Ginny leaned against the wall out of breath. Hermione sat down against the wall next to her. They'd both gone into the Great Hall this morning to be greeting by a series of insulting remarks and boo's from the Slytherin table, even a few from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw table. The rest of the people looked surprised and confused. The Professors had tried to shush them but rather than stay to find out what happened they'd both turned around and left, hurrying down the hallways until they were far enough away that they couldn't hear the yells anymore.
Ginny and Hermione had opted to skip the dance entirely and spent the evening, as Hermione had hoped, together in the common room. Ginny somehow suspected this had only made it easier for Draco to spread the word around though.
"Maybe, maybe people will think it's just a rumor and if we do nothing it'll fade," Hermione said faintly, staring straight ahead.
Ginny said nothing, a horrible awful feeling rising up in her. Up until now discovering her sexuality had been exciting and fun, aside from the part where Hermione had shunned her, but now… how could people be like that? She hadn't quite believed Hermione when she had said that they'd be rejected if anyone found out.
"Harry must have told Ron, and Ron must have let it leak out," Hermione said, in the same tone of voice she'd used before.
"No, it was Malfoy," Ginny admitted, thinking about the encounter from the day before. She'd been meaning to tell Hermione about it right after classes but what with everyone running around getting ready for the dance and all the homework and detention (from Snape for being late) she hadn't even gotten a chance to say hello to Hermione.
"Malfoy?" Hermione inquired looking at Ginny with wide eyes.
"Yes, he confronted me yesterday and I guess I sort of gave it away," Ginny said, that awful feeling welling up again.
"Gave it away?" Hermione asked curiously, moving into a standing position.
"He asked me if it was true that Weasel's little sister and the Mudblood were lesbians, and I asked him if it mattered," Ginny admitted her mouth twisting into an angry frown.
"Fuck him," Hermione said, "I hate his fucking, his whole fucking self. That whole house."
"I kicked him in the balls," Ginny told Hermione with a slight smile, "But I guess I should have acted disgusted and confused."
"Nice, kicking him in the balls I mean," Hermione said a smile twitching at the edge of her lips, "It's not your fault though, that he figured out. You didn't have to pretend to be confused and disgusted. It's what I might have done, but that's what I like about you. Don't ever stop being yourself."
Ginny smiled, it was hard to stay upset for too long when around Hermione, but that feeling of dread still lingered above them.
That first day wasn't that bad to Ginny's surprise. Harry brought lunch up for them, but said nothing except, "It wasn't me." Then he gave them a sort of uncomfortable look before leaving the common room again. They brought the food into the dormitory and ate it on Hermione's bed.
After that they'd been able to eat lunch in the Great Hall without much disturbance aside from the fact that no one sat less than two yards away from them and the occasional remark from the Slytherin table. Ginny's hoped that people would forget about it in another few days, discarding it as just a rumor. None of the Gryffindors seemed willing to confront Hermione and Ginny and ask if it was true yet, deciding to just keep their distance.
Hermione and Ginny both got up early the next morning hoping to avoid the usual rush of students. Hermione was finishing up her homework while Ginny read when Ron came into the common room. He walked over to them and looked at them pointedly.
"So this is why you wouldn't go out with me," he said softly. Hermione looked up, surprised, and opened her mouth to make a reply but Ron interrupted her.
"You said you didn't want to be in a relationship but really you just wanted to snog my little sister," he said, each word stinging like a bullet.
"I said I didn't want to be in a relationship with a guy," Hermione retorted.
"Oh, my bad for missing that little detail," Ron said angrily, "I can't believe you Hermione. And dragging Ginny into this, weirdness…"
"I was not-" Ginny started but Hermione interrupted her.
"Ginny was the one who made me see that this is who I really am," she told Ron fiercely.
"Who you really are?" Ron asked with a disgusted look, "I thought I knew you Hermione. I thought I knew my little sister. I hope you'll figure out that what you two are doing isn't right."
With that he left the common room.
"Fuck," Hermione said pushing her homework onto the floor, a tear sliding down her cheek. Ginny scooted over and wrapped her arms around the other girl.
"Its okay, it'll be okay," Ginny whispered softly as Hermione tried to wipe away the tears. "How can you say that it's going to be okay?" Hermione inquired, "Ron, he's been my best friend for years? How can he say those things?"
"Forget about him," Ginny said wiping Hermione's tears away with her thumb, "He just doesn't understand. He's afraid. We can make it through this together."
Hermione took a deep breath then gave a slight smile, "It just makes me so angry. I don't think it would have been that bad if he hadn't developed that stupid little crush. Jealousy plays a part too I think."
"You're mine though, I won't let him have you," Ginny whispered.
Hermione smiled a little shiver running down her spine at these words. Ginny pressed her lips against Hermione's in a fierce kiss.
When they broke apart she whispered, "I love you. I won't let anyone touch you."