A/N: Mwaha.. I like this chapter. laughs evily Anyway, dedicates to: LittleKitsuneCUB, s3xy-Lady, Snowbear, invisible cappucino conspiracy, and Missa07.
Ginny came out from underneath the water to see Hermione walking down towards the lake. That was a surprise, Ginny hadn't expected to see Hermione here, even though most of Gryffindor was. She felt suddenly self-conscious in her two-piece. The bottom half were like mini shorts and the top half was like a sports bra revealing her whole middle section. She sank lower in the water, up to her chin, as Hermione set her towel down.
It was late in the afternoon and the sun was already starting to set a little bit. Ron and Harry were noisily walking through the shallow water back to wear they'd dropped their towels, both stopped though when Hermione slipped off her robe revealing her fairly skimpy bikini. Ginny tried not to stare.
Ron was openly gawking and Harry was trying not to look surprised. Hermione walked over them and seem to be asking if they were getting out already. Ginny felt a stab of jealously towards Ron seeing the way he subtly studied her body. Hermione was hers, not Ron's. Thinking this thought though Ginny felt her face heat up and she ducked back underneath the water.
When she resurfaced Ron and Hermione were walking into the water while Harry jogged up to the castle. She felt another stab of jealously seeing how close Ron was to Hermione but once again shoved it away and swam over to them once they reached deeper water.
"Hey Hermione," she said brightly.
Hermione grinned seeing her and said, "I didn't know you were here!"
"Most of Gryffindor is, or was," Ginny said with a shrug.
"Seems like I'm a little late for most of the games though," Hermione observed looking around. A few more people were walking back up to the castle.
"You don't need that many people to play most games," Ron assured her.
"Nice bathing suit by the way," Ginny said, the words slipping out of her mouth before she could stop them. She felt her face heat up again.
Hermione's face turned bright pink as well and she stumbled over her words, "It was a present, didn't have any other bathing suit, so I just put this one on."
"I like it," Ginny said with a smile trying to cover up her own embarrassment and reassure Hermione at the same time; who was obviously as self-conscious as Ginny had felt coming down to the lake in her two-piece.
"Thank-you," Hermione said softly.
"Want to play chicken once Harry gets back?" Ron asked interrupting Hermione and Ginny.
"Sure," Ginny said, "Just as long as I'm not paired with you."
"You and Harry can be partners," he said then glanced at Hermione.
"Want to be partners Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Sure," Hermione agreed.
"Anyone wanna play chicken?" Ron hollered, his voice echoing across the lake. There were a few shouts back and several Gryffindors swam over.
The game went quickly and was followed by many more before most people tired out. Soon it was just Hermione, Ginny, and some other Gryffindors left swimming around.
Ginny moved back into the shallower water where it was about three feet and sank low into the water, tired from trying to push other girls down into water.
"I forgot how much I loved swimming," Hermione said walking through the water over to where Ginny was.
Ginny grinned and wiggled her toes in the soft sand bottom. Hermione's hair was soaked and all pushed back in a rather sexy way. Hermione kneeled down so the water came up to her chin and moved closer to Ginny.
"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked.
"Just admiring how beautiful you are," Ginny said; the words once again just slipping out. She felt her face go red and glanced down.
"Hey, you look pretty sexy yourself right now," Hermione said shifting so her feet were underneath her, lifting herself out of the water enough that her shoulders were above. She stepping closer to Ginny and lifted her chin up with her hand.
Ginny felt her face get even hotter, if that was possible and bit back a grin. Then glanced up and behind her, protesting, "I'm not sexy."
A splash of cool water hit her and she glanced back at Hermione in surprise to see Hermione standing up in the water and giving her a stern look.
"Hey!" she said standing up as well.
"No low self-esteem, if I compliment you, accept it with a thank-you," Hermione told her.
"Thank you," Ginny said with a smile then splashed Hermione back hard.
They both paused for a moment looking into each other's eyes as if waiting for the other to make a move then both stepped back leaning down to get as much force behind the water as possible, simultaneously lifting their hands out of the water hard, sending large amounts of water in opposite directions. A large, wet, fiery, splashing fight ensued. Ginny found herself laughing and screaming as water hit her and saw Hermione was overcome in the same way. Finally they were both laughing much too hard to splash each other in any effective way and she sank back down into the water.
When they both managed to stop laughing and breathe Ginny looked at Hermione. By now the sun had mostly set and stars were starting to appear. Ginny's eyes met Hermione's who had a mischievous grin on. Ginny brought her hands up again, ready to splash Hermione back if Hermione splashed her, but instead Hermione moved closer and took both of Ginny's hands, effectively stopping her from being able to splash the other girl.
Ginny paused suddenly aware of how close they were. Hermione leaned forward and touched her lips to Ginny's briefly, her hands moving up to rest on Ginny's shoulders. Ginny looked into Hermione's eyes and saw fear, hope, and love.