The next couple of weeks seemed like a dream. Hermione and Ginny had finally found what they were both searching for. They found solace in each other, and had become inseparable.
Both of the girls had decided to keep whatever was between them a secret for now. They didn't need a label right now; they just wanted to enjoy each others company. It was Ginny's idea to keep it a secret, Hermione only agreed.
The time for Christmas break had come around, which both girls were eagerly awaiting. They would have more time for each other, and maybe have the opportunity to become more intimate. Ginny really wanted to get Hermione in bed, but she didn't want to push her. If they were going to pursue whatever this was between them, it had to be proper. The sexual tension grew, but Ginny could wait.
Maybe I'll get a Christmas treat from Hermione. I can always hope. Ginny thought pleasantly.
"I'm really looking forward to having time off." Ginny said, as she was packing her bags. The frustration was growing inside of her, so she tried to take her mind off sex the best she could.
"So am I. I'm glad I get to have some more alone time with you. I'm really, really looking forward to that." Hermione said, already finished with packing her belongings.
Ginny smiled and nodded, "It gets cold at night, gives us an excuse to be close."
They were going to go back to Ginny's house later that day. Both Hermione and Ginny knew Ron and Harry were going to be there, but neither of them discussed what was going to happen. Although Hermione wanted to have a real relationship with Ginny, Ginny never said anything about having a relationship. Hermione just hoped that it wasn't just fooling around to Ginny.
"You always take forever to pack you belongings." Hermione teased, sitting on Ginny's rarely used bed.
"Would you like me to bring nothing? I can be naked the whole time." Ginny smiled.
"Don't tease Ginny, it's not nice. Besides, I think your parents would notice." Hermione smiled, reaching out to pull Ginny against her.
"Maybe I wasn't teasing." Ginny had a wicked look to her eyes, which made Hermione shiver.
Hermione quickly pulled Ginny's lips to her own, and kissed her senseless. She had become more comfortable kissing Ginny over the weeks, and was becoming confident in her abilities. She had never kissed like this before, and was quickly becoming a pro.
Ginny pulled away, and smiled. "My Hermione, if you keep this up, I don't think we'll make the train on time."
Hermione smiled, "Sorry Ginny, I just can't help myself sometimes. I've never felt like this before."
"Felt like what?" Ginny asked.
"Like someone actually wants me." Hermione admitted.
Ginny couldn't help but feel sorry for Hermione. She deserved so much more than what she had been through. Ron wasn't good to Hermione; he didn't show her how special she truly was.
"I want you Hermione, you're a really good friend to me, and everyone else. Harry would have been so lost without your help, you've really saved us all." Ginny smiled, trying to make her feel better.
"Thanks Ginny. Maybe we should head for the train now, it's getting late." Hermione said, pushing to change the subject. Ginny was still calling Hermione her friend. She didn't want to think about being just a friend.
"You're right. Let's go." Ginny said, packing the last of her belongings.
Hermione helped Ginny with her belongings, along with her own, and began heading towards the train station.
Later that night
Hermione and Ginny had finally arrived at the burrow, and were greeted with a loving embrace from Molly.
"It's so good to have you home again Ginny, even if it's only for a little while." Molly said, looking at Ginny, then over at Hermione.
"It feels good to be home." Ginny said, hugging her mother back.
"And your parents are fine with you staying with us Hermione? We would love to have you stay for Christmas." Molly asked.
"Yes, they understand. I'm going to visit them in a few days, and have Christmas early with them, so it will work out just fine." Hermione smiled, enjoying the thought that she would be able to spend Christmas with the girl of her dreams.
"That's good dear. You're always welcome in our home."
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley." Hermione smiled.
Molly smiled and added, "And I just got a letter from Ronald, the boys will be here tomorrow. This Christmas will be good, I can't wait for us all to be together again." Molly seemed happy that her family was going to be together again, that was obvious. Who could blame her for wanting her family close, especially after what happened.
"We're just going to go unpack, we'll be back down in a little while." Ginny said while tugging at Hermione's arm.
"That's fine dear. I'll just be here. Your father should be here soon." Molly said, turning away from the girls to go on about her business.
