Chapter 9


"Well, hello again," said the nymph, still smiling.

Ginny merely gaped at her, her mouth hanging open.

The nymph giggled and got to her feet. She had clearly just been in the pool. The mountain of foam Ginny and Hermione had made love on had broken into several large chunks, floating around on the still steaming water. Ginny wondered if she had been in it, given the fact that she had some of the foam on her body and in her hair.

She looked incredibly alluring, the water making her smooth skin glisten and soap suds sliding slowly down her body. She showed no sign of embarrassment from her complete lack of clothes or from the lingering awkwardness of their first meeting.

"Lovely decorations," she said, looking around. "I've never seen bubbles this big or beautiful."

She looked up at a bubble that was hovering a foot above her.

"Thanks," said Ginny hesitantly, her eyes on the nymph's body.

The nymph reached up at the bubble and ran her fingers across its surface. Ginny saw her fingertips vanish slightly as ripples formed in the bubble and knew that she had turned them to water simply for the sensation of feeling the bubble. She looked fascinated, like a kid in a toy store. After a few seconds, she lowered her hand slowly, bringing the bubble down until it was floating in front of her.

"Um... How did you get in here?" asked Ginny.

"Pipes," said the nymph offhandedly, still looking at the bubble.

Ginny frowned at her.

"And how long were you in here?"

The nymph lifted her eyes to Ginny, a smirk playing across her lips.

"You mean you spied on us?!" said Ginny angrily.

"Don't sound so shocked," said the nymph. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything. What was it she said, 'take it as a compliment'? That was one of the hottest displays I've seen in a while. And besides," she looked down at the swirling bubble in her hands. "You're not really one to talk, are you?"

"Well," muttered Ginny, her face a little pink. "That doesn't mean it's not wrong,"

"Doesn't mean I can't pay you back," the nymph retorted. "We're even now."

They stood in silence for a while. Ginny still felt annoyed at the fact that the nymph had spied on her during her private time with Hermione. But at the same time she felt like she should apologize for what she did last night, even if the nymph wasn't going to apologize for her bit of spying. She marshaled her thoughts, getting distracted slightly by the nymph's body.

"Look," said Ginny slowly, and the nymph looked up from the bubble. "I'm sorry about what happened last night. I know how awkward and embarrassing it must have been for you..."

She sighed. There was no point beating around the bush.

"It was wrong of me to spy on you and masturbate to you," she said, blushing deeply. "It was weird and perverted and I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do for you to forgive me, just let me know."

The nymph looked at her for a moment, then smiled again. She looked down at the bubble and ran both her hands across the surface, admiring the swirling colors of the liquid.

"Do you know why I ran from you, when I realized you were watching me?" she asked.

"Uh, because it was mortifying?"

The nymph laughed softly. The sound sent a pleasant shiver up Ginny's skin.

"It's not really in our nature to be embarrassed," she said. "No, it was because people are rarely... gentle when they find me."

The bubble popped suddenly and she looked up. Her smile had faded slightly and she was looking at Ginny as though she was sizing her up.

"You have nothing to apologize for. I've had far worse people who never apologize for any of the things they do. Or try to do," she added darkly. "To be honest, I'm fine with you spying on me whenever you want. It's so rare that I'm found by an especially beautiful young woman with such a kind heart."

Normally such a complement from a stranger would have made her roll her eyes dismissively, but as it was coming from the supernaturally gorgeous, sopping wet girl standing naked in front of her, Ginny couldn't help but feel a little boost in self esteem. She blushed a little, her eyes darting down to the nymph's breasts and back to her face.

"So..." she said slowly. "Why are you here then?"

The nymph looked at her for a moment, then started walking towards Ginny, who reached for her wand instinctively. Then she remembered it was in her bag, lying ten feet away by the edge of the pool. She started backing up.

"I've been looking for you," said the nymph quietly. "Ever since what happened last night, I've wanted to talk to you..."

Ginny bumped up against the door of the bathroom. She pressed herself to it as the nymph walked nearer and nearer.

"I've wanted to touch you..."

