A/N: Whoa, NINE reviews for chapter nine! This story must be getting good or something.. smirks. Heh.. you can expect about 25 chapters total. Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to: no douts, HPequalsgreatlit, foppet1, s3xy-Lady, invisible cappucino conspiracy, Missa05, Alice Dodgson, LunaML, and Snowbear.
"No way," Ginny said in disbelief. Hermione felt a rush of guilt for causing Ginny this suffering.
"Yes way," Hermione whispered. Ginny expression changed from angry and sad to surprise and hope, then back to anger again.
Ginny stumbled to her feet her face full of hurt, "Then how could you have said all those awful things?"
Hermione stood up as well and admitted, "I was scared."
"Scared! You were scared? Lord and Lady do you think it was easy for me to ask you that?" Ginny asked incredulously.
"I'm sorry Gin," Hermione protested, "I'm sorry."
"You lied to me, you hurt me," Ginny told Hermione.
"I know!" Hermione said, her voice rising as well, "I know I did! That's why I'm talking to you now! I'm going through the same thing you are! Except I've been trying to keep it locked up for years!"
"You've known for years?" Ginny asked softly.
Hermione nodded, "Except I've refused to admit it to myself. I didn't fake the anger I felt towards you, I was angry, but only because you opened a door to all these feelings and emotions that have been hidden in a little corner of my brain!"
Ginny didn't say anything and Hermione reached out to take the other girl's hand. Ginny jerked it away.
"Can you, can you forgive me?" Hermione asked softly.
"Yes," Ginny whispered her eyes locking onto Hermione's, "But those things you said. They seemed true, I could believe them."
"Don't, don't put yourself though what I did to myself," Hermione said fiercely taking both of Ginny's hands, "I don't know what God has against homosexuals, but I know that what I feel can't be wrong. And if it is, it's his fault for making us this way."
Ginny glanced down studying Hermione's hands and Hermione suddenly noticed the bandages on her right hand.
"Your hand! God, Ginny, what happened?" Hermione asked seeing faint spots of blood that had seeped through the cloth.
"Nothing," Ginny murmured, "I punched something."
"Has Madame Pomfrey seen it?" Hermione asked studying Ginny's hand closely, frowning at the make shift bandages. Ginny shook her head.
"Do you believe in hell?" Ginny asked and Hermione looked up at Ginny's eyes, eyes that were wide with worry, a beautiful deep brown color. Hermione felt as if she could drown in those eyes. Hermione was startled to see such strong emotions in them.
"No," Hermione said and realized at that moment that what she said was true, she didn't believe in hell. She paused and looked down then back up at Ginny, "Thank you, for, making me see."
"I didn't do a thing," Ginny said, "I'm just glad that I'm, not alone."
"I know what you mean," Hermione whispered, her voice feeling hoarse. A single tear streaked down Ginny's face and Hermione suddenly found her arms wrapped around Ginny. Ginny held her tightly resting her head on Hermione's shoulder. Heat burned between them and after a moment Ginny leaned back a little bit to look at Hermione. Her breath was warm, her face barely an inch away from Hermione's.
"So, you're seriously a lesbian?" Ginny asked, her voice wavering.
"Yup, a total dyke," Hermione admitted, her voice unsure as well; as she said the words though they felt more and more real. This was right, this was real.
Ginny laughed softly and wiped a tear away from Hermione's cheek, "Me too."
Their eyes met once again and Ginny moved her face just a little bit closer to Hermione's making Hermione suddenly fiercely aware of the closeness of their bodies, the intensity in the air between them. She felt a brief moment of panic then heard footsteps down the hallway.
The two girls immediately sprang apart both their faces turning bright red. A moment later Harry came around the corner to see Ginny and Hermione leaning against opposite walls, apparently having a conversation about Quidditch. Harry noticed that they both looked liked they'd been crying a few moments ago and the conversation was little forced.
"You guys made up then?" he asked, figuring that they must have had one of those girl moments.
Ginny nodded uncertainly, "Yeah, yeah we made up."
Harry glanced at Hermione for confirmation. Hermione quickly nodded her head in agreement; almost glad that Harry had shown up at that moment, not sure she wanted to think about what might be going on between Ginny and her.
"Guess I'll see you guys later then," Harry said shoving his bangs out of his eyes before continuing on down the hallway.
"So, um," Ginny started once Harry was out of ear shot.
"Yeah, I'd better get going too, homework to do and all," Hermione babbled nervously.
"Right," Ginny said and they both smiled awkwardly then turned in opposite directions.