Ginny closed the bedroom door behind the Hermione when they finally reached her room.
"What are we going to tell Harry and Ron?" Ginny asked, speaking more to herself than Hermione.
"The truth?" Hermione said quietly, moving her bags toward the corner of the room.
"It's not that easy Hermione. They're not going to be happy about it."
Hermione stopped moving; she knew something wasn't right with the way Ginny was acting. Her suspicions were becoming more evident. "What do you want from this?"
"What do you mean, Hermione?" Ginny questioned, already sitting on her bed. Her bags were left by her door, and were probably going to stay there the entire time.
"Do you want to be in a relationship with me? I'm just really confused as to what we are." Hermione admitted.
Ginny was silent, because she wasn't sure what she wanted. Hermione was an incredible woman, but Ginny's fears were keeping her from asking Hermione to be hers.
"I don't know right now, Hermione. I care about you, and this isn't just a fling, but I don't know what I want." Ginny answered truthfully.
"Okay, I can respect that. I know it's not easy to be in this situation." Hermione admitted.
"We just need some time to figure out how things are going to work. If we're going to be in a relationship, then we need to tell our parents, and I really don't want to think about that right now. I wouldn't want to ruin Christmas." Ginny let the last part slip out.
"Why would it be ruined? Are your parents not okay with you dating another girl?" Hermione asked, slowly understanding why Ginny was pushing the thought of a relationship out of her mind.
"I really don't know how they will react. I've just been thinking that it might be too soon to tell them anything, especially if Ron is going to expect you to get back together with him." Ginny said.
"I haven't given him any sign that I want to be in a relationship with him. We never really were in a relationship to begin with, but I understand your reasoning. If you need time, then I will give you time." Hermione said.
"I'm sorry Hermione, I just don't how they would react. No one in my family has had a same sex relationship, and I've never heard either of my parents talk about homosexuality. I just want to test the waters, maybe ask my parents what they think about a same sex relationship before I come out completely."
"That's fine to do. I understand Ginny, it's normal to be nervous about this kind of thing."
"So can we just keep what we have a secret for now?" Ginny asked.
"Sure Ginny. We'll keep it a secret. I won't tell anyone." Hermione promised.
Ginny smiled, relieved that she had some time to figure out how things were going to play out. She hadn't thought much about anything except kissing or touching Hermione. She was safe at school, she could be herself, but when at home Ginny felt she needed to be cautious.
"What do your parents think of homosexuality?" Ginny questioned Hermione.
"They are okay with it I suppose, but it wouldn't matter to me if they were okay with it or not, because it's my love life and not theirs. Plus, it's not like I see my parents every day. If I'm going to have a career in witchcraft, there isn't going to be much understanding or involvement from my parents. I've kind of lived on my own for the past few years. I can talk about it when I go see them in a couple of days, and see what they say."
"Okay, you can do that. Now, can we just relax for now? I'd like to have some quiet time with you before the boys get here." Ginny asked, patting her hand against the bed, inviting Hermione to come sit with her.
"Of course Ginny, there is nothing I would like more." Hermione smiled, and walked over toward Ginny.
Once Ginny pulled Hermione into a hug, all worries escaped Hermione's thoughts.
She is just a little nervous; we'll be together. Ginny just needs time. Hermione thought right before Ginny pulled her into a kiss.
The next day
Ginny and Hermione were woken to the sound of knocking on the bedroom door. "Girls, wake up! The boys are here, and I have breakfast ready." Molly said through the door, not opening it.
"Okay, we'll be out in a few minutes." Ginny said hoarsely.
Hermione groaned; she didn't want to get up from her position on the bed. She was holding Ginny tightly around the waist, inhaling the scent of her hair. This was heaven on earth to Hermione.
"I don't want to get up." Hermione mumbled, not wanting to open her eyes.
"Neither do I, but the boys are here. My mother will come hunt us down if we don't get down there within the next few minutes." Ginny smiled.
Hermione pushed herself out of bed, and walked over toward her belongings. "I'll go change in the bathroom."
Ginny laughed, "Why not change here? We both have the same parts."