Ginny started feeling for the doorknob with her right hand, her heart thumping loudly. They were a foot apart.

The nymph leaned in so that Ginny could feel her soft breath and see every detail of her beautiful, flawless face. The scent of roses filled her, along with something wild that made her think of the forest. The nymph was gazing at her with those deep, mysterious purple eyes. Ginny found herself staring into them, getting lost.

"I've wanted to kiss you."

She very slowly closed the distance between them. Ginny could still fight back and escape, but she was paralyzed, unable to move a muscle.

The nymph's lips were millimeters from her's. Ginny's brain felt jammed. She was holding her breath.

She closed her eyes.

"But you haven't, have you?"

Ginny opened her eyes. The nymph was still standing an inch away from her.

"You've had someone else to touch and kiss, haven't you?" she said, smirking again. "What was her name... Hermione, wasn't it? Well, I wouldn't want to get in the way of your sex life, but if you ever wanted a helping hand..." The nymph brushed her hand against the inside of Ginny's thigh, causing her to gasp. "...I'd be more than happy to offer mine."

She grinned and turned her back on Ginny, walking over to the pool. Her hips swayed from side to side as she walked, drawing Ginny's gaze.

"What a weird and unusual name, 'Hermione'," said the nymph, still walking. "Did you ever wonder where it was from?"

Ginny was still taking slow breaths to calm herself, but she felt angry with the nymph now. Partly because of her slight on Hermione's name, and partly for teasing her almost to the point of wanting to kiss her.

Almost.

"No," she said defiantly to the nymph's back. "And it's not weird or unusual, it's beautiful and... unique."

The nymph smiled over her shoulder at her, standing on the edge of the pool.

"It's Greek."

She faced forward and stepped onto the water. She didn't fall in, but simply walked to the middle of the pool. Her feet bent the water very slightly, like an insect floating on the surface. The large chunks of foam around her looked like white bushes as high as her waist.

Ginny watched her, amazed both at this new ability and her knowledge of Hermione's name.

"What's your name, then?" she asked.

The nymph turned and faced her, smiled more widely.

"Maera."

The nymph's body turned to shiny clear water. It fell into the pool with a loud splash, sending out deep ripples. Ginny continued to stare at the center of the pool, wondering if she was still there, watching her.

"Your name's even more unusual!" she shouted at the water.

Nothing happened.

She marched over to her bag and picked it up. As she walked back to the door, she glanced at the rippling water. There was no sign of the nymph.

Maera, she thought darkly, pulling the door open. What a stupid name.


Ginny lay awake in her bed later that night listening to the other girls' slow breathing around her. She and Hermione had still not gotten the chance to talk about their relationship. Ginny wondered if they would get to it tomorrow.

She was thinking about everything that had been going on over the last couple of days and couldn't sleep. She had experienced so many strange things in her life, but never had she experienced anything that had screwed with her emotions as much as the last three days.

However, she had a feeling things were only going to get worse. Now she had to deal with someone that knew about their secret, a nymph who probably couldn't be trusted and was only going to toy with Ginny's emotions further.

What was Hermione going to say when she found out about the nymph? Would she be jealous or angry? And of course there was still Harry. What was going to happen when he found out about all of this?

If he finds out about it, which he sure as hell won't, thought Ginny.

The very last thing she wanted was Harry learning about anything that had happened, or Ron for that matter. It would ruin the relationships between the four of them. This was going to have to be between Hermione and herself. If Harry and Ron were ever going to find out, Ginny was determined it would only be because she and Hermione mutually decided to tell them, for whatever idiotic reason.

Or if the nymph tells someone. Fuck.

Would she though? We're nymphs good at keeping secrets? Probably, seeing how they dealt with people on an intimate level all the time. They would have to be at least a little confidential about the people they met. But what if they weren't? Ginny wasn't even sure the nymph knew the scope of her crimes. Maybe she thought Ginny was just some girl in a relationship with some other girl, and not the catalyst for a potentially life ruining scandal involving one of the most famous wizards of the age, herself, her new girlfriend and her brother.

Ginny had so many unanswered questions, so many uncertainties. She didn't even know if the nymph would be a potential threat to her or Hermione.

