Author's Note: Well, it's been quite a while, so I figured I'd jump back in by trying my hand at my original favorite fandom. This should eventually be a Hermione Granger/Ginny Weasley fic, but we'll see. I'm open to change.

Fireworks Madness

Hermione doesn't know quite how to handle the idea of kissing Victor Krum.

27 hours to the Yule Ball

Hermione Granger was nervous. This fact, in and of itself, was not completely out of the ordinary. After all, despite knowing that the hours she spend studying and triple-checking her assignments meant that she would remain at the top of her class, each looming test filled Hermione with the kind of dread she was sure Harry felt just before a quidditch match. The presence of nerves was not the problem. In some ways, Hermione welcomed the fluttering and tightening in the stomach since it gave her something to focus on and stayed focused was extremely important right now.

With the Yule Ball barely a day away and the knowledge that she would be spending the evening with Victor Krum – international quidditch star, Durmstrang champion and crush of many young witches (and some young wizards) – weighing on her mind, Hermione knew she needed help. Asking the boys was out of the question, as was asking Lavender, Pavarti or any of the other girls in her year. Having flirted briefly with the idea of asking one of the girls from the Gryffindor quidditch team, Hermione knew that Ginny was her best option. She just hoped that growing up with six brothers would have imparted some knowledge of the male species to the young redhead.

"Hey, Ginny, could you help me with something?" Hermione shifted from foot to foot, glancing around the Common Room as if Neville or Seamus would suddenly decide to listen in.

Ginny glanced up from a stained scroll of parchment, a brief look of frustration fading into mild concern when she saw how out of sorts Hermione was pretending not to be. "Yeah, of course. What do you need?" Ginny pushed her essay away and motioned for Hermione to sit next to her on the couch.

"It's about the Yule Ball…" Hermione sat down heavily and closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on the jittery feeling in her arms and legs until it subsided. "I… I need some advice. About Victor." If Hermione has been paying proper attention, she would have noticed the fleeting look of discomfort that passed over the youngest Weasley's face. Tucking some flame-red hair behind her ear, Ginny shifted on the couch so that she was facing Hermione.

"Okay. You need boy advice. I'm not really sure why you'd ask me, I mean, I've never had a boyfriend and I've only ever really liked Harry and…" Ginny trailed off, blushing and watching Hermione's reaction closely. The older Gryffindor nodded distractedly, accepting Ginny's words easily because everyone and their Slytherin cousin knew that Ginny liked Harry.

"Well, you've got brothers, obviously, and I thought that maybe you'd know something from them. I can't ask any of the girls in my year," Hermione shuddered at the thought. "They'd just tease me mercilessly for it. You see, I haven't kissed a boy yet and Victor is older and, well, if he tries to kiss me I just don't know what to do." Hermione closed her eyes again and willed herself to be calm.

Ginny sighed and picked at the sleeve of her red and gold jumper. "How do you know I won't tease you?"

Hermione stiffened for a moment, eyes going wide with fright at the thought of Ginny telling Ron, Harry and the Twins about her being afraid of kissing Victor Krum. She turned to Ginny and grabbed the younger girl's hands in her own.

Feeling immediately guilty, the redhead squeezed Hermione's hands and gave a lopsided grin. "I'm kidding, relax. I might tease you a bit, but nothing like those gossips or the boys would do. I don't know if I can help you, but I'll try. Honest." Ginny felt Hermione's hands relax in hers and Ginny ran her thumb lightly over the back of one of the elder girl's hands.

"Thank you, Gin. I just don't want to mess this up. I mean, a handsome, older bloke actually notices me and picks me for the Ball over all the other girls here and I… don't have the first clue about being anyone's date for something so fancy. I tried checking in the library but that was a bust and – what? Yes, 'Hermione the Bookworm' ran to the library for help."

Ginny giggled as Hermione crossed her arms, pouting and glaring weakly at the younger girl. Unable to keep from smiling, Ginny looked away for a moment as the older girl blushed deeply.

"Well, I think it's pretty simple, Hermione," Ginny said, looking to the side again and absentmindedly straightening her abandoned essay and books on the table. "If Victor tries to anything you can go along with it or not. If he kisses you and you like it, kiss back. If you don't like it, either tell him to forget about it or say something about wanting to be friends – guys know that means to back off."

Hermione thought about this for a moment and swallowed, knowing she'd have to get to heart of the matter if she really wanted help. "I get that part well enough, it's just… Well, what I'm really worried about is how to know if I like it or not. If he kisses me, that is, and I don't have any way of knowing if he will or not… I know how it's 'supposed' to feel, but all that fireworks madness is just foolishness, right?" Hermione looked pleadingly at Ginny, who had no idea how to answer.

"I don't know. I always figured there was some truth to it. I mean, if everybody says it, then it has to have started somewhere." Ginny shrugged and looked longingly at her essay.

Hermione was too far in contemplation of the younger girl's words to notice. "Maybe… Maybe I'm just thinking about this too hard. I'll try to leave it alone until the Ball and see what happens. Thank you for listening, Ginny, I really appreciate it. It certainly wouldn't do for me to be a bundle of nerves – I'd make a fool of myself for sure."

Finally noticing that Ginny was eying her homework, Hermione wanted to hit herself.

"Look at me, distracting you from your essay over something so silly as would-be kisses. I'm sorry, Ginny. I'll see you in the morning." Hermione pulled Ginny into a quick hug, barely registering the younger girl's surprised squeak, and headed for the stairs to the girls' dormitory.

Ginny turned and watched her go, wishing the feel of Hermione's arms around her wasn't burned into her skin. "Fireworks madness indeed," she muttered softly, turning back to her essay feeling frustrated and desperately wishing she weren't going to the Ball with Neville.

"You know, Hermione," Ginny said quickly to the absent girl, "I wouldn't mind putting off my essay to talk to you." As she spoke, Ginny picked up her quill and began to put the finishing touches on said essay. "In fact, I'd especially not mind talking to you about would-be kisses, just as long as we leave Victor 'I'm dark and mysterious and older and a bloody guy so I get to ask pretty girls to the Ball' Krum out of it."

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20 hours to the Yule Ball

Later that night, lying awake, Ginny went back over the conversation in her head.