I forgot to put this in my first chapter, but it kind of goes without saying that I don't own nor did I create the HP universe. Kudos to Ms. JK Rowling for that feat. I just like to play around with her characters for my (and hopefully your) entertainment.
At first, Hermione thought that Ginny was going to leave the issue alone, at least for the rest of the party. The redhead was mingling pleasantly with friends and acquaintances of Harry's. She didn't seem to be up to anything at all. When Hermione had relaxed completely, sure that Ginny wasn't going to try anything, Ginny glided over to Hermione. She leaned close to Hermione's ear as if to tell her friend a secret, or communicate some piece of delicate information.
"I am going to go see Oliver now," Ginny whispered playfully. "Everything I do to him I want to do to you. Every kiss, every touch, imagine it's you. Enjoy the show." Ginny winked before turning to leave.
"I doubt it," Hermione managed, but Ginny had already started walking away.
Hermione knew that she should walk in the other direction, avoid Ginny and Oliver's private corner of the property at all costs. She felt an undeniable pull though, so she followed Ginny and stood at a distance while keeping the couple in her sight. This wasn't any indication of her desire to be with Ginny, Hermione convinced herself. It was curiosity; she was a very curious person by nature and wanted to see what exactly it was that Ginny had in mind.
Yes, it was nothing more than innocent curiosity that made Hermione watch as Ginny sat on his lap. It was still curiosity as Hermione stole glances at Ginny with her hands in his hair and her lips on his lips. Even Hermione had to admit that it was more than innocent curiosity that kept her eyes glued on the couple as Ginny trailed kisses down his neck before returning to his lips.
Ginny caught Hermione's eye and smirked mischeviously before turning back to Oliver, who was completely obliviously to her flirtations with Hermione. Hermione turned on her heels and walked away. She would not allow Ginny to win. Hermione stayed as far away from Ginny as she could. She engaged Mrs. Weasley in conversation, believing that Ginny would not dare to try anything when her mother might catch her.
"Hermione where have you been?" Ginny asked as Hermione spoke to Mrs. Weasley. "I've been looking all over for you."
"I was talking to your parents," Hermione said. Then, hoping to put Ginny on the spot, "What have you been up to?"
"Socializing," Ginny said. "Did you enjoy that show we were talking about earlier?"
Hermione blushed. "I honestly found it a bit boring."
"You didn't see the whole show though, did you? It got very interesting," Ginny said.
"What show are you girls talking about?" Mrs. Weasley said pleasantly.
"You probably wouldn't be interested, mum," Ginny said quickly.
"On the contrary, Mrs. Weasley, I believe that you would find it fascinating," Hermione said, smiling at Ginny.
"I thought you found it boring dear," Mrs. Weasley pointed out.
"Yes, Hermione. Or did you actually find it as stimulating as I did?"
"No I didn't. It was not at all stimulating. It was very boring and thoroughly not stimulating," Hermione said. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go find Neville. I haven't spoken to him yet."
She turned and left Ginny with her mother. Ginny quickly caught up with Hermione.
"What the hell was that business with Oliver, Ginny? 'Imagine it's you.' I mean, honestly, " Hermione said maintaining a brisk pace as she crossed the yard.
Ginny stopped abruptly and Hermione did too. She leaned in slowly, her lips next to Hermione's ear. "That was just the beginning," Ginny whispered. "Imagine what I could do without all of these people around."
Ginny smiled and left Hermione. Hermione stood in the same spot, trying to regain her senses and control her racing heart. She just had to get through this party, then maybe Ginny would forget about their silly, irrational attraction. Maybe Hermione could forget it too.
Ron suddenly turned the corner and saw Hermione standing quiet still with a steadying hand on the table for no apparent reason.
"Hermione, what's up?" Ron said.
Hermione abruptly pulled Ron into a kiss. Before Ron could register what she was doing, Hermione pulled away.
"Nothing! Still absolutely nothing," she said angrily before stalking off, leaving a stunned Ron in her wake.
Hermione found an empty seat in an isolated part of the yard so that she could think. She was finding it very difficult to think about her current situation without thinking about Ginny, and it was next to impossible to think about Ginny without remembering Ginny's flirtations. So instead of reasoning through her situation, Hermione found herself devoting most of her mental energy to keeping her mind away from fantasies about the redheaded witch.
"Hermione, dear, dinner will be served now," Mrs. Weasley said.
"What was that?" Hermione asked. She had been far too focused on trying to keep from fantasizing about Ginny to pay any mind to her surroundings.
"Dinner, Hermione, we're serving dinner," Mrs. Weasley said. "Are you ok? you seem a bit distracted today."
"Yes, I'm doing quite well," Hermione said.
She and Mrs. Weasley made their way to the large table set up for the party. The table quickly filled, and Ginny took a seat next to Hermione and smiled innocently. Before Hermione could find a seat that was a safer distance from Ginny, the entire table had been filled.
"One last chance, Hermione," Ginny leaned over and said. "Admit that you were wrong, and I'll stop."
Hermione laughed politely as though Ginny had made a witty remark and began to eat the food that had just appeared in front of all of the guests.
"Very well," Ginny said.
Hermione had taken a few bites of Mrs. Weasley's delicious meal when she felt Ginny's hand on her knee under the table. She wanted to jump out of her skin. The tension that Ginny was building was becoming almost unbareable. After swallowing with great difficulty Hermione spoke.
"Mrs. Weasley, this food is delicious," Hermione said. As she felt Ginny's hand move slowly up her leg Hermione shut her eyes for a moment before continuing. "Did you make it all yourself?"
"Thank you dear. Yes, I did," Mrs. Weasley said. "Are you sure that you're ok? You seem tense."
"Yes," was all Hermione could trust herself to say. When she felt Ginny's hand creep further up her leg, Hermione bit her lip so hard that she though in might bleed.
"Yeah Hermione," Ron said, shoveling a forkful of food into his mouth. "You've been acting strange today."
"Yeah," Ginny chimed in, her eyes twinkling with suppressed mirth. She knew that if Ron had noticed a change, Ginny really did have a major effect on Hermione. "Whatever could be the problem?"
Hermione tried to glare at Ginny, but she couldn't seem to muster the same intense gaze as usual. She could have easily removed Ginny's hand from her knee, but a part of her didn't really want to. She liked how it felt to have Ginny touching her, even if it made her head foggy.
"Nothing," Hermione said tersely.
They ate in silence for awhile, finishing off the food in front of them. Ginny continued her progress towards Hermione's hip. When Hermione didn't think that she could stand it anymore, she spoke.
"Ginny," Hermione said louder than she had meant to.
"Yes?" Ginny's hand stopped on Hermione's mid-thigh.
"I, er, I have a book for you back in the Burrow. About Quidditch strategy. Do you think you could come so that I could show it to you?" she said as she stood up.
"Oh, do you think I could see it too?" Oliver said enthusiastically.
"It's only for chasers, female chasers," Hermione lied.
"I defend against some very good female chasers. It would be fascinating to learn some of their strategy," Oliver responded.
"You wouldn't be able to read anything. Only women can read it. All of the pages would be blank when you looked at them. It's very sophisticated magic," Hermione improvised wildly.
"Don't worry, though," Ginny said, getting up as she smiled at Oliver. "I'll tell you all about it later."
A/N- Ginny may seem a bit manipulative in this chapter, but keep in mind that she was not very happy with Hermione at the end of the last chapter. I thnk that Ginny can be quite ruthless when she sets her mind to it.
I'd like to thank everyone who has added this story to their story alert and a special thanks to those who have continued to read and review. As always, I love reviews, even if they're just a few words!