Disclaimer: Rah rah, ah ah ah. Roma, ro-ma-ma. Gaga, ooh-la-la. I'm not J.K. Rowling. Or Lady Gaga for that matter?
I'm making special brownies! No, not that special. The secret ingredient is love. 3
Chapter 14: Love's Not a Competition, But I'm Winning
"It's wonderful, thank you for asking." Ginny said softly, still recovering from the image of Hermione's bare body, burned into the back of her head.
'I won't be the one to disappoint you anymore.' Ginny thought to herself. 'I know you deserve better than me, and you'll get it now, but you still deserve better from me.'
Ginny knew she would never get over Hermione. She also knew it would take some time for Hermione to let go of her. She had told the brunette countless times within the last four months that this was how it should be. The trick was getting Hermione to think it was actually her idea to be friends. Everything was going according to plan; she just had to keep Hermione on the right track. And she desperately needed to stop letting herself get carried away in her warm brown eyes.
'Those things are so dangerous… I could stare into them and get lost for hours if I let myself.' Ginny thought, shaking her head to clear away her longing desire to reach her foot out just a few inches, to where Hermione had strategically placed hers.
'God, she isn't listening to a word I say. I bet she is picturing me naked. Great, now I'm picturing her naked. Maybe if I move my foot just a smidge closer it will brush hers…' Hermione thought dangerously. 'Hmm… by the looks of that blush, she defiantly felt that. Oh, I'm so winning this competition.' Hermione thought triumphantly.
'Did she do that on purpose? Oh God, I'm blushing again. Curse this fair skin!' Ginny panicked.
"Um, so how much did you make off the Gala? There were quite a few more people there than last year, am I correct?" Hermione asked, taking her last bite of the sandwich.
"Um, yes." Ginny cleared her throat. "We raised over five thousand galleons just on the booze alone!"
"We?" Hermione asked, fighting back a smile.
"Ah, I mean... I did. I guess…" Ginny said, embarrassed.
'Yes, love's not a competition, but I'm winning.' Hermione thought to herself, not even fighting to hold back the smirk she felt on her face.
"How many brooms are you going to give out this year?" Hermione asked, taking a sip of her drink.
"Um, there is enough for twelve this year, which is the most I think we've… I've ever given. I was wondering if maybe you could go with me to their houses, seeing as you're the Minister and all that. I bet their parents would love a chance to meet you…" Ginny said hiding behind what was left of her wonder meat.
"I would absolutely love to. I've gone every year so far, and I don't see any reason I shouldn't go this time too. What day are you doing it?" Hermione asked.
"I was thinking right before the Championship match. Which will be in seventeen days I think." Ginny stated.
"You are that sure you will make it all the way through the play-offs?" Hermione asked humorously.
"Absolutely. Quidditch is all I have left. We will win that match if I have to score every single goal myself AND catch the bloody snitch." Ginny said matter-of-factly.
"It's not all you have, Gin. You have your family, and you have me…" Hermione said careful, making sure she put as much meaning behind "me" as possible.
"You are a great friend Hermione-"
"You never answered my question by the way." Hermione said, looking the redhead dead in the eye.
"You never actually asked one."
"But there was a question implied, Ginevra." Hermione said defiantly.
"I've got to go Herm, the girls are probably all warming up already. Big match tomorrow, you know…" Ginny said nervously fishing out a few sickles and a galleon from her jacket pocket.
"No! I'll get it, love. You go play your quidditch." Hermione said with a smile, opening her purse to take some money out.
Ginny couldn't help but see a pack of Mayfair Menthols in her purse and realized that they were most likely the reason Hermione smelled a bit different than usual.
"Hey, mind if I bum a fag off you?" Ginny asked.
Hermione turned bright red at the realization that Ginny now knew she smoked, something she always harassed Ginny about when they were younger.
"Ah, yeah… here…" her hands fumbled with the package, and handed a thin white cigarette to the girl of her affections.
"Thanks." Ginny mumbled, cigarette between her lips as she lit the tip with her "Lesbian Pride" lighter.
"That thing is so tacky." Hermione said laughing at the lighter George had given the redhead a couple years back. It read, "My mother always said I could be anything I wanted to be. So I became a lesbian." in rainbow lettering.
"Yes, I suppose." Ginny said inhaling the sharp smoke.
"But it gets the job done." She continued, exhaling the thick stream of smoke.
"I'll see you soon?" Ginny asked taking another drag.
'Wow, she is so fucking sexy when she smokes. How did I not find this attractive before?' Hermione thought.
"Um, yeah. Your mum's having that party this weekend, and she said I was always invited no matter how messed up things were between us. Will I be seeing you there?" she asked the redhead nervously.
"I'm pretty sure if I didn't show up she would have my head." Ginny said grimly.
"Good!" Hermione said a bit too anxiously.
"See you there." Ginny said turning to walk out of the establishment.
"Wait!" Hermione yelled, grabbing her purse and catching up with the redhead.
"Herm, I really do have to-", Ginny started, but was soon spun around and captured in a strong embrace.
"Be safe tomorrow." Hermione whispered into Ginny's blushing ear.
"I'll try my best." Ginny said, her smile buried in the soft spiral curls she loved so much.
After what seemed like forever, Hermione let her arms fall from Ginny's shoulders to the outside of her arms. The two girls stood, Ginny's hands on Hermione's hips, only inches apart. Dark green met soft brown and before Ginny could stop it, Hermione's lips were pressed softly against her own.
'Merlin she feels so good…' Ginny thought.
Hermione pulled away slowly, letting the caste kiss they just shared sink in.
"I love you." Hermione said softly.
"I know." Ginny said defeated.
'Well, at least I thought I was winning…' Ginny thought depressingly.
She turned from Hermione and left the tavern.
"God, I am so winning." Hermione spoke triumphantly to herself. Not even the most unbearable goblin could wipe the smile she felt plastered on her face.
Hermione was not new to this game; she had gotten through to Ginny four years back and would do so again if it killed her.
"Thanks Ted" Hermione yelled loudly and walked out of the tavern before the man could respond or refuse her money.
The humid spring air hit her face and she pulled a cigarette out of the box in her purse, lighting it silently with the tip of her wand. She breathed in the minty heat and held it inside her for a moment, letting the smoke fill her up. She had originally started smoking to calm herself a after Ginny's scandalous press conference with Fleur. She now found herself smoking just for enjoyment. She liked the taste of the smoke in her mouth, the burn in her lungs and the buzz that filled her brain after a few drags. It also reminded her of Ginny, smelled a bit like her, even tasted like her.
Hermione let the smoke out of her lungs slowly, letting the action physically calm her body.
"Only three more days till you see her again." She said out loud, walking down the narrow alley till she was far enough away from the door she could apparate back to the Ministry. She took one more power drag and put the cigarette out on the stone wall in front of her, noticing a stomped filter on the ground below her.
"Really? There is no need to litter." Hermione said laughing. She picked up the filter Ginny had thrown down and pocketed them both. Things were defiantly looking like they were going to go her way.
Hermione half stepped and found herself back at the Ministry.
"Good afternoon Minister!" she could hear coming from every angle. Nodding her head in response she quickly made for the lifts.
"Only four more years of this bullocks…"