Chapter 28
"Hermione!"
The brunette stopped in her tracks as she heard her name being exclaimed in surprise. She turned to see one of Ginny's colleagues coming from down the hall.
"Well, fancy seeing you here," he smirked as he approached her while waggling his eyebrows. "Looking for someone?"
"Er-I-" Hermione began to stammer until the man rolled his eyes playfully and shot her a look.
"I think Ginny's in her office," he offered benevolently. "I'll take you there."
"Thanks," she managed through a blush as she fell into step next to him.
"We've missed seeing you around here," the man piped up as he gave her a cursory glance. "But don't worry – we've been keeping her in line in your absence."
"That's good to hear," the brunette played along as a small smirk crept across her lips. "Lord knows someone has to." The guy chuckled.
"Well, I don't think we've been nearly as effective as you ever were, but hey, we tried," he relayed as they turned into the Auror Office. "Right through here," he instructed.
She followed him until they reached the office that she remembered as Ginny's. The blush that was just beginning to wear off began to grow once more as she felt the curious eyes of the Aurors boring into her.
"Hey Weasley, you've got a visitor."
"I don't care if it's the Minister for Magic; I have way too much to do."
Hermione watched quietly as Ginny didn't even look up from her paperwork as she delivered her flippant response. Before Hermione could speak, Ginny's colleague placed an arm around her and gave her a quick wink.
"Oh, well, you heard her Hermione – you'll have to leave," he said as he began to usher her out of the office.
"Mione?" Ginny finally exclaimed as her head shot up, an endearingly bewildered expression on her face. In a flash, Ginny had rushed out from behind her desk and put a hand out to her colleague beckoning him to back away from Hermione. "Thanks, Hillard."
Hillard smirked at her, though backed away with his hands held high. Hermione chuckled as he purposely lingered in Ginny's doorway.
"Don't you have work to do?" Ginny snapped, which did nothing more than pull a laugh out of Hillard as he rushed away. Ginny had hardly let out a breath when she spotted everyone else in the office attempting to peek inside. "Don't you all have work to do?" She called out in exasperation as she swung her door shut. She shot Hermione a look, cheeks a light shade of pink, and shook her head. "No peace," she muttered.
"If I had known that visiting you at your office would be so entertaining, I would've done it sooner," Hermione quipped as she took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Ginny's desk. She smiled at how Ginny took up the seat next to it rather than her chair on the other side of the desk.
"Yeah, sorry about that," Ginny offered with an embarrassed laugh and a wave.
"No, it's my fault – just showing up unannounced. I know you're very busy – I'll keep this short," Hermione promised.
"No," Ginny replied with an eagerness that pulled a smirk out of Hermione. "I'm glad you're here. Take your time. But, now that we're on that topic, what brings you to the dungeons? I wasn't expecting to see you until later."
"Dungeons?" Hermione asked with a frown.
"On a day like today I call the Ministry the Dungeons," Ginny shrugged.
"Ah," Hermione chuckled. "Well, I got your owl," she began as her stomach began to flutter in nervousness, "and well, you said you hadn't eaten, so I thought I'd stop by and bring you something." She reached into her bag and pulled out a neatly packed sandwich and fruit and handed the items to the redhead.
"Oh my goodness," Ginny smiled as she took them. "Thank you, Mione. That's so sweet."
Hermione gave a quick wave of dismissal as her gaze stayed purposely focused elsewhere other than the grinning redhead. "Oh, well, it's nothing really. I had nothing to do and I thought it'd give me a good excuse to come explore the Ministry again – reacquaint myself with it before I'm back."
"That excuse is fine by me," Ginny said. "Did you eat yet?"
"I did, yes," Hermione replied with a series of nods. "But you should go ahead and eat. It's nearly three and you haven't had anything. You have to eat regularly, Ginny."
"Yes, love," Ginny smirked as she bit into her sandwich. "What would I do without you?" She added with a wink.
"Apparently suffer from malnutrition," Hermione replied flatly. They shared a quiet smile before Hermione glanced at the door and couldn't stop herself from going on. "So, what was that? Do they usually give you a hard time about me?"
