It was 3am, but Hermione Granger was still very much wide awake. Of course, she had stayed up this late many times before, but all those times had something to do with homework she hadn't finished, etc. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
She sighed. The thing that was bothering her was something she never thought in a million years she would go through. It sounded such a cliche, especially at her age, but she was in love with somebody she never thought would feel the same way. The difference this time though, was that the person she loved wasn't a guy. Not Ron, like everybody thought.
It was her best friend, and Ron's younger sister, Ginny Weasley.
Hermione had been trying to hide these feelings for weeks now. The more she tried though, the more she found her mind consumed by images of Ginny. It was now at a stage where Hermione had to admit to herself - she had completely fallen for the younger girl.
Of course, she hadn't told Ginny about her feelings. How could she? This could easily be the sort of thing that would ruin a great friendship, and Hermione wasn't willing to risk the loss of such a good friend. Because Ginny was sure to turn on her if she ever found out. Wasn't she...?
She lay there, trying once again to sleep. But soon she was lost in her own thoughts, thoughts she knew perfectly well she shouldn't be thinking. Just imagining Ginny lying next to her now, brushing her own lips against Hermione's...before she could stop herself, the tiniest of moans slipped out of her mouth and she heard herself whispering Ginny's name...just a split second before she noticed that Ginny had entered the room.
"Hermione?" Ginny said, looking slightly bewildered. "I heard you saying my name...is everything ok?"
Shit, thought Hermione.