The first night that Ginny crawled into Hermione's bed, Hermione had been so shocked she had barely slept the whole night. Ginny had waited until she thought everyone in the house was asleep, mainly Harry, then she came over to Hermione's bed, pulled back the covers and climbed right in. Nothing else happened. She just turned so that she was facing away from Hermione and grabbed Hermione's arm so that it was wrapped around her. Hermione was dumbfounded, convinced that she was dreaming. Hermione feared that any movement would shatter the fragile illusion and that closing her eyes would reveal that this was anything but real. It took her hours to fall asleep, but when she woke up, Ginny was there in her bed smiling at her, placing a small kiss on her lips before getting up to go downstairs for breakfast.
It occurred almost every night after. Ginny would wait until she was sure everyone was asleep and then she would join Hermione in bed. Most of the time, they just slept comfortably in each other's arms but sometimes they would kiss for hours before falling asleep. During the day, Ginny belonged to Harry. They would hold hands and be playful with each other. Hermione would glare enviously at their public displays of affection, their love on display for the world to see. Hermione would give anything to show the world how she felt about Ginny, but she knew that, right now at least, that would be impossible. So, Hermione waited for nightfall because in the darkness where no one could see, Ginny was hers.
Things between Harry and Hermione were tense to say the least. Neither wanted the situation to affect their friendship, but it was hard when spending time with one another to ignore the voice in the back of your mind telling you that this was the only person preventing you from living happily ever after with the girl you loved. They were in a silent competition for the girl's affection. They never spoke of it, but it was written all over their faces whenever they were around each other.
Hermione knew that she needed to step up her game. She could not let Ginny just slip through her fingers. She had to do something that would at least put her on level ground with Harry in Ginny's eyes. The night before Harry left for auror training, Ginny still climbed into bed with Hermione all the same. Hermione pulled her close and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, "I need to tell you something."
Ginny's eyes filled with concern, "What is it?"
Hermione closed her eyes, took a deep breath and let it out, "I know we don't talk much about how we feel. It's kind of been something that has gone understood between us, but I have to tell you, Ginny."
Ginny placed a hand on Hermione's cheek, "Tell me what?"
"I'm in love with you. I'm not talking school girl crush in love. I'm talking about true, unconditional, pure love. Ginny Weasley, you are the one for me, the only one. I love you," Hermione barely got the last word out before Ginny's mouth was attacking hers. She and Ginny had shared some very passionate kisses in the past couple of weeks, but never anything like this. Ginny was kissing her with such need, such emotion that Hermione was not able to contain the moan that escaped from her lips.
With that, Ginny pulled back and smiled at Hermione. Then to Hermione's surprise, Ginny moved so that she was straddling Hermione. Normally, Hermione would begin to over think things. She had never been in this position before, and Hermione was not one to go into something with no knowledge of what she was doing, but Hermione's body was on autopilot. Her hands seemed to instinctively go to Ginny's hips just above her muscular thighs. Ginny dipped down and began to kiss Hermione feverishly once again. Ginny shifted so that she was lying on top of Hermione rather than just sitting on her. Her hands began to run down the length of Hermione's body starting at her neck and ending just below Hermione's tank top. Ginny began to pull the tank top up over Hermione's stomach, her hands caressing the skin beneath.
Hermione pulled back from the kiss, "What're you doing?" she said in out of breath gasps.
"I-I don't know," Ginny said, equally out of breath. "It just felt right. Do you want me to stop?"
Hermione thought for a second. She did not want Ginny to stop, but she did not know where things would go if she let Ginny continue. Hermione did not know how far Ginny had gone with Harry, but Hermione herself had no sexual experience. She had not even so much as read about it, which did not leave her confident in her abilities. However, right in that moment, looking up into Ginny's eyes, Hermione's instincts took over once again. She grabbed at her tank top and pulled it over her head. Hermione did not wear a bra to bed, so she was completely exposed to Ginny.
Just when she was about to get self-conscious, Ginny leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss, "You are so beautiful," she said before moving her mouth to Hermione's jaw, then Hermione's neck and shoulder. Hermione's skin was on fire with every touch of Ginny's lips. This was the most amazing feeling. Soon the rest of their clothes were discarded, and their hands and mouths were exploring each other's body. So, this is what it feels like to make love, Hermione thought before her mind was lost in complete bliss.
When Hermione woke up the next morning, there was a sense of euphoria rushing over her. She felt like she was floating on clouds. Ginny's hands and mouth had taken her to new heights. She did not know if she could ever get enough. She was surprised, though, to find that Ginny was not in the bed next to her when she woke up. Ginny usually woke up before her, but she always waited for Hermione before getting up and going to breakfast. Then Hermione remembered that today was the day that Harry would be leaving for auror training, and her mood almost instantly fell. Ginny had probably gotten up early to spend time with Harry before he left that afternoon. Hermione had convinced herself that after last night, Ginny would finally be hers, that what happened meant that Ginny had chosen her. She had been naïve.
