Kicked Out

AN: So this one turned out much longer that I had thought it would! I feel the need to give a huge shout out to all my reviewers, it is you guys that are keeping me going! To those that have put this on your alerts list I would also like to thank, its totally awesome (please tell me you get that reference!) that you guys like my work enough to continue. Again anyone who wants to beta, and I mean anyone at this point, please send me a message or mention it in a review or something. I tried getting my gf to do it but that didn't work to well XD. Again these characters are not of my creation because unfortunately the amazing JK Rowling got to them before me!

XXXX

As she walked away from Hermione all she could think was, 'All I've wanted for the past few weeks is to be with her. Yet here I am walking away from her.'

Heading up to the tower she grabbed her sketch book and headed out to the lake. She decided that she may as well get in a bit of time for her art work. It wasn't something she was comfortable doing in front of others. Its not something she thought she was good at, just something that helped her to express her feelings. Not that she ever shared her work with anyone. It all just got tucked away into her portfolio.

XXXX

She wanted to reach out and grab her hand as Ginny walked away from her, but she didn't. She would let her have her space. She figured it was just her wanting a bit of time to think. Since it was Saturday the prefect decided that she may as well spend a bit of time with Harry and Ron. Avoiding Ginny had cut into the bit of time she had with them, so she owed it to them.

XXXX

Days past between the two with Hermione always watching the younger girl. Waiting for her crumble, which she did occasionally.

The first time she encountered the boy was the night after the meeting with McGonagall. Hermione had walked her back up from dinner, the two sharing small talk. Entering the common room Dean sat at a table near the opening, writing a letter home. When he saw her he threw back his chair with a sneer and walked over to the two.

"Why'd you do it Ginny?" he asked anger coloring his voice.

Ginny stiffened, her hand immediately going to Hermiones for comfort. However her voice sounded strong as she replied, "I don't know what you're talking about Dean."

"Please. We both know you lied. I didn't do anything to you."

Hermione felt Ginny grow tenser and noticed the tears building slightly in her eyes as she looked away from the angry boy. She decided to step in, "Dean back off," she said in a tone that had clear warning in it.

"Stay out of this, mudblood."

As soon as the word left his mouth Ginny had her wand out and at his throat. "Take it back," she ground out between her teeth.

Watching Ginny react so strongly to his remark gave Hermione a small smile before she reached forward to place a soft hand on her shoulder. "Don't Ginny. Its what he wants," she whispered softly to redhead.

Dropping her wand she continued to glare at the older boy.

"What, not gonna do something to upset your little girlfriend?" Dean said in a mocking tone.

Pulling Ginny away before she did something stupid Hermione shot him a chilling glare before pulling her up to the girls dormitories.

"Don't listen to him. Hes just being a prick to try and get a rise out of you. Just ignore him."

Ginny was red in the face as she paced along the floor of her dorm. Hermione took a seat on her bed and waited for the redhead to calm down.

Finally she took a seat next to the prefect with a defeated look on her face. "How do you do it?" she asked in a small voice.

Hermione looked at her with a sad smile. "It was hard, at first. Malfoy was always trying to get me to react to him. In the beginning, before Harry Ron and I became friends even, I would let things like that get to me. I spent a lot of my first few weeks worth of nights here crying. After our encounter with Fluffy it got better. Harry and Ron where there to defend me. I learned that if I didn't listen to what he said that he would get mad, which made all of us happy. Eventually Malfoy mostly stopped. Even when he does anymore I don't pay him any heed."

Ginny pulled the sad girl into her arms. Whispering into her hair that she was sorry the older girl had to endure that and that from now on Ginny would do what she could to help.

Pulling away Hermione thanked her before leaving to do a bit of studying before bed.

XXXX

Sighing as she looked at her muggle studies book Hermione lost focus again. All she could think of was what Dean had said, or mostly how he had said it. The way he had mocked Ginny for being Hermiones girlfriend bugged her. She knew it shouldn't, that they weren't really together like that, but the fact that that showed what it would be like to really be that way with Ginny saddened her. She decided yet again to just suppress her feelings for the girl, feelings that seemed to grow stronger by the day and that where now unmistakeably that of a romantic nature considering the positions her mind had been placing the redhead the past few days.

XXXX

A few days had passed when Ginny walked back up to the tower after a long day spent down by the lake. Upon entering the common room she was greeted with the sight of Lavender Brown and Hermione having a very loud row. It seemed that Lavender was tired of Hermiones studying in their dorm. Apparently she had been staying up late into the night flipping through her books the past few nights.

Lavender walked away from Hermione, leaving a steaming brunette behind.

Walking up to Hermione and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder she pulled the older girl out of the tower, it seemed a walk was in order.

They where quiet for a few minutes as the older girl calmed down. Finally Hermione spoke, "How much of that did you catch?"

"Just the last bit, something about you staying up to all hours of the night flipping through your books. Is that true?"

The prefect looked over at the redhead sheepishly as she replied, "When I can't sleep I look through a book, I figure the extra studying can't hurt me."

Laughing at the older girls obsessiveness for studying she gave a slight shake of her head, "Only you Hermione. So have you been having a hard time sleeping?"

XXXX

Hermione was startled by the question. How was she supposed to tell the younger girl it was thoughts of her that kept her awake at night? Looking down in embarrassment, crimson spreading along her cheeks, she replied, "Yeah sometimes. I guess I just have a lot on my mind."

'Please don't ask what. Please don't ask what. Please don't ask what.'

"Like what?"

'Damn,' Hermione thought. "Umm. You know, school stuff, parents, friends, that sort of stuff."

"Oh. Yeah. That makes sense."

'Is it just me or does she seem disappointed in my answer?' Hermione thought, puzzled as to what the redhead could have wanted to hear. 'Could she... No. Don't get your hopes up. Shes just a concerned friend is all.'

The two walked on in comfortable silence before Ginny turned to Hermione with a questioning look plain on her face, "Where are you going to sleep then? Are you going to be able to go back to your dorm tonight after that little spout back there?"

Hermione hadn't thought of that. She had been lost in her musings of Ginny, and her complete anger at her classmate. What was she going to do? "I hadn't thought of that to be honest. I suppose I'll just try to sneak up late tonight and get up early tomorrow."

"Rubbish. You shouldn't have to sneak in and out of where you are going to sleep. Just stay with me tonight."

The thought of sharing a bed with Ginny had her a bit to excited. She couldn't do that, no she would stick with her original plan, "Are you sure Ginny?" Why had she said that? A simple no thanks would have sufficed, but no. Here she was getting herself into sharing a bed with a girl who she had strong feelings for. This could only end badly.

"Of course. I promise I won't bite to much," The redhead replied with a smirk.

Giggling at the thought of Ginny biting her, and liking the idea too much, she agreed to the girls proposition.