"True, but I desperately want those parts of yours, and if I see them, we might not be downstairs for a very long time." Hermione smiled, making her way toward the door.
"That is so very tempting right now." Ginny smiled, watching Hermione walk out of her bedroom.
Fifteen minutes later Hermione made her way down the stairs to meet the boys. Ginny was already down there, it didn't take long for her to get dressed.
Hermione turned into the kitchen to find everyone sitting at the table, already eating. Hermione rolled her eyes, and said, "Hello" to everyone.
"Hermione, it's so good to see you again." Ron was smiling like an idiot from across the table. His mouth was full, and he obviously didn't mind that his food was being spat across the room.
"Hello Hermione, how are you?" Harry was sitting next to Ginny, which made Hermione slightly jealous. She usually sat next to Ginny.
"I'm doing just fine Harry." Hermione smiled, and took the seat next to Ron.
Ron moved his chair closer to Hermione, and continued eating.
Hermione looked across at Ginny, who shrugged her shoulders, and began eating.
This will be fun Hermione thought to herself, as she looked at her own plate of food and began to eat.
After breakfast, Hermione tried to get Ginny to go on a walk with her, but Harry had beaten her to the punch.
"Would you like to go play Quidditch?" Harry asked Ginny once they were finished with breakfast.
"Sure Harry, that sounds like fun." Ginny smiled.
How could I compete with Quidditch? Hermione thought to herself.
Unfortunately for Hermione, Ron was standing right behind her.
"Would you like to join us Ron?" Ginny asked, trying to save Hermione from the inevitable.
"Maybe later Ginny. I would like to spend some time with Hermione, and I know she hates the game." Ron said from behind Hermione.
"Okay, I'll see you later Hermione?" Ginny looked sympathetically at Hermione.
Hermione nodded her head, "Sure, have fun."
Ginny smiled, and turned to go outside with Harry.
"So Hermione, would you like to go for a walk with me? We need to catch up." Ron said nervously.
"Sure Ron, let's go." Hermione said, and began walking towards the back door.
Ron was quick to hold the door open for Hermione, something he had rarely done in the past. Hermione and Ron walked past Ginny and Harry who were already up in the air. They weren't playing yet, just talking.
Hermione felt her jealousy return, but Ron interrupted her thoughts. "Come on Hermione, we can come back and you can watch me play with them." Ron tugged lightly at her arm, and she obliged.
Once they were a safe distance away, Ron became very quiet.
Hermione was used to him keeping his feelings inside, so it wasn't anything new. "How is training going?" She asked, trying to break the ice.
"It's going great, Harry and I are learning so much. You wouldn't believe all the different things we've learned. It's going to be so easy for us to take down any dark wizard who crosses our path." Ron smiled.
"I suppose you're happy doing this kind of work?" Hermione asked, not really excited that her best friends made a choice to live a dangerous life.
"Yes, I really am. I don't think I would do well in any other kind of job. This is my calling Hermione, just like being involved in studies is yours." Ron defended himself, but kept his tone light.
"I understand that Ron, it's just hard for me to see you two living a life of danger. We've lost so much from the war, and you still want to fight. I'm not trying to put you down, I just would like to see you living a safe life." Hermione tried to explain her reasoning without getting into an argument with Ron.
"Maybe a safe life is what you want Hermione, but I am my own man. I want to fight for what I believe in, and I'm certain that my job isn't as dangerous as you think it'll be. This is what I want, and I'm sorry if it worries you, but it's my life." Ron turned to Hermione, and stared into her eyes.
Hermione could tell Ron was being serious, and the matter wasn't to be taken lightly. "I'm not trying to stop you Ron. You can do whatever you want, it's not my place to say how you live your life."
Ron was quiet again, and Hermione knew what he was going to say next. She was dreading this moment, but she knew it had to come eventually. She wasn't going to be pressured into a relationship with Ron, especially if there is a possibility of a future with Ginny.
"What if I want you to be a part of my life Hermione?" Ron said quietly.
This isn't going to be easy Hermione thought, as she prepared to tell Ron that she wasn't interested in him.
A/N: Thanks to all for reading. I've got a new computer, so no worries!