Hermione got out of bed and found some clothes to put on. She walked down the stairs with a sullen face. When she entered the kitchen, everyone else was already there gathering food onto their breakfast plates. This morning they were joined by Bill and Fleur and also George. Hermione imagined they were here to see Ron and Harry off and bid them good luck. There Ginny was sitting next to Harry as usual, the seat across from her empty for Hermione. Ginny did not look up as she came in the room, so Hermione sat and picked half-heartedly at her food.
Breakfast consisted of talk about quidditch and magical politics along with animated excitement from Ron and Harry of the adventure they were about to embark on. Everyone was in high spirits, except for Ginny and Hermione. Neither one of them spoke up at all, nor had they yet to meet each other's eyes. It was not for Hermione's lack of trying. She was silently pleading for Ginny to look at her and confirm that what they had shared last night had been special and not a mistake. Ginny never looked up. The rest of the morning went the same way. The family doted over Ron and Harry. Bill and George shook each of their hands as they left to return to their jobs. Fleur gave them both kisses on the cheek, and Hermione thought their faces were going to explode from the blush that was showing on their faces. Ron's ears were as red as his hair. She would have laughed had it been any other day.
When the house cleared out and Ron went to do some last minute packing under the scrutiny of his mom, Ginny, Harry and Hermione were left standing awkwardly in the living room together. They were all staring at their feet, none of them sure what to say. Ginny was the first one to speak. "I need to talk to you both," she huffed before plopping down on the chair. Harry and Hermione took a seat next to each other on the sofa. She and Harry shared a sympathetic look. This was the talk they had been waiting for most of the summer. One of them would leave this room heartbroken; the other would leave with the girl of his/her dreams.
"I owe you both an apology," Ginny said, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "I haven't been particularly fair to either of you. I'm sorry. I really am. I care for both of you so deeply. It hasn't been easy for me. I can only imagine how it's felt for either of you."
Hermione could feel her throat constricting and her heart speeding up. What Ginny said next would either shatter her or elate her. She had never been so panicked in her life. She hated not knowing, not being sure. This is the first time she had addressed her feelings for Hermione in front of anyone else. That had to be a good sign, right? Ginny lowered her eyes to the floor, "I have to be honest and say that I'm no closer to making a decision than I was before."
Before what? Hermione thought, but she knew what Ginny meant. Harry might not know, but Hermione was sure. Ginny was referring to what happened last night. She was no closer to choosing Hermione than she had been before she and Hermione made love. Hermione felt like crying, but she fought back the feeling.
"It's incredibly selfish, what I've been doing to the two of you," Ginny continued. "I've come between you as friends, and I feel I've taken advantage of you both." Harry and Hermione shared a look once more, "That's why I feel that, until I know for sure, I shouldn't choose either one of you."
Harry's face screwed up in a mixture of shock and confusion, "What?"
Hermione's pulse was still racing. Ginny may not have chosen her, but she had not rejected her either. She had also neither chosen nor rejected Harry. They had both lost and gained hope at the same time.
"From this point on, until I've made my decision. I only want to be friends with either of you. I can't keep things going the way they are. I don't want to lead someone on and then break his or her heart. I love you, both. I don't want anyone to get hurt," Ginny finished. Harry looked angry, but Hermione's head was spinning. Ginny just admitted that she loved her. All was not lost. Hermione's fight was not over. It would be hard to go back to being just friends with Ginny, but if Hermione had her way, it would not last long. She and Ginny would go off to Hogwarts together and Hermione would win Ginny's heart once and for all. Hermione's heart soared with all of the possibilities.
When Ginny got up and left the room, leaving Hermione and Harry sitting together on the sofa alone, Hermione's heart started to ache instead. Harry would be going off to auror training for months. He would not have the same opportunity to win Ginny over. Was that fair? Hermione cursed at herself for her concern for the boy, but he was, after all, her best friend.
"I know it seems as though I have an unfair advantage," Hermione said to him, "since I'm going off to Hogwarts with her alone. You're my best friend, though, Harry, so, I promise to keep things fair. I'll stay just friends with Ginny. I won't put any pressure on her decision."
Harry looked at her and smiled, "You'd really do that for me?"
"Don't get the wrong idea, Harry. I love her. I'm not giving up the fight. If she comes to me, if I'm the one she chooses, I won't say no."
That afternoon, the house hold said goodbye to Harry and Ron. Mrs. Weasley cried. Ron apologized to Hermione for being a jerk, and she hugged him for the first time in months. She even hugged Harry and told him to stay safe. Ginny did not prolong her goodbye with Harry. It was not the heartfelt goodbye of two people in love. It was a simple goodbye between good friends. That night, Ginny did not crawl into bed with Hermione. She simply said goodnight to Hermione and turned over to face the wall. However, in the darkness as Hermione was drifting off to sleep, she heard Ginny say, "It meant something, Hermione. It meant everything." So, despite what happened that day, and Ginny not being in her arms, Hermione still fell asleep with a smile on her face.