This is my first HP fic, EVER

I don't own Harry Potter

I hope you enjoy this.

Hidden behind a mass of books, Hermione Granger resided. If it were not for her bushy waves of brown hair and the occasional hand reaching out to grab a book, a passer by would have simply guessed it was a pile of books, tended to by no one.

Not that anyone around her would be surprised if she popped up from behind the fortress.

At sixteen all of her fellow peers knew her as the insufferable bookworm she was almost proud to be. They had spent five years with the girl and were used to such a weekend where Granger would exile herself in the library or her dorm and dedicate it to studies.

Today she was studying, yes, but she was preparing herself for something outside academics. Hermione Granger was educating herself in her friends interests, the friend being Ginny Weasley.

After a rather brilliant fight between Ginny and Dean the other night, concluding with their separation, Hermione had taken it upon herself to try and aid Ginny. That meant learning about Quidditch among other things, just to help Ginny mend a broken heart or broken toe with the force the Weasly had kicked her trunk after the fight.

Hermione carefully scanned every page of Quidditch through the ages, Kennilworthy Whisp proved to be a handy author in such a subject.

The girl was mostly fascinated with evolution of the Broomstick. It was a well known fact Hermione hated flying, but she would gladly read about them, safely. On. The. Ground.

Hermione smiled at the fact wizards actually only used brooms as a mode of transport originally because they needed something discrete whilst living around Muggles, she'd read the fact plenty of times before, but she still loved such an origin.

The common room was bustling with students, non of them being Ginny, Ron or Harry for that matter. With that fact, Hermione was glad, she didn't want them interrupting her 'book bashing' as Ron called it.

Hermione reached out to grab a second book once she had had enough of Quidditch through the Ages. Her hand touched the book and she shot back her touch when she felt the warm skin of a hand in place of battered leather.

"Oh" Hermione tucked her fingers into her palm to form a timid fist and she glanced at the owner of the hand.
"Ginny!"

The red head smirked, the expression was shown without much emotion backing it, just a mask of humor.

Hermione noted it and tucked away Quidditch through the Ages.

Ginny perched upon the desk making a few books topple, neither girl really cared.

"Having fun in your fort?"

"It's not a fort Gin" Hermione covered a few other Quidditch books over with a copy of The Daily Prophet, not wanting Ginny to guess why she had books relating to sports.

Ginny flicked a stray bang from her eyes.

"Come for a walk?"

"I would really like to finish..."
"Please 'Mione?"

Hermione cursed herself and crossed her arms. She felt like an air bubble had just fallen then risen again in her heart with the nickname, it only ever sounded right coming from Ginny.

Hermione looked at her books, then at the grey blue eyes all the Weasley's seemed to posses, however, Ginny's seemed to be slightly turquoise around the pupils. How could she deny such a look?

Easily.

However, it was Ginny, she couldn't refuse her.

"Fresh air would do wonders, I guess"

"Yes!" Ginny grinned and pecked Hermione's cheek, effectively making the brunet blush. "We'll head to the lake, it's a nice day"

Hermione rose to her feet, for second thinking they would give out from under her. It wasn't until Ginny had zipped up her, The Weird Sisters hoodie that Hermione decided to follow, not caring how numb her legs had become.

Stepping through the portrait hole, Hermione smirked at Ginny's choice of clothing.

"Ginny, where did you get this from?" Hermione pinched the clothing, the dark grey material was worn and had several holes in it.

"Don't judge me, I like them" Ginny pulled the baggy garment closer to her body and stuffed her hands in the hoodie's oversized pockets.

"I wasn't" Hermione looked down at her own clothing, a simple striped grey and crimson jumper, like she could talk, it was two sizes too big.

Her Mother had said she'd grow into it.

They walked out of the castle quickly, passing many students of whom Ginny knew as people to avoid after her break up.

Hermione glared at one boy, Jason if she recalled correctly who dared to call Ginny a slut.

He received a short verbal assault from Ginny, Hermione ended up having to drag her friend away, some times Ginny acted more like a Minotaur than a girl. Calming the red head down, they stepped out in the day light, there was a light breeze but nothing too off putting.

