The next day Ginny woke up to find Hermione staring at her. They were lying in Hermione's bed together; their legs were intertwined beneath the warm blankets. Neither one wanted to move from their spot, to them, this was the most comfortable place in the world.
"Good morning Ginny." Hermione whispered softly.
Ginny smiled, and stretched out her arms. "Good morning, my love."
"Do you know how beautiful you are when you sleep?" Hermione asked.
Ginny smiled, "I don't think I've had the pleasure of seeing that."
"Well you're gorgeous. I've been watching you for a while now." Hermione said quietly.
"Normally that would sound creepy, but you're the only exception to that rule. I think I could get used to sleeping with you." Ginny moved over to Hermione, and kissed her gently on the cheek.
"I would never get tired of having you by my side. Every day I had you next to me, would be the best day of my life." Hermione looked into Ginny's eyes, desperate to know everything about her.
"I'm not going anywhere Hermione. I love you too much to ever hurt you again." Ginny sat up, and looked at Hermione with a serious expression.
"I trust you Ginny. We can do this together, it'll all be okay." Hermione sat up next to Ginny, and took her hand in her own.
Ginny nodded her head, and wrapped Hermione around her arms. She was squeezing tightly, hoping that if she held on hard enough, that everything would be okay.
Later that day…
Hermione and Ginny were dressed for a new day, and were walking to the Great Hall to have breakfast. They were holding hands, and walking closely together. Right before they entered the room, Hermione stopped Ginny and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this? I can let go of your hand if you want me to."
Ginny looked at Hermione with an odd expression, "No Hermione, I want to hold your hand. I'm not going to be afraid anymore. I don't want to hide you." Ginny gripped Hermione's hand tightly and led her inside the Great Hall.
They were walking past students as if nothing unusual was happening, and most of the students didn't even realize what was going on. It was as if the two of them holding hands was the most natural thing in the world.
Ginny went to her usual spot, and wasn't sure if Hermione was going to join her, or go see the professor. Ginny sat down, looking up at Hermione to see what she was going to do.
"I think I'm going to sit with you today Ginny. I've missed having your company." Hermione smiled, and sat down next to Ginny.
Hermione began filling up her plate, and Ginny looked to the staff table to see Professor McGonagall looking at the two girls with a smile on her face.
Maybe Professor McGonagall wasn't trying to flirt with Hermione after all. Ginny thought to herself, and then turned to begin eating.
They sat comfortably for a few minutes, but Hermione felt she had to tell Ginny what happened with Ron.
"I think Ron is starting to get suspicious of us." Hermione said a few minutes later.
"Why do you think that?" Ginny asked through bites of food.
"Well when you had your accident, I kind of ran out on him. I could see that something was starting to click in his mind that we don't have a normal relationship. I wasn't sure what he was thinking, but I saw the look on his face, like he knew something was going on." Hermione admitted.
"I was going to tell him, but you stopped me." Ginny replied.
"I know I did. I honestly didn't think that was the best time to tell him. If we're going to tell him, then we both need to figure out a way to tell him together. I told him that there was someone else I loved, I just didn't tell him who it was." Hermione finished her food, and was now watching Ginny.
"When do you think we should tell him? What about our parents? They need to know too." Ginny asked, thinking of what her parent's reaction may be.
"I'm not sure when we should tell him, but I would rather it be sooner than later. What about Easter weekend? We can tell Ron and your parents at the same time." Hermione suggested.
Ginny nodded her head, she couldn't think of a better time to tell them something so important. "What about your parents Hermione?"
Hermione smiled weakly, "I've already told them about us."
Ginny was surprised, "When did you tell them?"
"Christmas break, right before I came back to your house." Hermione said quietly, not wanting to remember that night.
Ginny was heartbroken. She never wanted to treat Hermione as bad as she did. It was a horrible way to treat such a wonderful person.
"I love you Hermione. I'm sorry I ever did that to you, and I promise I will make it up to you." Ginny placed her fingers gently beneath Hermione's cheek, and pulled her into a deep kiss. Ginny had cupped Hermione's cheeks, and was holding her in place, trying to show as much emotion as she could into that one kiss.
Hermione moved her lips in sync with Ginny and for a moment got lost in the kiss. She soon realized she was in public, and pulled back slightly.
Hermione smiled shyly, and looked around to see if anyone was watching. Ginny was staring straight at Hermione, with determination set in her eyes. Nothing was going to get in the way of their relationship, her fears didn't matter anymore.
"I wasn't expecting you to be so bold so soon." Hermione smiled.
Ginny shrugged, "I can't resist you anymore."
Hermione leaned in against Ginny's shoulder and Ginny smiled at the contact. This was how it was meant to be, no one else would compare to Hermione.
"I love you so much Hermione." Ginny whispered.
"I love you too Ginny." Hermione replied.
The rest of the day had gone on as it usually would have. No one asked Ginny or Hermione questions about what happened this morning, and Ginny was starting to wonder why they weren't saying anything.
Ginny decided to ask one of her teammates what she thought of Hermione and Ginny being seen together while she was at practice. Ginny had to sit out on practice just to make sure she was healed completely, but that didn't stop her from watching.
"Did you happen to see me with Hermione this morning?" Ginny casually asked her teammate who was also sitting out of practice.
"Yeah, I think everyone in the whole school saw the two of you." She smiled.
Ginny was honestly surprised, "And what do you think about it?"