There was only one thing she could do to make sure: confront the nymph.

She lay for a moment, wondering when she should go to her. It was probably a good idea to wait until tomorrow evening. She was already relaxed and ready for bed...

Fuck it, I'll go now, she thought, pulling the sheets off.

She couldn't just lay here and sleep, she need to act. She didn't feel tired at all. In fact, she felt a lot like she had on those occasions when she had sneaked off at night over the last month. Only this time, she was doing something productive and serious.

As silently as she could, Ginny pulled on her jeans and a jacket, stuffing her scarf and gloves into her pocket. She tiptoed over to the door and crept down the stairs and across the dark common room. The dying fire cast a soft red glow around the room as she made her way to the portrait hole.

The Fat Lady was sleeping when she climbed out into the corridor. She closed the portrait quietly and pulled the Marauders Map out.

She made her way down the dark corridors, keeping an eye on the map for anybody who might be nearby. If Filch was walking around, or Peeves, it would complicate things. But it looked like everyone was asleep. Nobody was moving around, except...

Ginny stopped in her tracks, diverted, raising her wand to illuminate the parchment. A dot was walking through the corridor on the floor below her. But it wasn't Filch, or even Peeves.

It was Luna.

Ginny stared at the dot, wondering what she could be doing wandering around at night. She had never known Luna to be out of bed after hours before, except when they had been doing underground work for the DA last year.

She turned and faced the wall next to her where a large tapestry was hung. According to the map, there was a concealed staircase behind it that she could take. She pulled back the tapestry and climbed down the stairs quickly, taking two steps at a time.

She came out at the bottom and pushed the tapestry hiding the entrance out of the way, looking down the hallway. Luna was nowhere to be be seen, but Ginny could see a statue along the wall near where her dot had been.

Ginny walked towards it and whispered, "Luna? It's me."

Luna appeared behind the statue, lowering her wand and smiling.

"Oh, hello," she said in her dreamy voice. "You startled me. I thought Filch was coming down those stairs."

"Yeah, sorry about that," said Ginny. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, just taking a walk," said Luna serenely. "I like the quiet, it helps me think. What about you?"

"I... was going for a walk, too. Then I saw your dot on the map and I came to talk to you."

"Oh, well that was very nice of you," said Luna, smiling. "I haven't talked to you in ages. How are you?"

"I'm..." For a second, Ginny tried to say "fine," but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She hadn't been so not fine in years.

"I've actually been really stressed out, to be honest," she admitted, looking down at Luna's slippers.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," said Luna. "I thought sex was supposed to clear people's heads."

Ginny nodded, not really listening. Then what Luna said clicked into place and she snapped back up to look at her.

"Wh-what? What do you mean?" she spluttered.

"You and Hermione. Or have you two not gotten there yet?" asked Luna.

Ginny felt the heat rise in her face.

"What do you mean, 'me and Hermione'? How did you—"

"It was kind of obvious," said Luna calmly.

Ginny looked up and down the corridor as though she expected to see students eavesdropping on their conversation. Even though they were clearly alone, she didn't like the idea of staying out in the open.

"Lets go in here," she said hastily, gesturing to the door next to them.

They snuck in together and Ginny closed the door just as Luna lit her wand tip. They were standing in a shabby looking broom closet. Crates of Mrs Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover were stacked along a wall with several non-magical looking broomsticks propped up against them. Luna sat herself up on the crates as Ginny lit her wand too.

She looked at Luna for a second before asking again, "How did you know?"

"It's the way you look at each other. Like you constantly feel the need to be locked together."

Ginny felt herself blush again.

"But you haven't told anyone?... Have you?"

"No," said Luna simply. "I figured if you wanted people to know, you would have said something. And it looked like you wanted to keep it private."

Ginny let out a sigh of relief. She had never really appreciated just how good a friend Luna was. Why hadn't she talked to her about all of this before? She could have gone to her back in September and it would have saved her a whole lot of confusion and stress. The fact that she now had someone to talk to with whom she trusted was so relieving, she almost laughed.