"Bloody prat" Ginny growled and glared ahead of her. Hermione rolled her shoulders, not wanting to fuel Ginny's anger by agreeing, the walk had turned sour before it had began.

Hermione was strongly reminded of Ron when Ginny got in a temper, she couldn't really fathom who was worse, but she did try and calm her down.

"Gin, ignore him, you are better than sinking to his comments, actually, it's proven that people who call others are insecure..."
"No really, I would have never guessed" Ginny's sarcasm was rich and hindered Hermione's sentence to a mere hurt stare.

Ginny sucked in a breath upon seeing Hermione's grumpy pout.

"Sorry 'Mione" Ginny rubbed the other girls bicep, the contact made the brunet flinch in surprise.

"There is no need to take it out on me Ginevra Molly Weasley" Hermione snapped and Ginny halted.

The full name, out in public, Ginny shuddered at the fact she was now in Hermione's bad books.

Granger has balls.

Ginny thought and bit down on her bottom lip trying to refrain from snapping at her.

"Hermione, listen I'm sorry, he's just been up my ass about Dean"

Hermione sighed and urged them to walk faster, preferably out of the courtyard and away from the prying ears and eyes of a group of last year Slytherin's.

Walking down to the lake in silence, Hermione didn't really want to know what Ginny had been going through with Jason, due to the fact she'd probably get angry herself and go and do something stupid.

On the other hand, she wanted to know, to aid Ginny, in turn probably end up doing something stupid.

Ginny always had a knack for reducing Hermione into a bundle of walking, talking emotions.

Their footsteps crunched on the pebbles as they approached the lake. Reaching the shore, Ginny sat herself down and pulled her wand from her pocket to prod at a few pebbles.

"Don't ever dare say that I'm carrying out the misuse of magical equipment" Ginny sighed, smirking through her words.

Hermione sat beside her and laughed lightly.

"You'd Bat-Bogey Hex me to death"

"That's a tad drastic even for you Miss Smarty Pants" Ginny chuckled, alas, Hermione could hear tears tremolo through her laugh.

"Gin" Hermione quickly pulled the Weasley to her and kissed the top of her head, such an action made Hermione gain a distorted version of vertigo. Ginny sniffled and shifted her weight so she was almost atop of the witch and rested her head upon Hermione's shoulder.

Nuzzling the soft skin of Hermione's neck, Ginny whispered shaky confessions.

"I never did like Dean"

Hermione wrapped her arms around Ginny's back to support her, Hermione fathomed the girl was emotionally drained from the past few days. I never liked Dean. Hermione wanted to yell in victory at such a statement, but knew Ginny was still straight and would still see other guys after it had all blown over. Harry Potter was always going to be next in line.

Hermione didn't respond, but held Ginny until her legs began to go numb.

The crunch of approaching footsteps made Ginny slink off Hermione and sit by her, hurriedly wiping away a few stray tears. Hermione almost gasped at the loss of her body and felt pins and needles attack her limbs.

"Weasley! There you are, come on, we've got practice" Angelina Johnson barked, a few wolf whistles sounded. A muffled: "Caught em in the act" Ginny guessed it was probably Jimmy Peakes who said it.

Ginny groaned and gave an apologetic look at Hermione. Hermione shrugged, it couldn't be helped.

"I'll see you later" she pulled the bookworm into a quick hug before running to Angelina

Hermione bit on the inside of her lip and looked out upon the murky waters of the lake. Given a few more minuets, another nuzzle to the neck, probably a extension of Ginny's confession, Hermione imagined that the pair would have kissed.

The brunet sighed in frustration and listened to the distant craw of ravens.

What if they had kissed?

Would it ruin their friendship?

Every time she'd find something that suggested Ginny liked her, it would have sink holes of doubt in seconds.

"Merlin" Hermione groaned and closed her eyes, to let her mind mull over her situation.

Hermione had barley touched her breakfast, the sausage, beans and toast were abandoned. Ron didn't let it go unnoticed and was trying to sneak the food onto his own plate.

