My apologies that this chapter took me about as long as the fife previous added together did. I had the time, so the only excuse I have is that it took forever to find a proper continuation. I hope that, at least, this chapter is able to make up for the long wait.

Hermione

A firm shake at my shoulder rose me from my daydreams.

"Honey, you're okay there?", my mother's concerned voice asked. I had gone over to my parents for Christmas holidays, but up to now I had not been exactly good company to them. All I ever did was letting my mind wander off to my beautiful girlfriend, who was currently staying at her grandparents. I knew she did not want to spend her holidays with them but would much rather be with me, doing exactly what we had been doing over the past few weeks.

It had been our own little piece of heaven. While we were not openly out in front of the whole of the school, we nevertheless spend every available minute together, going out on dates, cuddling, making love in every way possible. I had been looking forward to spending my holidays with her, but neither did I particularly look forward to introducing Pansy to my parents as I had not even mustered the courage to tell them that I was dating a woman as of yet nor was it possible that I would go to her grandparents alongside her as her grandparents would already have refused to let me in because I was muggleborn, and they certainly would have done so the moment it became apparent that I was their granddaughter's girlfriend.

So, instead of celebrating Christmas together like we had wanted, I was sitting around the Christmas tree with my parents. Please do not get me wrong, I love my parents, but I still was dying to see my girl again after about a week of separation. It was laughable, really. If a few months ago someone would have told me that by know I would not be able to go a day without thinking about Pansy and was getting all antsy after not seeing her for a week I would have told them they were crazy. Not so much now, though.

"'Mione, you sure you're alright?" I had been getting dreamy again.

"Huh?", I exclaimed unintelligently, before quickly adding: "Don't worry, everything's fine."

"Sure", my father drawled sarcastically. "You've been unresponsive all week. All the time you go off to some foreign land and then you get that faraway look on your face. What's bothering you? Do you have to modify us again?", he asked with a slight chuckle. Instead of it being awkward every time the subject was broached, my parents had made their own little inside joke out of the mind modification I had used on them to save them from the death eaters.

"It's nothing negative, I promise. At least I hope you don't think it is." Seeking to escape the complete explanation I quickly added. "I do feel a bit drowsy though. I think I'd better get into bed now."

My parents shared a look of understanding that clearly read: We know that is not all, but we will let it slip for now. I was extremely grateful for that.

After a short stop at the bathroom to brush my teeth I open my bedroom door, fully intent on simply calling it a day and go to sleep.

"Took you long enough", grumbled a well-known voice. I could only stare at my bed. There, on top of the covers, lay my beautiful girlfriend, in a pose that really did not seem to fit the tone of voice she had displayed just a moment ago. And she was completely naked.

Her voice was now rather playful as she said: "Did you not miss me?" It came accompanied with one of her pouts, the kind I had grown so fond of recently.

All I could do was nod dumbly while mentally smacking myself. I was supposed to be the witty one, yet right now the only thing that seemed to have any control over me was my libido. I would have taken some time to dwell on that, but right then, she said: "Quit just standing there and staring. Get naked and join me!"

I knew with a certainty that I was grinning like an idiot, but I did not care in the least. All other thought would have to wait till tomorrow. Right now, I was otherwise occupied.

H/P

"What?", I asked, irritated. Since I had left my room and reluctantly left Pansy behind with the promise that I would be back soon and sat down at the kitchen table my parents had kept shooting me strange looks.

My mother just kept fidgeting awkwardly, avoiding my eyes. My father stayed silent for a moment, before finally he cleared his throat.

"Hermione Jean Granger," I swallowed. It was never a good sign if my parents called me by my full name. It usually meant they had found out something about me they wanted to lecture me about. "While I and your mother are not trying to stop you from exploring your sexuality, we would prefer if you would not under our roof." I blushed so fiercely that I could almost feel my head explode.

"How?", was all I could utter, embarrassment weighting my tongue. My parents understood me anyway.

"You were quite vocal, darling", my mother answered, finally looking at me.

Had I been able to become any redder than I was now I would have. A memory from our second time resurfaced. "You are quite the screamer, 'Mione", she had said, teasingly. I had been blushing back then, too, but not as badly as I was now. That belonged to the kind of information my girlfriend was supposed to know, but that I had never wanted my parents to have. They should not even have been able to hear us in the first place. I had put a muffliato on the room, after all. Or had I not? I could not really remember now, as I really had had better things to do then than to worry about trivialities.

"How did he get in here anyways?"

"Magic", I mumbled. I still was not able to get more than one word sentences past my embarrassment.

"You, up there, whoever you are, get down here now", my father called out. I could only sit and stare in shock and watch the drama unfold. While they knew I was not with Ron anymore, my parents had not even a sliver of an idea that I was dating a girl.

A minute later (I had not yet managed to open my mouth to warn my parents about the unexpected) Pansy came down the stairs in a t-shirt and some jeans of mine, clothes that were a little wide on here bust but otherwise were rather too tight and accentuated her curves quite nicely. Had I not been this nervous I would have been aroused by the sight.

"I borrowed some of your clothes, 'Mione", she said, smiling, "I hope that's okay. I had not expected to need any." A smirk quirked her lips. She enjoyed embarrassing me in front of my parents. As if I was not already mortified, here was my girlfriend and had to make it even worse.

Turning to my parents, she extended her hand. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. I'm Pansy. I'm Hermione's girlfriend. Pleased to meet you."

Taking in the stupor my parents were in, she turned to me. "I assume you have not used your time with your parents to gently introduce them to the fact that you like girls, or at least one girl?"

Before I could answer her, my mother had eventually shrugged off the shock and answered in my place. "No she hasn't. I'm Ann. Welcome to the house."

Now my father introduced himself as well. "I'm Louis. Nice to meet you, Pansy. Please, take a seat with us."

The rest of the meal went fairly well, all things considered. Unlike my fears, my parents were not freaking out over me dating a girl, and while they shot me some looks that clearly read: We will talk about this later, they seemed to be only angry at me for not telling them and for having sex while staying in their house.

But while it was another weight lifted, I still was hesitant to come out in front of the school, where people knew our difficult past. I knew Pansy wanted to, and I wanted nothing more than to do what was best for her, but I was also scared. And maybe it really was better to lay low as long as we were still in school. Or that what I was trying to tell myself.

Honestly, my fear was simply paralyzing me.