Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Potter World and the characters and places that you recognize. Anything else that you don't is mine.

This story is femmeslash in case you missed it in the summary. This takes place a few years after the war, Ginny just turned 20, and Hermione is 22. Before Ginny becomes a professional Quidditch player for the Harpies, she works at a small herbal shop in Diagon Alley. Harry, who is her fiancé, however, is the team captain of a Quidditch team. That's before he settles down, and rejoins the ministry as an Auror.

So before this story shifts to canon, this is my own version of what happened before that time. Enjoy! :D

WARNINGS: (again) Femslash; AR/AT/AU, no lemon, sort of UST

SHIPS: HG/GW, HP/GW, RW/LB, HG/OMC, HP/OFC

Chapter 1 – The Escapade

"Cheers to the future Mrs. Ginevra Potter!"

Ginny raised her glass in the air, then drowned its content with one gulp. It was the fourth Firewhisky glass that night, right after a few bottles of Butterbeer and one Pumpkin Cocktail. She felt the heat the alcohol caused in her circulatory system instantly taking effect, and she slumped back in her seat, feeling light-headed. Her speech was slurred and face flushed, she was drowsy, and yet she didn't want to stop. The party of her life had just begun.

She hardly could sit straight in her seat. Her forehead was covered by sweat, and her hair was sticking to her skin. She dried the moisture with the back of her hand, and was surprised that she had tears in her eyes, wiping them away, too.

In less than two weeks, Ginny and Harry were going to be married, and Ginny insisted and wished to spend her hen party only with her female best friend, Hermione Granger. Ginny convinced her friend that she wouldn't want any wedding gifts from her; just her spare time spent with Ginny would completely suffice.

The two girls went to Diagon Alley to their regular pub, sat in their favourite booth, where they had celebrated several occasions in the past few years, such as Ginny's twentieth birthday five months ago, where only Ginny's closest friends had been invited.

Back then, Harry Potter was only her boyfriend, best friend, and loyal companion. After some glasses of wine and a romantic picnic under the moonlight, he had asked her to become his wife. Of course, Ginny had been overwhelmed then; she couldn't quite tell if it was due to the wine that heated her up inside, or Harry's romantic gesture, or the overall atmosphere, that had influenced her decision or just because she had been waiting for that day ever since she had set eyes on Harry. But right then and there, it didn't matter. Ginny had flung her arms around Harry's neck, kissed him and answered at once with a 'yes'.

She was sure of having made the right decision. There was no doubt that she loved Harry and that she had loved him for years. He was the perfect match for her. The next morning after telling her family the great news, she went to Hermione's apartment to announce her about Harry's marriage proposal. Ginny couldn't quite tell, but it seemed as though Hermione merely forced herself to a smile when she heard the news, but however managed to take Ginny into her arms; it was a rather half-hearted embrace, a way too feeble, so unlike Hermione when she was happy for Ginny. Hermione's excuse for the lack of empathy for her friend was that she was only tired and stressed from work.

"Ginny, are you alright?" Hermione asked tentatively now, snapping Ginny from her reverie.
Hermione was sitting next to her, watching her friend with concern, her fingertips rounding the edge of her wine glass. "Maybe you should stop drinking."

"I'm fine," Ginny slurred, leaning a little closer to her friend and putting a hand reassuringly on Hermione's thigh. Ginny had always been very close to Hermione; physical affection was relatively natural between them. But this time, Hermione seemed to be a bit uncomfortable.

"You definitely shouldn't be drinking too much," Hermione persisted, taking Ginny's hand and putting it back on the table. Then she tucked a curl behind her ear and cupped her wine glass with her hands again, sipping at it nervously.

The moment they had entered the pub, Hermione had fallen noticeably silent. Even though in other situations, she would chatter about random, trivial facts and news, about her life and work, rant about Ron, damn the boys to hell, but this time she seemed preoccupied. For some reason, she had been avoiding Ginny's eyes all night, never really making actual eye contact.