Harry, (clad in his Quidditch gear for the game in an hours time) tried to stop him by slapping his ever impending fork out of Ron's hand. It clattered back onto his plate gaining the attention of a few other Griffindors.

"Git!" Ron yelled, only then did Hermione look up from her copy of Quidditch through the Ages.

Guessing that Ron had wanted her food she pushed the plate towards him and got back to reading Chapter six: Changes in Quidditch since the Fourteenth Century.

"What's gotten into you lately Hermione?" Ron spoke through a mouthful of beans. Hermione was greeted with the sight and grimaced.

"It's rude to speak with your mouth open Ronald"

Ron rolled his eyes and gulped down the food.

"Again, what's up?"

"Nothing"

"Are you ill?"

"What would give you that impression?" Hermione snapped.

"You're reading about Quidditch" Harry motioned to the book and Ron nodded.

"I'm not allowed to read about it?" Hermione's foul mood was snowballing, soon she'd be hexing anything in her path.

Ginny had mentioned seeing a boy named Frankie after the Quidditch match, it had left Hermione sour.

Yet again, another blow to Hermione's assumption that the Weasley liked her.

"Someone's got your kickers in a twist" Ginny's voice sounded and footsteps followed. Hermione slammed the book closed like it had electrocuted her and prevailed to throw it at Harry. The book collided with his chest winding him and it toppled to the floor.

"Ow, Merlin Hermione!" Harry choked and Ron laughed at her behavior, but joined his best friend in choking as Harry swung his fist to punch Ron in the stomach. Hermione giggled at the pair and Ginny rested her chin on Hermione's shoulder, slinking behind her.

"What did you do 'Mione?"

"She threw a bloody book at Harry" Ron spluttered and Harry wheezed, his cheeks pink.

"Getting aggressive are we?" Ginny whispered into Hermione's ear, she lowered her voice to a gravelly tone, she had Hermione wrapped around her finger. The bookworm felt her skin flush and Ginny stole Ron's toast.

"Good luck today Ginny" Hermione managed, brushing her hair back to let cold air around her neck and reduce her ever impending fever.

"Thanks" Ginny smiled, after chewing on the toast. The toast had left a splodge of butter on her top lip.

"Gin, you have a little..." Hermione motioned to her own lip, as much as she wanted to kiss it off, it would be highly risky and inappropriate.

"Oh" Ginny quickly licked it away and Hermione watched it almost in slow motion.

This wasn't helping her flush one bit.

"'Mione, you okay?" Ginny took in the girl's reddened cheeks and darting eyes.

Hermione gulped, her throat dry, her palms rich with heat causing them to perspire.

"Just dandy" her response was gloomy. Ginny pulled off her gloves (she was also in Quidditch attire).

"By you're brilliant impression of a radish, I'm guessing you have someone on your mind"

Hermione huffed and sank her head into her hands, not responding.

"How can you assume that?" Harry had recovered from the previous trauma with the book and was sipping at his goblet of pumpkin juice.

"I still can't decode you're bloody language" Ron huffed and was soon snatching left overs from Harry's plate.

"We're not creatures Ron" Hermione's voice was tired and muffled.

"Might as well be at times" Ron soon received two identical glares from the girls.

"Gin, we better get going" Harry downed the rest of his juice and rose to his feet.

Ginny took a glance at Hermione again before getting up and walking after Harry out of the Great Hall.

Hermione watched after them, displeased with how she had said good luck to Ginny, she soon stood up and jogged after them.

"Ginny" Hermione panted and the girl turned with a grin.

"I see you've cheered up for the time being"

"Good luck and stay safe today, it's supposed to be windy out there and we're forecast for rain" Hermione gushed and pulled the Weasley into a strong hug. Ginny took the advantage of being slightly taller than Hermione to rest her chin upon her mane of hair.

"I promise 'Mione" she spoke into her hair and pulled back when Harry called her. The bookworm was soon flanked by Ron and Neville.

The three of them watched as Harry and Ginny joined the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"Do you think they'll win?" Neville piped up. Ron shrugged and Hermione was mildly surprised with their sudden appearance.

