Hermione watched as Harry walked out of the Burrow, looking upset as he made his way toward the Weasely's broom shed. She bit her lip, knowing he'd just spoken to Ginny. Harry'd told her all about his plan to tell Ginny why she couldn't come along as they hunted Horcruxes, and while Hermione hadn't approved of his method (arguing with a Weasely was never a good idea), she knew there was no way to stop him. Despite her disapproval, she actually agreed with him; Ginny being in danger was something Hermione would willingly give her life to avoid.
The brunette glanced between her friend's retreating back and the Burrow, where she was sure Ginny was still standing being shell-shocked and upset. She hesitated then headed toward the house, wanting to check on Ginny.
Hermione walked up to the open door, looking into the Weasely's dining room, seeing Ginny standing off in the adjoining living room. She couldn't see her friend's face, but as Hermione neared, she could see Ginny shaking slightly.
Hermione paused in the doorway to the living room, knocking on the door jamb. "Ginny? Are you okay?"
Ginny let out a weak snort, but said nothing, staring out a window dully.
The charged atmosphere was nearly suffocating, but Hermione stepped toward Ginny cautiously, coming to stand a few feet from her.
"I guess Harry told you," Hermione observed quietly, aching to do something to help her friend.
Ginny nodded once. "Not much, but yeah."
"Hmm."
They were both quiet for a while, the sense of the war rushing to meet them suddenly very pressing and urgent.
"Ginny, I have to tell you something," Hermione said suddenly, wringing her hands nervously. "It's... I... I have to tell you now, because I know the odds. It's very likely that I'll end up dead before the year's out, and I can't bear the thought of dying-"
"Don't say that," Ginny interrupted harshly as she turned around, her eyes flashing with a mix of emotion Hermione couldn't decipher. "Please," the redhead added, her voice softer.
Hermione swallowed, trying to ease her nervously dry mouth. "Please, Gin, let me get this out. It's hard enough without being interrupted." Her voice betrayed her, shaking a little.
After a moment, Ginny gave a relenting nod, allowing Hermione to continue.
"Look, I... I can't bear the thought of dying and not telling you..." Hermione bit her lip, working up the courage to speak the words she wanted so desperately to say. "I know... I know how important Harry is to you, and I know you've probably never... I mean..." A dismayed sigh escaped the brunette. "Ginny, I'm in love with you. I have been for years, but I was too scared to tell you. I couldn't risk losing you, but now that I'm facing death, I... I just..." Hermione fought a sudden burst of tears and swallowed past a lump in her throat. "I had to let you know," she finished weakly, losing her battle and letting tears slip down her cheeks.
"... Why are you crying?" Ginny asked softly, moving toward the older girl and touching her arm gently. "Love isn't something to be upset about, 'Mione. Especially in times like these. We have to have something to balance out all the fear." Something in the tone of her voice changed a little. "We need someone to dream about when it gets dark, or we'll all go mad."
"You must've been spending too much time around Luna," Hermione sniffled, looking away and wiping her eyes.
"Hermione, look at me," Ginny pleaded, ignoring the brunette's weak attempt at a subject change. When Hermione reluctantly obliged, she continued. "Promise me something?"
Hermione nodded, knowing she'd promise the girl in front of her anything she could.
"Promise me you'll still be alive after... well, after everything."
Hermione hesitated, wondering how she was going to keep that promise, but nodded her assent.
Ginny looked a little relieved. "One more promise?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Promise me this isn't the last of these that I'll get," she whispered, closing the distance between then and catching Hermione's lips in a gentle kiss.
Hermione made a strangled noise of surprise, pulling away and paling a little. She gaped at the redhead, completely thrown. Part of her was upset with herself for breaking away from a kiss with Ginny, but the rest of her was too taken aback to do anything but gawk at her friend.
"Harry doesn't mean as much to me as you think," Ginny said with a nervous grin, tucking a stray lock of Hermione's curly mane behind her ear.
Hermione finally found her voice, though it sounded very small. "I thought you two..."
Ginny's smile faded into a bitter eye roll. "So did everyone else. Nothing was ever really official, and even then, he's just gone and ended it on some silly notion of keeping me safe." She glanced in the direction of the door Harry had exited, shaking her head after a moment and returning her gaze to the brunette before her.
Hermione didn't bother to disguise her confusion. "But... why?"
"Did I agree to go with him, you mean?" At Hermione's nod, Ginny sighed before continuing her answer. "D'you have any idea how hard it is to find another girl who likes girls in this world? Especially in the same small group of friends? Hoping for you to be fancy me felt like... I don't know, hoping for Fred and George to ace their N.E.W.T.s. You know, impossible. It was easier to settle for him." She cringed. "Don't tell him I said that; that sounds awful."
Hermione was silent for a few moments, her mind reeling with everything she had just learned.
She looked up at Ginny, her eyes automatically going to the surprise streak of silver that darted past the window behind Ginny. It raced past the house, over toward the Weasely's makeshift Quidditch field. Despite the distance, Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice boomed across the property, making his message known: "The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
The emotional silence between the girls was forgotten for a moment as the words sank in. Hermione saw Ginny's cheeks go pale and knew her own were doing the same. Suddenly, she realized that these were their last few seconds together, and her mouth seemed to open of it's own volition.
"Ginny, I-"
"Hermione, we have to go! Now!" Harry yelled from far off, his voice drawing nearer as he spoke.
Dark, billowing shapes flew toward the ground all around the Burrow, signaling the arrival of a squad of Death Eaters. Almost instantly, curses began flying and windows were shattering, chaos exploding across the previously-quiet homestead.
"I love you, Gin!" she yelled over the sounds of battle.
Seconds later, Harry and Ron burst through the door, barreling toward Hermione.
"I know," Ginny answered, gripping Hermione's hand tightly for a moment. "Promise?" she asked, the word loaded with meaning.
Hermione nodded, stepping back toward the boys. "I promise."
Ginny nodded back, biting her lip nervously.
Ron and Harry came up on either side of the brunette, each grabbing hold of one of her arms. "Ready?" Ron asked, panting a little. "'Cause bloody hell, we need to get our arses outta here!"
Hermione took one last look at Ginny and made a soft noise of agreement, wishing she had more time with Ginny.
"Be careful," the youngest Weasely begged them-her gaze directed at the brunette-as Hermione pulled out her wand.
The Trio nodded their assent, and with a sharp crack, were gone.