After a second or two, Ginny pulled herself together and looked up at Luna again. She was watching a spider crawl up one of the crates with a vague look on her face.

"Thank you," said Ginny. "You don't know how nerve wracking the last few days have been for me."

"Well, do you want to talk about it? Daddy always says talking to someone about your problems helps," asked Luna, looking away from the spider.

Ginny hesitated for a moment before making her decision.

"Yeah, I think I need to."

She began to talk, and the more she spoke, the lighter she felt. The weight of her guilt seemed to slide off of her as she told Luna about all that had happened, from her growing feelings towards Hermione to their first time together in the unused classroom to their time in the prefect's bathroom. It felt so good to get everything off her chest.

Almost everything. She still didn't feel comfortable telling anyone about the nymph yet. There was too much guilt there for her to tell anyone, including Luna. While she talked, she decided that she wasn't going to tell anyone, at least until she knew more about what was going on and had a handle on the situation. Part of her knew she was just putting it off, and that it would be good for her to talk about it, but she was just too embarrassed to share it.

When she had finished speaking, Luna gazed at her with her normal protuberant eyes.

"So when are you planning to tell Harry?" she asked.

"I don't plan on telling him anything," said Ginny shortly. "Do you know what that would do to him? To us? We'd split up for good this time. And Ron and Hermione? They'd split up too and he's my brother and she's Harry's friend and..."

Ginny stopped and sighed, leaning against the door frame.

"I just couldn't do that. We're going to have to keep this a secret, just between us. You promise not to tell anyone, ever?"

Luna stared unblinkingly at her for a moment.

"You're not giving Harry enough credit," she said. "I think you should talk to him and work this out together. Isn't that the whole point of a relationship?"

"Well, no— I mean yes, but..." said Ginny, running her hand through her hair. "It's not that easy. Something like this..."

She didn't know what to say. What Luna said made sense. It would be better to work through it together, but could they?

"Haven't you ever had a secret that you know you'll never tell someone?" asked Ginny.

"Yes, I do," said Luna. "But it's not the same as this. It doesn't hurt anyone I love. If I were you, I'd tell him."

"You don't understand—"

"Yes I do. Harry has a right to know."

"I'm not going to tell him if it destroys our relationship. If—"

"It's not already?" said Luna, hopping down from her perch and facing Ginny. Ginny stared.

"Excuse me?!"

"You've cheated on him with your best friend because he's not here to pleasure you. You have to tell him. If you have to keep secrets from your boyfriend, then the two of you don't belong together."

Ginny gaped at her. Anger was bubbling up inside her like acid. She balled up her hands, clutching her wand tightly.

"Take that back." she said stiffly.

"No," said Luna calmly. "You already know it's true. If you can't tell him, then you don't deserve him. You can't just jump on the first person who'll take you when the person you love is away. You acting like a slut who—"

There was a loud bang and a flash of light. Luna flew backwards into the crates with a crash. Ginny turned and yanked the door open, striding out of the cupboard and down the hallway.

The sound of splintered wood and Luna's groans faded away as she marched around the corner and down the stairs. She was so angry, she didn't even want to think about what she had just done. How could Luna say that to her? She had never called her a slut, or anything else for that matter.

But then, when she was halfway down the staircase,

"PEEVES!"

It was the unmistakable hunting cry of Filch. Ginny jumped and twisted around to look up the stairs. She could hear him shuffling down the corridor, huffing and puffing all the way. She hesitated for a moment, then crept back up the stairs for a better look. When she got to the top, she peeked around the corner and saw him enter the broom cupboard, yelling with rage.

"Oh no," she breathed.

She pulled back and fumbled for the Marauders Map in her pocket, taking it out and searching for Luna feverishly. She found her within seconds, making her way up the stairs on the opposite side of the hallway. Ginny leaned against the stone wall and slid her hand over her face.

She felt terrible now. She had attacked one of her best friends. If she had hurt her any more than she had already, Luna might not have gotten away in time and would be in detention because of her.

She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then turned and walked down the staircase, reaching the entrance hall several minutes later. She left the warmth of the castle behind her as she stepped out into the cold, dark night.