Ginny placed a hand over her mouth as she finished chewing, but not without rolling her eyes.
"Ignore them – please. They just find my life highly amusing because they clearly don't have enough to keep them occupied."
"It was kind of cute," Hermione suggested.
Ginny sighed, unconvinced, as she raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you say so."
"Anyway, I didn't mean to disrupt you. I just wanted to drop this off, say 'hi' and then I was planning to map out the Ministry until you're done," the older girl explained.
"You don't have to kill time," Ginny assured her. "We can go now if you want."
"Ginny," Hermione chided with a chuckle. "That's very sweet, but don't worry about me – I can keep myself occupied. Finish your work."
Ginny gave a look that was nothing less than pouty, but ultimately gave in with a resigned nod.
"Fine. I'll work for another hour, then we can go. Sound fair?"
"Very," Hermione agreed as she reached out and let her hand rest on Ginny's knee. She let her hand linger for a moment before she stood, Ginny quick to follow suit. "I'll see you in an hour then," she confirmed quietly as she leaned up and gave the redhead a slow kiss.
Hermione turned and had her hand on the doorknob when Ginny spoke up.
"I know I shouldn't say anything, but...I have to. Does Janine know you're here?" She asked, her vulnerability plain.
"No," Hermione responded with a shake of her head. "And I'd prefer for it to stay that way right now. But, if I were to run into her, I'd just be honest with her. I have nothing to hide. She was never my girlfriend anyway. And even if she had been, girlfriend of years and years versus girlfriend of, what, a month? I'd say you win. And really, she hasn't exactly been pleasant company any time I've met with her." She indulged Ginny in a smirk. "I'd much rather spend my day with you."
Ginny laughed quietly. "Okay, point taken. Thank you – that means a lot. Okay, my bout of insecurity for the day is over now. Thanks," she joked.
Again, that confession was on the tip of Hermione's tongue, but when she opened her mouth to speak, she faltered and finally said, "Try not to worry, Gin. It's you I'm with."
Hermione didn't make it much further than the Auror Office. The Aurors had swarmed her when she left Ginny's office and she'd ended up chatting with them until Ginny was ready to leave. She didn't know them majority of the Aurors, but they certainly knew her and seemed happy to talk with her, beyond just interrogating her on her current 'status' with Ginny. The redhead later informed her that the team had always had a great liking for her and missed having her around. Somehow that all fit in Hermione's mind and she welcomed it warmly.
Several hours had passed and the girls were now sitting at an outdoor table of a restaurant. Hermione had no idea what time it actually was, all she knew was that the sun was going down and she'd had a lovely evening with this wonderful woman. Even when she was still trying to, Hermione couldn't ignore the easy chemistry that they had – when Ginny wasn't beating herself up and when Hermione wasn't making things difficult, time just flew by and the older witch found that she could be at her happiest and most relaxed with the younger girl around.
"Are you free this Saturday?" Ginny asked as she took a sip of her drink.
"I think so," Hermione said with a nod as she searched her brain for any prior commitments. "Why?" She asked as her stomach began to flutter in anticipation.
"There's a show that I want to take you to. I always complained about seeing Muggle shows with you, but I was just teasing. I have an appreciation for all things Muggle - I was, and am, dating a Muggle-born, you know," the younger girl explained with a wink.
Hermione bit back a smile and instead gave a facetious roll of her eyes. "I see. Well, if you insist...I suppose I can go with you."
"I know you're just bursting at the seams with enthusiasm – settle down, okay?" Ginny remarked, pulling a laugh out of the brunette.
"I'm just teasing – I think that'd be wonderful. I'd love to go," she smiled as she reached across the table and placed her hand over Ginny's. "And I think it's great that you're interested and even enjoy Muggle things."
Ginny smiled. "I actually enjoyed Muggle Studies, you know. And I didn't keep taking it out of obligation – I was genuinely interested."
"I consider that a very good sign," Hermione relayed. "I'll be right back, okay? Ladies room," she said as she excused herself, letting her fingers trail along Ginny's arm as she walked past her.