"I damn hope so"

"Ronald, stop swearing in every sentence, it makes you sound uneducated" Hermione snapped and Neville was accurate aware of Hermione's lingering attention on Ginny.

Ron was fast to mimic the whole sentence in a higher pitch, distracting the bookworm.

The rain Hermione had warned Ginny about came with surprising haste.

The wind tore at the rain and caused it to lash down onto the pitch. Sat in the stands, Hermione was huddled to herself watching as the teams flew about in preparation whilst waiting for the likes of Luna, Ron and Neville. Luna was the first to turn up, she was clad in a bright blue cape with a large hood. Hermione didn't want to question it in fear of loosing her sanity.

"Lovely day" Luna hummed her words and Hermione regretted not bringing an umbrella.

"Are you being serious Luna?" Ron's voice called and he sat himself down heavily next to Hermione luckily had had brought an umbrella.

"Yes, despite the weather, today is rather nice attitude wise"

"I suppose" Hermione shuddered as the wind whipped through her coat and tore at it. Ron was useful as a rain block. The poor boy was already soaked despite the aid of an umbrella.

The wind proved to be a obstacle even for the people on the ground. Madam Hooch was having a hard time walking in a straight line. Ron had said something along the lines of drinking too much, earning him a slap from Hermione, despite her smirk.

The Slytherin team approached from the opposite side of the pitch, soon after the game began.

Within minuets, Ginny was soaked and shivering, hardly able to see her team mates through the rain.

Hermione watched, soon able to spot Ginny static in the air, paused in the swell of players.

"MOVE GINNY!" Hermione hollered, Ron was taken back by her shout, Hermione hardly ever screamed at the players.

Luna giggled at Hermione's desperation and in no time, the bookworm lost sight of the Weasley.

"Damn" Hermione clung to Ron's arm and tried to spot Ginny. In the midst of it all Harry was having a hard time holding onto his broom, the rain had made it slick and the wind was playing against them. Ginny was soon against Blaise, he cursed at her, but a clap of thunder and the fork of lightening helped dumb out his mindless comments.

Ginny swerved through the air with seemingly effortless agility and quickly caught the Quaffle, the impact made her hands sting but she bolted ahead with it safely tucked under her arm. Blaise quickly sent a command to one of the Beaters and sure enough a Bludger was sent Ginny's way. Throwing the Quaffle with into middle hoop, the force in which she threw it sent her clumsily lurching forward with a panicked grunt only to narrowly miss the Bludger.

Hermione clung to Ron's arm like it was her last lease on life. Ron winced in pain but smirked at her concern and interaction.

Luna knew Hermione was indeed concerned for the Weasley, but to show an interest in a game that bored Hermione so blatantly in previous years gave Luna all the information she needed to make a well educated conclusion.

Hermione Granger was crushing rather deeply on Ginny Weasley. Luna was beaming with the discovery and cheered louder, just to make Hermione feel a little easier in her outright display of enthusiasm.

Quarter-of-an-hour later Gryffindor were winning, 200 points were proudly theirs.

Ginny had caught the Quaffle with her right hand, nearly loosing it for a brief second but tucked it under her arm quickly. Her agility was toying with Blaise, he made his irritation apparent.

He'd had enough and swooped down just as Ginny was about to throw the Quaffle in through the right hoop when he snagged her broom with his right hand and dragged her in the scoring zone with him. The action sent Ginny spiraling in the path of a Bludger, she narrowly missed it by pulling her broom back violently, but lost her grip.

Feeling her hands slip her broom plummeted to the muddy pitch where she landed, her body toppled onto the mud. Voices and shapes above her swelled, should she get up and face the embarrassment or just stay engulfed in mud?

Seconds after the decision arose, the sharp scream of the whistle blew and Hooch was upon Ginny like a Dementor.

"Foul Weasley"

"What?" Ginny sat up, her robes caked in mud. "It was Blaise!"

"You heard me Weasley!"

"No, I don't think I did!" Ginny was soon on her feet and jabbed her finger at the older woman. "Because for a moment there I thought you said foul, ha, that's a good joke now send that bloody prat Blaise off!"

