cho entering the room in a...god-damn-sexy loose white shirt, top three buttons undone. And her legs and bum too, left completely exposed. The only disappointing part is the underwear she has on...I just want to rip it off and get to the petals underneath.

“Mee, have you seen my bracelet?” Cho was oblivious to her appetising appearance, seemingly only concerned with looking about the room. I didn't reply straight away...not with the view she was presenting to me as she was bent over a drawer. “Mee?”

“No love. I haven't” I probably could've remembered if I had my brain fully engaged. What human could with a semi-naked Cho in the room?

Cho huffed, it sounded sad. She always sounds sad since ‘that night’, over the smallest and silliest inconveniences. Though her bracelet isn't a small or silly thing, it is the first item of jewellery I gave her. The summer before the hellish horcrux hunt, her very early Christmas present from me. “I can't find it Mee. It wasn't in the dresser or the box.”

She's getting overwrought now, so I'm up on my feet and pulling her into my arms. Naughty thoughts pushed aside, my only priority is making her stay positive. “Cho, all you have to do is summon it, it's here somewhere.”

Cho half-smiled, realising the amusing element of being a witch. That's forgetting you're a witch. “But don't get yourself down, not tonight. This is all about us and our happiness. Nights like tonight will be one of those that make us look back, and be proud that we worked things out. The last month was a hurdle, what happens when you come to a hurdle?”

Cho sniffed fondly “you jump over them.”

“Exactly. We could've crashed into it, but we didn't. We cleared that hurdle, now we gotta land on our feet, no stumbling.”

Cho nodded but her eyes didn't seem much brighter. “That’s hard to do when the same person who puts that hurdle in front of us, then tries to sweep the rug from under us.”

She's referring to Ginny who visited the house yesterday whilst I was out. She was threatening Cho with getting the press involved, airing our dirty laundry if she didn't comply with her wishes. Cho dared her to do her worst, before slamming the door in her face. I was so proud. But it nearly rattled Cho’s very fragile confidence.

I think I might actually cause Ginny physical harm the next time I see her. “But you showed that person exactly what you're made of. She had something on you before, she doesn't now. She can't touch you, or either of us for that matter.”

“I wouldn't underestimate her, that scheme she had going nearly worked. We both were so lucky to get out of it...especially you” Cho warned.

‘By the skin of her sheath’ I mentally added. She's right, if Ginny had acted only a few seconds earlier there would've been no coming back. I'm actually glad we went through several rounds, before she thought to go to the “main event”. It basically bought Cho an incredible amount of time to intervene. “She won't get the best of us again. We together are better than her.”

Cho nodded more confidently this time, before kissing my brow and offering me her unbuttoned shirt. I reach up and at a teasingly slow rate, pop her buttons into place. It would be better to do it the opposite way, but I'll get that chance later. “You didn't have to do the gentleman act you know, you're very clearly no less of a woman than me”

Cho giggled at the warmness of my breath against the hollow of her neck. “But I love courting you, it pleases me to grant your every desire, with chivalry and respect.”

I hummed playfully “I see, and a female is incapable of chivalry and respect, is that right?”

Cho tutted and gave a quick pinch to my chin. “Quit the agenda, you know I know that women are the best. You in particular.”

I leant in and locked tender lips with her, savouring the same softness that blew my mind away all those years ago, and has never diminished. “I love you Cho.”

Cho clutched at my nape tightly, hearing those words from me garnered a different reaction now. Before ‘that night’ she'd shyly smile and lightly kiss me back, saying the same words warmly and softly. Now she's halfway between pained and angry, her body clenched and her eyes are held shut tightly.

Guilt. It tortured her even now. Forgiveness was granted but she still couldn't shake off the torment that guilt causes. I hate seeing this reaction to something she should be delighted to hear. But then...I know that she is delighted to hear it, because it means the same thing as it always did, even if it's displayed differently. “I love you too.”

I press our foreheads together, nuzzling her soft cheek. “Where’s your other one? The bracelet I got you after the battle? That one looks much nicer on you anyway.”

Ginny's POV

She's resisting well, apparently her lioness has come out. It's frustrating. It's problematic. It's hot as all hell. But it's a farce. She isn't disowning me and my family, and providing public ridicule to anyone who slightly smiles too much for her liking, to prove a point. It's fear, plain and simple.

I scare her because I'm horrible, controlling, and go right for the jugular. She's scared of the power I possess, it arouses her. There's no doubt she loves Cho, I can't prevent that. But she can't stop her attraction for me. That won't go away, no matter what she tells herself.

I admit I gambled on the plan to once again get Cho under my thumb. I suspected Cho wouldn't crack this time, she'd do anything not to let me control her again. And failing that, Hermione would see it coming, and would leave my efforts ineffective.

No. I knew before that the route to Hermione was no longer necessary to go through Cho. I had a way in with Hermione directly, Cho was just an obstacle. That's why I carried an ulterior motive for turning up at their doorstep. If I couldn't scare her, I could distract her whilst something else was happening.

I won't tell you how I got it, just that I have her bracelet. Cho’s or Hermione's, I don't really care of whom it actually belongs. I will return it of course, with interest. A little perk that will sadly disadvantage whoever puts it on. Who would I prefer to be my puppet, Cho or Hermione herself?

And by puppet I mean it literally this time, not metaphorically. I will control the actions and mind of whoever wears this bracelet. Just enough to aide my arrival and arrange an opportunity. I just need one chance this time.

There was risk in the return of the bracelet. I couldn't break in because Hermione's security measures are too good. I couldn't stalk them outside the home because I'm far too recognisable. I couldn't get a stranger to hand it over as a dropped item, because they could already know it was missing, or at least know it wasn't an item they carried on them at the time.