When Hermione was returning to their table a few minutes later, she slowed to a stop as she spied a girl approaching Ginny. Hermione frowned as she listened in.
"Ginny? Hi! It's been so long – how have you been?"
"Oh," Ginny piped up as she straightened up in her chair, though notably uncomfortable. "Hey Susan. How've you been?"
"Fine, thanks," Susan smiled as she went to sit down, though immediately stopped as Ginny held out her hand in a halting gesture.
"Don't – that's Hermione's chair," Ginny interjected.
"Wha- oh," the girl said, sounding unmistakably disappointed. "Sorry...I...I had heard that you two weren't together anymore."
"Don't believe the rumours, Susan," Ginny commented easily as she took a sip of her drink.
Susan straightened up and smoothed out her skirt, looking rather displeased. "Oh. Well. Guess I should've known better."
At this, Hermione spotted Ginny giving the girl a dubious look.
The girl in question gave an uneasy laugh. "That Hermione, hey? She always had your attention."
"Hermione is far and away my better half," Ginny replied with a satisfied smirk.
"Great," the girl replied with a tight smile before awkwardly saying a goodbye and returned to her table.
Hermione moved to Ginny's side, her gaze still following the girl momentarily before looking down at the redhead.
"Who was that exactly?" She asked in a teasing tone, despite her curiosity. A light chuckle escaped Ginny's throat as she shook her head.
"Oh Merlin, don't tell me you witnessed that."
"I'm afraid I did," Hermione said as she took her seat once more. "Don't worry though – you were great," she added with a small smile.
"Susan Bones – she went to Hogwarts with us. I guess you could say she had...a crush? On me," Ginny relayed hesitantly looking embarrassed.
"Had?" Hermione questioned. "I'd say her crush on you is well alive," she continued with a laugh.
"Maybe," Ginny shrugged looking adorably embarrassed by the whole situation. Soon she gave Hermione a pointed look and asserted, "Not that it matters anyway."
"Well," Hermione started as she cleared her throat, pushing aside the shyness that was trying to hold her back, "I guess it's a good thing that I snatched you up when I did. Wouldn't I be sorry otherwise."
Hermione rolled her eyes in embarrassment as Ginny shot her an impressed look.
"Can't say I'm disappointed to hear that," the redhead offered before arching an eyebrow at the older girl. "But honestly, her? I can't honestly imagine someone who could make me forget about you, but I'm certain it wouldn't be Susan Bones."
"Don't be mean Ginny," the older girl chided through the hint of a pleased smile.
"I'm not mean," Ginny rebutted incredulously pulling a laugh out of Hermione. "I'm just being honest."
"Well, I'm not complaining," the brunette promised.
"I settled the bill while you were in the washroom. Care to go?" Ginny asked as she stood and offered her hand to Hermione. The brunette readily took the outstretched hand and stood, blushing slightly as Ginny kissed her cheek and held out her jacket for her. The blush remained present as Ginny placed her arm around her waist as they walked out – Hermione not missing how Ginny glanced Susan's way.
Hermione laughed and shook her head while nudging the redhead lightly with her elbow. "You are mean."
"This has been a really nice day," Hermione said with a gentle smile as she sat cuddled up with Ginny on the couch later that evening.
"I'm glad you think so," Ginny replied as she kissed the brunette's temple. "I had a great time. Thanks for rescuing me from work. I should skip lunch more often and see if you keep visiting me."
"Don't," Hermione scolded with a soft laugh. "You did that before and you know where that got us."
"I know. Won't happen again," Ginny promised. "But when you do go back to work, we should try to have lunch together sometimes – assuming you're not sick of spending time with me."
The brunette laid a light smack on her girlfriend's arm. "I wouldn't get sick of you. Geez, Gin. Actually, you have this terrible effect on me where the more time I spend with you, the more I want to spend even greater amounts of time with you."
Ginny nodded knowingly. "Happens all the time. You can't imagine how many girls have told me that."
