A/N: Yay for updates! Inspiration for this one is really waning, but I have an ending in mind that shouldn't be too many chapters away. Thanks for anyone who's stuck with me!

"Shit," I muttered, flapping my hand in the air a few times to ease the pain of the burn I had just received. This would never have happened if I'd just used magic like a normal person.

See, after the incredible birthday Hermione had planned for me, and then when she'd dragged herself to the Quidditch World Cup just for me, I knew I had to make her birthday that September perfect. I could have done the whole thing by magic in a few minutes, but when she had during my lunch break at Quidditch practice to let me know that she would have to work late, I knew I would be too excited for her surprises to wait. To pass the time until she got home, I decided to get everything ready without using magic. I started dinner (which was still in the oven) without incident, but when I started setting up the candles (the ones she had gotten me for my birthday) in our bedroom, I had one of my fingers too close to the flame of the lighter.

After digging around for some burn salve and applying it to my hand, I felt much better, and finished setting up the room. I checked the clock; setting up the flat the Muggle way had ended up taking just the right amount of time, and with her late hours, Hermione would be home any minute. I changed my clothes quickly, did a quick sweep of the living room to make sure Echo was still in her carrier (all the candles plus a hyper kitten was a potentially disastrous combination) and lit one more candle, which I set on the kitchen table. Then I checked on dinner again, and I heard Hermione at the door, probably trying to figure out why her key wouldn't open it.

The people who had made the door had apparently decided that the regular lock wasn't enough, and had added a deadbolt that could only be undone from the inside, even if the person outside had a key. Hermione and I had never used it, but I did today, so that I could be sure that I would surprise her instead of the other way around.

"Ginny?" she called out. "Are you in there?"

"Just a second," I yelled back. Moments later I greeted her at the door, all the lights in the flat off, the candle in my hands the only way for us to see each other.

"Oh, wow," she breathed, and, not to be conceited, but I had to agree with her. I had changed out of my "lazing about" clothes into a deep green satin negligee and black heels. My hair was the one thing I had used magic to do, quickly cleaning it and making sure it was sleek and straight again after a day at practice.

"Happy birthday, love," I smiled sweetly at her.

"Er – " she hesitated. "Suddenly I'm feeling underdressed. Or is that overdressed?"

"I can fix that," I smirked, pulling her inside gently and urging her to drop her bag. "Dinner first, or after?"

"You made dinner?"

"You seem surprised," I teased.

Hermione smiled radiantly. "No. Only very lucky."

I pulled her in for a kiss, and we mutually decided that dinner could wait.

After our first round of lovemaking, I remembered dinner in the oven and ran naked to the kitchen to try and salvage part of it. Most of the lasagna was past hope, but after it cooled I would be able to scoop out some of the middle and throw out the burnt edges. Since Echo was put away, I left it uncovered on the countertop and returned to Hermione.

"Is it burnt horribly?" she asked as I snuggled back into her side.

"Some of it's salvageable," I admitted. "I tried, though."

"Mmmm," she sighed, stretching. "I personally think you did very well. The candles, the nightgown –"

"The expensive nightgown that's now in shreds," I added.

"Yes, well, it's my birthday," she replied with a shit-eating grin she could only have learned from me.

"Oh, shut up, you," I muttered, and kissed her again.

Some time later, as her breathing began to slow, Hermione exclaimed, "This is the best birthday ever!"

"And we haven't even got to the presents," I teased.

"Well, we're very behind schedule. You know, we haven't even properly used your birthday presents yet." She gestured around to the candles still burning around the room.

I bit my lip. She was wearing the look on her face that meant I was really in for it.

"Uh," I hesitated, but Hermione had already rolled over and stretched out an arm to grab one of the candles from the bedside table.

"Uhhh," I groaned out a moment later as she tipped the candle slightly and let the wax fall onto my stomach.

She pulled back immediately. "Does it hurt? Crap, I'm so –"

Mindful of the flame, I silenced her with a kiss, the hardening wax cracking on my stomach as I sat up slightly. Drops that hadn't solidified yet trickled down my sides and fell to the mattress. "I like it," I assured her. "It's really nice."

She smiled in relief. "Oh, good. Then could I… continue?"

"Oh, yes," I sighed, lying back again. The pain and then cooling of the wax was a strange sensation, but I definitely knew that it was one I wanted to feel more of.

"Okay." She nodded a little nervously, but then smiled again. I could tell she was getting into it, starting to anticipate what was to come. I squirmed at the smirk blooming on her face.

Hermione leaned down to kiss me lightly, pulling away immediately when I arched into her. I groaned at the loss of contact, but she just lifted her hand and tipped the candle again.

A thin stream of hot wax dripped onto my upper belly, drizzling from side to side over my ribs. Pain flared momentarily in my skin and then cooled, leaving me with ever-growing arousal in its wake. Hermione's fingers trailed over the wax shell, and I could feel the sensation dully through the surface.

"More," I whispered, tugging gently at her wrist. The candle tipped again, and the wax poured into the hollow between my breasts.

This time I squirmed at the heat so concentrated in one place, but Hermione's tongue trailing up the side of my neck was enough to take the worst of the pain away. She scooped her fingers into the still-soft wax between my breasts and rubbed it over my nipples.

I lie there basking in the feeling until it was completely cool, and then I reached out and took the candle from her.

"Come here, birthday girl."

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