I could always try the same method that I used to obtain the bracelet, I'm fairly sure they weren't aware of my distraction scheme. I was just there to bully them, I didn't even step inside the house...or at least as far they knew.

Okay I'll spill my secrets to you. The person at the door was me, but not the REAL me. Polyjuice baby. I knew Cho opening the door would temporarily disable Hermione's security wards, so I was able to pry open the window of their bedroom on my Quidditch broom. In, grab something suitable, get out again.

I could try that again, have the fake me knock on the door and cause a scene whilst I infiltrated their bedroom again. But there is a problem...if they've noticed it missing and it's returned to exactly the place where they keep it...huge alarms would be ringing. They probably ransacked the home, or tried to summon it. It'll be difficult for them not be suspicious of its return.

They might not notice it's gone but I doubt it, why make it the first item in their jewellery collection if it's not important? For that same reason they'd never buy it randomly showing up again.

Why try to convince them otherwise? Why not come clean that I stole it? I wanted to be spiteful and do what I can to make their lives difficult. I just need to get inside, that's my main objective. The rest can be improvised.

What is it they call these things, a stakeout right? That's what I'm doing, choosing the best moment to strike which obviously isn't right now. Mainly because nobody is home. Typical. But I brought food, and refreshment as well as reading material.

Sadly, I'm not very comfortable. I'm only disillusioned, sitting against the head-high wall across the street from their house. They don't have a bench or other seating arrangement that provides a decent view of the soon-to-not-be-Granger-Chang’s home. They'll probably enter through the Floo, but I only need to see lights turning on. I'll give them half an hour, before I knock.

But bloody hell, where are they at? It's nearly nine o'clock. Not a flicker of light shone out from their house in the past four hours or so. It would be typical if they weren't actually planning on returning home tonight, the Chang and Granger families are very accommodating to each other. They universally hate me, probably always did in fairness.

Well, if tonight is not the night, there's always another one. I've got all the time in the world. Except for Wednesday. Harpies are playing the Kestrels.

Oh, right on time too. I see the living room lights turn on, quickly followed by all the others. Gotta be magic, I couldn't even come to a complete stop on a speeding broom, faster than the time it took to light every room in the house. It was all curtains and netting, so I could only guess what room they were in, or what they were doing.

It is getting late, so they were probably getting ready for bed. Everybody has a pre-sleep routine, I know Hermione has to get her teeth brushed without fail every night. Who knows what Cho likes to do, who cares? As long as they're not...

They're probably gonna fuck.

I don't like how angry that makes me feel, because I'm not naive. Of course they have sex, I probably made it so they fucked even more than before. Hermione probably fucks Cho and pictures me, Cho is probably extra motivated to pleasure her.

So why am I so angry about it?

I don't know myself, jealousy most likely. Hermione should never have sex with anyone other than me. Or I'm angry at myself that I let it not be me in there, reaming her with my fat cock instead of settling for Cho’s inferior assets and skills.

I can't let it consume me though, I can use it later. I gotta job to do before then, that required a calm head and patience. Just got to wait out here for a while, give them the chance to settle and get comfortable.

Well, that's been half an hour, I'm ready as I can be. No fuck ups this time, just plenty fuck-ing. I can't escape this irritation though, burning in my cheeks and stomach. I've got to rein in it or I won't get anywhere.

I knock loud enough to be heard over most things...except maybe that sort of thing. Merlin, there's that rage again.

Not a good sign. Either they still didn't hear or they don't care who's at the door. There's definitely no urgency, or movement of any kind. I try again, even louder.

I think I heard a loud groan, frustration? Good. That means I did indeed interrupt whatever they were doing, and a very good activity it was by the sound of it. Clench those knuckles and think of the plan.

I see movement. I heard giggling and happy sounds. Before the door was hauled open and a glowing, smiling Cho stood behind it. She had adorned a gentleman’s attire that I hated, because I know Hermione loves everything about it. Jeeves has nothing on her. Her smile dropped immediately upon seeing me. “Oh what is it now Ginevra?”

Fuck the plan, just take her out. “Petrificus Totalus”

Cho froze before she could even move, falling heavily to the ground. Her arm still raised from where it held the door open, and her other hand stuck to her hip. I moved inside, over her fallen body, closing the door behind me.

I quickly retrieve the bracelet from my pocket, bending over to show it before her frantic eyes. “I believe you're missing a certain item of jewellery. Here, have it back.”

I **** the gold and silver band over her still fingers and wrist, her arm position made it a very easy endeavour. I saw the magic flow through my bitter rival, her fierce eyes slowed to a more serene pace. “There, easy. Now be a good girl for Ginny.”

I reverse the spell and motion is restored to the fallen girl. There was no retaliation, no cussing or insults, she didn't even move much now she was capable. Waiting for her orders.

“Now Cho, you may stand. Pluck one of your hairs out for Ginny. Remove your clothes and pass them to me. Then go fall asleep on the couch. Do not wake up until I come down in the morning. Is that clear?”

Cho was already obeying the first order when she nodded in understanding. She moved quickly through all of her outstanding orders, with no hesitation or protesting of any kind. Blimey, that magic is stronger than the Imperius curse. Where did Charlie get that spell book from?

I dressed into Cho’s undergarments (which were two sizes too small for me, bra straps digging in and leaving angry red marks more than likely) then put her clothes over me. Cho was already gone, and probably flat out asleep. I was guzzling down Polyjuice at the same time Hermione called for her fiancee. “Cho! I'm waiting! Just tell them to go away!”

Oh God, if I had my cock right now I'd be harder than a Petrified Chang. Now in Cho’s inferior body I call back up the stairs. “Alright Mee. I'm coming.”