"Gin! Jesus, never mind," Hermione exclaimed aghast. "Please remind me never to compliment you again."
The brunette gave a haughty stare as Ginny kissed her forehead.
"Please, I'm kidding. I adore spending time with you. And no, a bunch of girls have never said that to me," Ginny laughed.
"Just Susan Bones?"
"No!" Ginny exclaimed with a disbelieving look.
The brunette narrowed her eyes at the girl next to her. "Come on, be honest Gin – someone else must've caught your eye at some point, whether at Hogwarts or at the Ministry. Tell me – I promise I won't be upset."
Ginny sighed a bit as she readjusted herself on the couch before locking eyes with the older girl. "Believe it or not Hermione, it's just like Susan Bones said – it was always you. Now, I sometimes wondered to myself why I was so dead-set on you, but that was just in the very beginning when I was still coming to terms with my own feelings and such. Believe me, being in love with my brother's best friend, who he was nuts over, was not an ideal situation. But really, you were always just so...special to me."
Hermione was about to speak when Ginny's smile changed and she continued on.
"Maybe it was your frizzy hair. Or maybe it was your in-your-face, know-it-all attitude. Or maybe-"
"Gin!"
The redhead grinned and gave Hermione another kiss before settling back in. "No, really, you're gorgeous. I adore you. Always have." Ginny paused before sitting up and frowning at the brunette. "You know what always really irked me? In Hogwarts, when you went to the Yule Ball and you straightened your hair, and then suddenly all these guys and girls were like, 'Oh, Merlin's beard! Look at that! Hermione's gorgeous – we never noticed before!' and that sort of thing got more prominent in the later years too. Guys suddenly realizing how amazing you are like it's some big epiphany," Ginny scoffed. "I knew all along," she declared haughtily. "And thank goodness you weren't fooled by their sudden advances. I would've lost my mind if you went for one of them."
Hermione took a moment to take in Ginny's features before leaning forward and capturing the redhead's lips with her own. They shared a few kisses, a warmth stirring deep inside of Hermione, before she pulled back.
"Apparently I knew better. And I know that you had a lot of admirers – probably a lot more persistent than any of mine."
Ginny was about to interject when the older girl went on.
"I saw the way that girl looked at you today," Hermione breathed, a rush of feelings moving upward inside of her and having very little desire to stop them. "And all I could think was that you're mine and how lucky I am," she finished as she pulled Ginny back in for another kiss.
"Mione," Ginny chuckled as she returned the kiss in fervor. A small gasp escaped Hermione as the younger girl gently bit the brunette's lower lip and gave it a light tug. Encouraged furthermore, Hermione's hands began to caress Ginny's toned frame, rediscovering the feel of this woman's body – a body she had once been very familiar with, but had since forgotten.
"And I have to say that I really...appreciated...how you had absolutely no interest in her," the brunette chuckled.
A wicked grin formed on Ginny's face and soon Hermione found herself being pushed back on the couch, letting out a quick laugh as excitement began to build.
The desire and need between them continued to grow, Ginny's hands wandering lower and lower until Hermione broke their kiss with a ragged breath – all too aware of how much she wanted Ginny to go on.
She opened her mouth to speak when Ginny began kissing her neck – momentarily voiding the brunette of all thoughts. When she regained her coherence, she spoke, though it sounded entirely unconvincing.
"Ginny, maybe we should slow down."
The redhead paused, taking a moment to register the words before she pulled back altogether and gave a quick series of nods. "Oh yeah, right, of course. Sorry. You're right, we shouldn't rush things. I'm really sorry," she went on.
"Ginny," Hermione chided as she sat up, trying to maintain contact with the other woman who was now steadily retreating.
"I should probably go," Ginny stated in a bit of a rush.
"Ginny, I'm sorry – I don't want you to take it the wrong way. I really-"
"It's okay," Ginny assured her with a smile. "No, I shouldn't have pushed things along. It's way too early – I keep forgetting. Anyway, it's been a long day, we could probably both use some rest."
Hermione went to protest again, but the younger girl talked right over her.