Ginny scanned the people on the dance floor, watched them dance and rub their bodies in a provocative manner against each other, and imagined herself dancing like that, too. How ridiculous she would look like, but who cares? The other people were just jumping, or swinging their hands in the air, their moves not even matching the rhythm of the music. The room was dim-lit, and the walls were an ugly orange with a border of pea green along the bottom. Soft beats emanated the boxes above their heads.

She turned back to Hermione. "You are happy for me, aren't you?" Ginny asked after a pause, and not only because she wanted to make conversation. She inclined a hand forward and put it on Hermione's, stroking the back tenderly with her fingertips. "I can't believe I'm getting married soon, can you? I'm only twenty, for crying out loud." She laughed, wiping the corners of her eyes dry. "I could have so much fun only a single woman can afford to have, if you know what I mean, yet I'm going to pledge myself to the next best man who proposed to me. How does the saying go again," she continued in almost one breath, "Never advise anyone to go to war or to marry?"

Hermione smiled. "Well, you have been fawning over Harry since you were ten years old. Remember?" Heaving a sigh, Hermione said with almost feigned enthusiasm in her voice, "Of course I'm so happy for you, Ginny. You've found your soul mate in Harry. He's the only one who can handle your personality." Laughing lightly, she retrieved her hand from underneath Ginny's and tucked another curl behind her ear, looking towards the dance floor. As if looking at Ginny was hurting her.

"Are you alright?" Ginny asked, "You seemed a bit preoccupied," she voiced out her thought now, shifting closer to her friend and cupped her cheek tenderly. But Hermione flinched at the contact.

Ginny leaned her forehead against her friend's, "Wha's the matter?"

"Nothing." Hermione shook her head hastily and smiled, tears forming in her eyes. "Ginny, I'm just happy for you. That's all. You'll marry the love of your life. Everything's changing so fast. Do you remember your last birthday? Ron got so drunk, he threw up on my lap? That was so gross."

"Yeah, I still remember," Ginny said with a smile, grimacing at the memory, "and his girlfriend of a dunce was so furious when we escorted him to their flat, and blamed us that we didn't take care of him. She was just mad because I didn't invite her to my birthday. The ugly bint!"

Ginny watched Hermione's eyes filling with new tears, and wished she could bite her tongue off for having mentioned Lavender and Ron. Surely, this wasn't the happy memory Hermione meant to talk to about.

"I'm sorry," she apologised quickly. "Please tell me what's bothering you?"

There was a short stillness between the two. Ginny stared into those brown eyes, as though trying to read Hermione's mind. There was an indefinite fear fermenting inside her that the moment she would be married to Harry, she would be losing Hermione. But she couldn't comprehend this indistinct feeling, or why she felt this way. Hermione would always be her best friend. Nothing would ever change that. And she would not lose her.

Pushing her thoughts aside, she smiled mischievously at Hermione and asked, "Hey, d'you wanna dance?"

"What? Ginny, no! I'm definitely not going to…" Hermione looked at Ginny as if she had lost her mind, that made Ginny laugh at her expression. Hermione didn't stand a chance to resist Ginny, as Ginny tugged at Hermione's hand to pull her towards the dancing people.

Once they were on the dance floor, and, losing all her inhibition, Ginny draped her arms around Hermione's neck, her thighs between Hermione's legs. Hermione seemed uncomfortable, her arms awkwardly on her sides, as if not sure where to place them. She looked around, looking self-conscious at the other people. Ginny had to laugh again at her friend's frowning expression.

"Loosen up a little," Ginny said, running a hand down Hermione's backside. "Stop thinking too much!"

Ginny moved to the slow rhythm of the music and swung her torso seductively against Hermione's. Then she turned slowly around and circled her bum against Hermione's front. She took Hermione's hands and placed them on her waist. Her short top exposing her bellybutton, Ginny guided Hermione's hands towards her stomach and placed them on her bare skin.

At last, Hermione began to dance and move her body like Ginny did. Until her hands became independent from Ginny's guiding hold, moving on their own accord, and roaming over Ginny's body, over her belly, her thighs, her back.

Ginny didn't know if it was the aftermath of the mixed alcoholic drinks in her system, or because of Hermione's hot breath on her neck and the tingling sensation Hermione's touches caused in her body. And, once again, she had no idea what the reason was for her behaviour, but whatever it was, it caused Ginny to twist around to face Hermione again. There was one thing that sparked in Ginny's eyes, and she was sure, the same was reflecting in Hermione's: Lust.