"Off Weasley, for hassling the referee"

Hermione's heart was planted in her throat and was silent, Ron had taken over heckling Hooch. Ginny had fallen. She. Had. Fallen. Hermione was soon assured Ginny was okay because her argument with Hooch was amplified, probably Draco's handy-work. Ron laughed a little at his sisters come back, but was soon angry that Hooch would be so unfair.

The rain still lashed outside by the time the match had ended. Slytherin had won, that fact alone sent Ginny into another bout of angry curses.

Ginny was alone in the changing room, still not out of her muddy Quidditch robes, she sat numb with anger.

Hermione stood in the doorway, her coat heavy with rain her hair was drying at the ends, but non the less soaked.

"Gin" she spoke softly, relived to see the girl was fine.
Ginny looked up with red eyes, her right foot tapped the stone floor making a constant, tap, tap, tap, tap echo out. Hermione knew that give away, Ginny was really bugged, she would tap her foot when she was vexed.

Hermione sat next to her and didn't dare reach out just in case Ginny blew up at her there and then.

"I'm going to kill Hooch" Ginny sniffed and ran a shaky hand through her hair.

Hermione pressed her lips into a thin line.

"It was a wrong accusation" Hermione was well read on the rules of Quidditch, Madame Hooch had indeed been out of line to say Ginny was guilty of foul play, she had been shoved into the scoring area, she had not flown in there of her own accord.

"I'm no damn cheat! I sure as hell didn't Stoog"

(Stooging- more than one Chaser entering a scoring zone)

Ginny's voice rose. "It should have been Blaise! He should be done for Blagging!"

(Blagging- seizing or shoving an opponents broom to obstruct their game play)

Hermione prided herself in knowing what Ginny was talking about, but at the same time was angry that Hooch had been so unfair.

"Now I'm being bloody blamed for making our team loose" Ginny moaned and rested her head back on the wall.

"If they start to blame you, I'm going to have a word" Hermione growled, angry at how the world had decided to turn against Ginny.

Ginny opened one eye and smirked at the witch.

"You look way too innocent"

Hermione opened her mouth to respond when Katie Bell cut it.

"Ginny" Katie walked in, her uniform was stuffed in a small canvas gym bag, just the gold of her jumper could be seen poking out. "Did I interrupt?" Katie suddenly looked guilty, but Hermione shook her head and rose to her feet.

"I have to be off" Hermione was soon out of the door and Katie watched her go.

"If you're here to say anything bad, I will hex you" Ginny still had her eyes closed and her head back on the wall.

"Actually, I came to say get your arse in gear, we're having a party"

"What for? We didn't win"

"A party just to lighten spirits, come think of it, it'll involve a lot of spirits, alcohol wise" Katie chuckled at her own demented idea of a joke and pouted at Ginny.

"Say you'll come?"

"I dunno, I feel shit" Ginny spoke bluntly.

"You can bring your Girlfriend" Katie sang and did a twirl.

"What are you talking about?"

"You have the hots for Granger, we all know it and don't deny it Miss I'm as transparent as a window"

"Shut up Bell...End" Ginny sneered, it was known as much as a text book fact that Katie hated it when people messed with her last name.

"I'm getting married to someone with a better last name than Bell"
"Who? Fore"
"Don't even start with me Weasley" Katie growled and jutted her finger at her. "You come tonight or Merlin, I'll tell Granger you fancy her"

"I don't!"

"You can't lie to me Ginny" Katie narrowed her eyes and skipped out of the room. "Granger and Weasley sittin' in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G..."

Ginny rolled her eyes as she heard Katie sing it down the corridor, her vice reverberated off the stone.

"What the hell was that about?" Harry peered in, his glasses askew and his hair tussled. Ginny sat up instantly.
"Merlin Harry!" Ginny pulled off her gloves, she then proceeded to pull off her robes. "Unless you have a vagina Potter I suggest you leave before I give you one"

"I'm going" Harry swooped back out and Ginny smirked to herself. A party didn't seem like such a bad idea.