"I think it's about time you two realized your feelings. Everyone was wondering when it would finally happen. Some of us even had a bet going for a while." Ginny's teammate laughed as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
"What? How could have I been so oblivious to it." Ginny was speaking more to herself than to her teammate.
"So when is the wedding?" Ginny's teammate teased.
"Shut up." Ginny playfully pushed her teammate, and then began laughing.
Ginny was pleasantly surprised that no one really made a big deal about the two of them being together. It was nice to know that they were accepting of their relationship.
The rest of Ginny's practice was spent planning strategy, and watching her teammates perform them. The scout was going to be there next weekend for their game, and Ginny had to be her best to make a good impression. She was sure that she was going to do a good job.
Ginny made her way to dinner after her practice, and saw that Hermione was speaking to Professor McGonagall at the staff table once more. Ginny was sure they were talking about Hermione's teaching career, so Ginny decided to start eating by herself.
"Have you decided on a choice yet Ms. Granger?" Professor McGonagall asked Hermione while they were enjoying dinner.
Hermione nodded her head and replied, "I have professor. I think I would really like to teach here next year, if the offer is still there."
Professor McGonagall smiled, "Of course it is Hermione. I'm so glad to hear you say that. It will be such a joy to have you on staff. Have you thought about what you wanted to teach? Maybe Arithmancy, or Ancient Runes? Perhaps Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"I would have to think about what I want to teach, all of them sound so tempting. I'm not so sure about Defense Against the Dark Arts though." Hermione admitted.
"I'll let you think about it, but I need to know before next week. I'm planning out the staff courses, and would need to know where to place you. I don't think you'll have a problem with your N.E.W.T's, so I think it is safe to say that you can teach anything you want." Professor McGonagall was complimenting Hermione.
"Thank you, Professor. I'm looking forward to teaching here, and I will let you know what I'd like to teach within the next couple of days." Hermione smiled.
"Please, you may call me Minerva. I also wanted to discuss something I saw earlier between you and Ms. Weasley."
Hermione's smiled faded fast; she was afraid of what Professor McGonagall was going to say.
"What about us?" Hermione asked, trying to stay calm.
"I was just going to say that you two looked very happy together. I'm glad to see you smiling again Ms. Granger, and I wish the best for the both of you." Professor McGonagall touched Hermione lightly on the hand, smiled, and then turned back to the plate in front of her.
"Well thank you Minerva. I hope that things stay good between us as well." Hermione replied after getting over her shock.
"True love always prevails." Professor McGonagall said, right before she turned to the other professors and joined in their conversation.
Hermione sat there, staring at the food in front of her. She had the biggest smile on her face. Everything was starting to look up for once. Ginny was going to have a laugh when she heard what Professor McGonagall said.
Later that night
Hermione was in her room getting ready for bed when there was a knock on her door. She already knew who it was, and approached the door eagerly.
Hermione opened the door to find Ginny leaning against the side of the door with a smirk on her face.
"Come in." Hermione moved, and allowed Ginny to come in. Ginny stepped inside slowly, and turned only to be met by Hermione's embrace.
"I have to tell you the things I heard today, you would not believe it." Ginny said as she returned Hermione's hug.
Hermione let go, thinking it was going to be something bad, but Ginny realized this, and corrected herself, "It's not anything bad. It's good actually."
Hermione smiled, "I have something to tell you too, but you go first."
Ginny moved to sit on Hermione's bed, and began to tell her what her teammates were saying about the two of them. "My teammates had a bet placed on us to see how long it would take before we actually got together. Isn't that silly? I'm amazed that everyone is being so nice about it. I haven't experienced any negative comments yet." Ginny smiled.
Hermione was glad that Ginny wasn't having any troubles with her teammates about the relationship. It would crush Ginny if her teammates didn't accept who she was.
"That's wonderful news Ginny. Well, about them accepting you, not about the bet. I don't know what to think about the bet." Hermione started to laugh.
"Yeah, I wonder who won the bet. What was it that you wanted to tell me?" Ginny asked.
"I was talking to Minerva earlier, and I accepted her offer for the teaching position. I just need to let her know what I am interested in teaching before next week." Hermione was finding it hard to hold back her excitement.
"Oh, that's great news Hermione. I'm so happy for you! I knew you would get what you always deserved. You're calling her Minerva too! That's an accomplishment." Ginny pulled Hermione closer, and kissed her gently against the lips.
"She also saw the two of us this morning. She wishes us the best of luck." Hermione knew Ginny was going to be surprised, and she was right.
"What? Did she really? You're kidding, right?" Ginny asked, honestly shocked.
Hermione nodded her head, "She did; I swear it."
Ginny was silent for a minute, she wasn't sure what to say.
"Are you okay Ginny?" Hermione asked quietly.
Ginny nodded her head, "I just didn't think it was going to be this easy. It's almost hard to believe."
"We are surrounded by people who care and love us Ginny; they should be acting this way. Though there might be occasions where it won't be this easy. I can almost guarantee we will come across it at some point together, but we will be able to overcome that negativity. Do you know why that is?" Hermione asked Ginny.
"Because we love each other and nothing else matters." Ginny answered.
"One hundred points for Gryffindor." Hermione smiled, and pulled Ginny into a searing kiss.
A/N: I apologize in the delay in updating, but a new semester has begun and it's brutal. I'm hoping to update at least once a week now, so we shall see. Thanks for reading.