She knew she shouldn't be in that state of mind towards her friend, but she couldn't control it. Ginny was out of breath, her eyes wandering down to Hermione's glossy, red lips, as though the only part that Ginny could see were those full lips, that Ginny couldn't resist leaning forward and connecting their lips together.

Hermione's lips felt soft and warm, and tasted like cherry, Ginny mused. How much she'd like to taste more. Ginny's eyes widened in shock, how could she even think that? Since Hermione seemed to be holding her breath, not moving, Ginny pulled away to stare at her, concern in her eyes. Hermione looked from being mortified to being flabbergasted, until her expression deflated, and she dropped her gaze.

"Shall we go somewhere else?" Hermione asked, leaning closer with a sly smile, taking Ginny off-guard.

Encouraged at this and without second thoughts, Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged her out of the pub.

*'*'*'*

As soon as they reached a somewhat secluded alley, a last ensuring glance up and down the empty street, Ginny pushed Hermione carefully against the wall and pressed her lips upon her. Hermione responded out of reflex, letting out muffled moans, her hands wandering all over Ginny's back, as Ginny arched her body forward for more contact.

Gasping for breath, they both pulled apart, their heavy eyes pleading for more. Ginny kissed Hermione carefully again this time, and asked, "Is this okay, Hermione?"

Hermione nodded, kissing her back deeply, causing Ginny to whimper at the back of her throat.

Ginny kissed Hermione along her jaw to her earlobe, then nipped tenderly at it, her hands underneath Hermione's clothes.

"Oh, Ginny," Hermione moaned, leaning her head back against the wall. "Are you sure you want this?"

"Why?" Ginny asked softly in her ear, dizziness flooding her mind. "Shall we go to your place?"

Hermione looked up, clearly surprised. "Hm?"

"Er well, we can't go to mine. Harry's at home," Ginny said, looking apologetically when she noticed Hermione's questioning look. Their faces were only inches away from each other.

"Then what?" Hermione asked, still out of breath, and closed her eyes when Ginny caressed her underneath her shirt. It wasn't that Hermione didn't get the drift, Ginny thought, or didn't she really know what Ginny wanted to do with her? Oh Merlin, she really wanted this. She wanted Hermione so bad.

"Then we cook a meal, Hermione, what else?" Ginny rolled her eyes and giggled, leaning in again to kiss her. Her hands began to work again, caressing the thin pad of Hermione's bra.

"You are aware of what you're doing. Are you, Ginny?" Hermione took small, shallow gulps of air as she spoke, her eyes fluttering shut again.

"Seeing that you're pretty much enjoying it—"

"—No, Ginny," Hermione said, her eyes opening, "I mean about Harry. You are aware of what you're doing?"

Ginny winced inwardly at the sound of Harry's name coming from the girl she was cheating on him with, as though only now awareness about her unfaithfulness dawned upon her. She drew her hands back again, moving them to her sides. Her head was hazy, as though she was staring through a fog. Hermione blushed and shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

Ginny watched as Hermione's hands, which seemed to be moving in slow motion, closing the buttons of her blouse one after the other, and the more of the delicate skin disappeared out of Ginny's sight, the more she felt her heart stinging. As if controlled by an invisible force, Ginny's hand shot forward and grabbed Hermione's arm.

"No, don't, please," Ginny pleaded, her eyes swimming in tears. With a trembling body, she looped her arms around Hermione's neck and kissed her again. She looked into Hermione's eyes and spoke with desperation, and longing in her voice, "Just this once. Let's just forget everything else just this once."

"But…" Hermione trailed off, for once Ginny was grateful that words failed her talkative friend.

Slowly, Hermione returned the embrace and smiled. There was a short contraction of air around them, like being tugged through a tiny hole; they spun on the spot as darkness pressed in upon them. Ginny held on tighter to Hermione, and when she opened her eyes again, the familiar doorframe of Hermione's apartment appeared beside them.

A/N: Did it move so fast? Any comment would be nice.