Fandom: Harry Potter
Relationship: Romantic – Hermione Granger/Lavender Brown
Warnings: alternate universe; femslash; Lavender Brown lives; Colin Creevey lives; and mentions of het
Prompt: (Gryffindor Character) Lavener Brown; and (Setting) Gryffindor Common Room
Summary: It's time for the new Gryffindor tradition: Trial by Fire. Hermione Granger is the latest chosen one – or victim, as far as Lavender Brown is concerned.
To Love a Lion
006. Kiss the Girl
The group of older students cheered as Ron Weasley descended the stairs from the seventh year boys' dorm carrying two horrid hats – if rumors were to be believed, the hats belonged to Albus Dumbledore and they were left to the school after his death.
"It's time for drawing!" Ron declared, waving the hats around.
Seated next to the fire, Lavender Brown sighed. This was a new tradition started by Hermione Granger in an effector to lift spirits up amongst the older students – fifth year and above. The tradition, called Trial by Fire, was performed every night Friday and Saturday night. The blue hat with fish patterns held a piece of parchment with the name of eligiable every Gryffindor student, and the glittery plaid hat held a piece of parchment with actions on them.
At the beginning of the year, each student fifth year and above filled out a piece of parchment with their full name, and second with a daring act. Afterwards, the parchment was collected and placed in the correct hat. Each piece of parchment and each hat was charmed and jinxed with magic compelling the chosen one to fulfill their daring act. Until the chosen one fulfilled their act, a new person and new action couldn't be selected.
The reason Lavender was opposed to the Trial by Fire was because it was humiliating to the chosen person. Lavender had witnessed Neville Longbottom showing off Luna Lovegood's kinkers, Ginny Weasley giving Colin Creevey a lap dance, Dennis Creevey drinking milk until he puked, and Demelza Robins being a Slytherin for a day.
Sighing, Lavender leaned back as she waited for the torture to begin. The sooner it started, the sooner it was over, and this couldn't end soon enough. "Let's get on with this," Lavender muttered.
"I know, it's so exciting!" Parvati Patil stated. "I'm hoping Hermione gets embarrassed next."
Heather Wood, the sixth year Prefect, reached into the blue hat and retrieved a piece of parchment. With a grin, she announced, "Hermione Granger."
The gathered crowd cheered, eager to witness this. This was the first time a Prefect had been selected.
Glancing over at Hermione, Lavender was intrigued, against her better judgment. She didn't want to see her roommate embarrassed or anything, but it would interesting to see what daring action Hermione was given. Honestly, Lavender hoped it was something tame like skipping class for a day or declaring her undying love for Professor McGonagall.
Lucas Monroe, the other sixth year Prefect, pulled a slip of parchment from the plaid hat. "Kiss your crush," he read.
Hermione's face turned beet red and her eyes widened.
"Draw another one!" Ron demanded, crossing his arms. It was well known the relationship between Ron and Hermione was short lived, and no one knew the reason.
Personally, it was a piece of gossip Lavender wanted to know.
"You can't," Hermione whispered, "it's against the rules." She looked around the common room, taking in all of her housemates. Slowly, she stood up from the couch, patting Harry Potter's arm as she went.
Lavender watched as Hermione walked across the Gryffindr common room towards the students gathered around the fireplace.
Several people looked hopeful Hermione would kiss them, much to Lavender's annoyance. Honestly, most of these people were only interested in Hermione for horrible reasons: she was best friends with Harry Potter, she was a genius, and she was hero from the Second Blood War. None of these people saw Hermione as the brave, smarting, and kind person she was. Lavender saw it.
Lavender was pulled out of her thoughts as a hush fell over the common room. Glancing around, she found Hermione standing a foot away, biting her lip and looking nervous with a light blush covering her cheeks. She watched Hermione took another step forward before dropping to her knees.
"Sorry, Lav," was all she heard before Hermione leaned it and kissed her on the lips.
Lavender's eyes widened. Hermione liked her.
As quick as the kiss started, it was over with Hermione fleeing up to the dorm. Lavender watched her go, feeling hurt. Why would Hermione leave like that?
Lost in her own thoughts, Lavender failed to notice Ron turning red and the group of onlooking students be spent away by Ginny and Harry.
"Lavender!" Parvati said, shaking her best friend.
"What?" Lavender asked in a daze as she looked at her best friend. Over Parvati's shoulder she saw Harry and Ginny.
"I asked how you were," Parvati said, sounding a little defensive.
"I'm fine," Lavender replied with a frown. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you kissed Granger!" yelled Camille Fawley, a fifth year.
Ginny and Harry turned to glare at the fifth year.
"So?" Lavender demanded. "There's nothing wrong with that."
"You sure didn't act like that," Fawley continued to heckle.
Lavender's eyes narrowed. There was barely any time to return the kiss or pull Hermione close before she left. "It's mildly shocking," she stated, "to find out my friend and roommate returns my crush."
Fawley's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. "W-what?" she said.
Standing up, Lavender rolled her eyes. "You heard me," she declared, marching across the common room to the stairs.
Behind her, Lavender heard Parvati join Harry and Ginny in berating the fifth year. She would have to explain everything to her best friend later, but it was a relief to know Parvati supported her.
Gathering her confidence and her courage, Lavender ascended the stairs up to the seventh year girls' dorm. She formed herself to take a deep breath as she entered the dorm. The sight that greeted her broke Lavender's heart.
Hermione was face-down on her bed, sodding into her pillow.
Gently, Lavender closed the door behind and she walked over to Hermione's bed, where she took a seat without asking.
"Go away, Ginny!" Hermione demanded between sods. "I want to be left alone right now."
"It's not Ginny," Lavender said, placing a hand on Hermione's back.
Hermione's head shot up and she looked over her shoulder. Her brown eyes widened. "L-Lavender," she choked out.
Reaching out, Lavender whipped a few of Hermione's tears away without saying anything.
"L-look, I would appreciate it if we pretended the kiss never happened," she whispered, turning her head away from Lavender.
Lavender frowned at the action and Hermione's words. "What if I don't want to pretend?" she asked.
Hermione flinched at the question. "I just need until Monday," she said. "I'll ask Professor McGonagall to move me to a different dorm."
Frowning, Lavender thought over what Hermione was saying. Her eyes widened. Was it possible Hermione thought Lavender was disgusted by the kiss or something? Well, she wasn't. It took her a few seconds to form a plan.
"I think," she whispered, leaning close to Hermione, "we can do it better."
Hermione turned to look at with a confused look on in her brown eyes.
Smirking, Lavender leaned forward and she pressed her lips against Hermione's. She felt Hermione freeze, and she placed her hand against Hermione's head, trying to deepen the kiss. A second later, Hermione began to respond by placing a hand on Lavender's neck, pulling the girl closer. When they pulled apart, both of them were breathless. Hermione leaned her forehead against Lavender's, staring into the other girl's hazel eyes.
"What does this mean?" Hermione whispered, sound vulnerable.
"Whatever we want," Lavender answered, "but we are exclusive."
Hermione smiled before pulling Lavender into another kiss.
This was written in response to the following: (1) Colors of the Rainbow Challenge and (2) Shop for a Prompt Challenge from Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenge Forum.
(1) Colors of the Rainbow – Red, Prompt 1: Write about any Gryffindor.
(2) Shop for a Prompt – (Setting) Gryffindor Common Room
Words: ~1,300