"Sweet dreams, okay, Mione? I'll send you an owl in the morning," she relayed warmly before quickly leaning in and giving the brunette a fleeting kiss on the cheek. "Night."
A rush of thoughts coursed through Hermione's mind and she made a split decision, reaching forward and making contact with Ginny's arm just as the redhead disapparated. Hermione was pulled through the air with Ginny and they landed back in their old flat. Hermione chuckled somewhat in embarrassment but soon her smile faded when she caught the look of blatant concern on Ginny's face, void of any humor.
"Merlin!" Ginny nearly hissed. "Hermione you can't do that," she whispered in a strong tone that would've bordered on harsh and reprimanding if not for the vulnerable and worried expression that was on the redhead's face as she placed her hands tenderly on the older girl's arms and glanced over her. "You could've been splinched," she expressed as she frowned while looking for any blatant injuries. She sighed, calming down considerably. "I know we've apparated together before, but still, you have to careful - we both have to be prepared or else you could get hurt," she said softly, her eyes beseeching. "Are you alright? I have some Dittany in the medicine cabinet, but I'm guessing since you're just staring at me in amusement you're probably fine," she finished with a wry smirk before she pulled back and shook her head. "Just ignore me," she chuckled in self-deprecation. "I'll have you know that usually I'm quite together and poised. It's only in certain-"
"I'm yours, you know. I love you, Gin."
The declaration had left Hermione's lips, strong and clear, before she'd even realized it, but there wasn't a hint of regret or doubt. Instead, as the admission began to sink in, Hermione felt liberated and relieved - she'd thought plenty about it, but she had no idea it had become such a weight on her shoulders. To put it right out in the open felt amazing and made her wonder why she hadn't confessed sooner.
Ginny stammered, trying to say something coherent, but eventually scaled back her reaction and took a moment to gather herself. When she spoke, her words weren't quite what Hermione had expected.
"You don't have to say it," the younger girl expressed quietly. "Really. It's more than okay. I'm sorry if I've made you feel pressured into anything - that wasn't my intention."
"I know I don't have to say it," Hermione assured her as she took the girl's hands into hers. "You've been patient, so understanding, and just...wonderful. You couldn't have been any more amazing if I'd made you up myself. Like I said, I've been slow to commit, but that doesn't mean I don't feel these things. I just know how much this...we...mean to you, and I didn't want to say it too soon. I hope you can understand how overwhelming and confusing things have been for me since the attack – I just needed some time, but I'm very much aware of why I fell for you so hard in the first place. There's no way I could deny that. I'm sorry it took so long for me tell you how I feel – and I'm even more sorry that it took me so long to realize and accept how I felt."
"Mione...that's amazing," Ginny replied, still somewhat dumbfounded. "I don't even know what to say, really."
"You don't have to say anything, Gin. But I want you to know that you don't have to be so careful with me. I don't want you to worry so much and constantly question yourself. I'm yours...I'm happy to be with you. And I love you too."
Ginny smiled quietly, but gave a small shake of her head.
"Merlin...I really hope you remember all of this when you get your memories back. I don't know if I can lose you again...," she relayed, her voice somewhat strained.
Hermione wrapped her arms around the redhead's waist as she spoke. "I told you, it's going to be okay. Ginny, I stayed with you for years; even when things were falling apart...I can't imagine I did that for anything less than a love like this."
The redhead cracked a smile. "I hope you're right. Thankfully, you have an annoying tendency to always be right."
"See?" Hermione chuckled. "Nothing to worry about." She glanced away for with a hint of uncertainty before turning back to face Ginny. "Do you mind if I stay here tonight?" She couldn't bite back the laugh that escaped her upon seeing the younger girl's face light up.
"I'd love that. And you really don't have to ask. It's as much your flat as it is mine, and I'd be so happy to have you home again – even if it's just for a night."
AN: Hi everyone - thank you so much for the warm welcome after my last chapter. I appreciate such a response even more considering the gap between postings. This chapter's a little on the fluffy side, but I wanted the girls to have their moment. Hopefully you enjoyed it! Thanks again.
