Chapter 29
Hermione slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times until her vision adjusted. Her breath caught in her throat momentarily, constricting her chest while the memory of last night came rushing back to her.
Next to her lay Ginny, still fast asleep. Though they'd agreed to not take things too far just yet, that didn't stop them from spooning against one another in Ginny's – no, their – bed together and drifting off to sleep that way. Hermione fell asleep more easily than she could ever remember – there was something so warm and comforting about having Ginny that close. In fact, she almost hadn't wanted to fall asleep because she wanted to be able to stay awake and take in the moment.
The sunlight streamed into the bedroom and Hermione took this time to appreciate what she couldn't fully last night. She smiled to herself, hardly aware of the action, as she looked upon the peacefully sleeping redhead. She pondered how strange it might be to appreciate something so greatly in the moment, but when you experience the same thing day after day for years, how the magic of such a moment can slip away. She wondered if her old self had stopped to appreciate such things even years later into the relationship – she hoped so. Perhaps this was one of the only silver linings associated with loss; this hard lesson in awareness and realization for all that you had to be thankful for.
The brunette rolled over to glance at the clock. She frowned when she noted the time. With a sigh, she reluctantly reached out and gently nudged the other girl. When Ginny didn't stir, Hermione spoke the girl's name. A moment later, Ginny's face scrunched up a bit before she slowly opened her eyes into a squint.
"Mione?" Ginny asked after a few seconds, sounding more confused than anything. The older girl chuckled quietly.
"Yes. Sorry to wake you, but I couldn't help but notice the time. Don't you have to get up for work?" She asked softly.
"What time is it?" Ginny asked after a moment as she closed her eyes once more and wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist, pulling her close.
"Quarter to eight," Hermione responded with a subtle smile over the gesture.
A beat passed and Ginny nodded. "Yeah, I suppose so."
Instead of getting out of bed though, Ginny opened her eyes once more to lean forward and kiss the brunette's forehead.
"Did you sleep okay?" She asked.
Hermione blushed over how Ginny's striking eyes penetrated her with such warmth and affection. A small smile crossed her lips and she nodded as she brought her hand up to cup the redhead's cheek.
"I slept great, thank you. What about you?"
Ginny nodded. "I'm glad. I slept amazingly. I haven't slept that good in...I don't know how long," she nearly sighed. "I almost had to pinch myself when I woke up and saw you there. Didn't feel quite real," she confessed before giving a small smile subtly laced with sadness. "I didn't appreciate you enough. Nowhere near enough."
Hermione gave a light shake of her head. "Apparently it was a bit of the same for me with you – just in a different way. And funny, I was just wondering about the same thing a few minutes ago," she admitted before smiling. "Let's just agree to do better this time, okay?"
Ginny let a grateful smile grace her lips and gave a nod. "Agreed."
A slight shiver ran through Hermione's body as Ginny's thumb began to idly graze her hip. She found herself a bit distracted as the younger girl went on.
"It's amazing having you here again. For what feels like way too long, I thought I'd never get to wake up next to you again," Ginny relayed quietly as her gaze dropped to the bed briefly before returning to meet the older girl's attentive stare. "It's just been the shits waking up and seeing your side of the bed empty," she smirked.
The brunette leaned forward and laid a lingering kiss on the younger girl's lips. "Well, I guess I should stay over more then."
"I'd like that," Ginny chuckled.
"A thought just came to mind," Hermione started, "I wasn't in the same mindset when you showed me that memory where you were planning to propose to me-"
"Oh," Ginny said as she immediately averted her gaze uncomfortably and Hermione went to calm her.
"It's okay," she said with a soft laugh. "Don't worry or feel self-conscious about that. And I apologize for giving you a bit of a hard time when you showed me that memory."
"You were in the right," Ginny asserted.
The brunette exhaled inaudibly. "I could see how vulnerable you were and I wasn't sensitive enough of your feelings. I'm sorry."
Ginny looked ready to protest further, but she resigned after a moment's deliberation and accepted the apology with a crooked smile.
"Good," Hermione confirmed before clearing her throat and narrowing her eyes just-so at the woman lying across from her. "So, that whole proposal thing," she started somewhat tentatively before offering Ginny a warm smile when she spotted the nervous look on the girl's face. "I'm curious, what prompted that? I know we'd been together for a number of years, so I'm not taken aback or anything, but did I give you hints? Or was I direct about any marriage expectations? Or was that all you?"
"Hm," Ginny nearly groaned while she rolled her eyes as a blush crept across her cheeks. "Well," she began as she took a moment to collect herself, "you were pretty easy going about it, actually. You'd told me that you wanted to get married someday, but you also admitted that we pretty much were married already, so it would be more of a formality than anything."
"Really?" Hermione asked, bordering on disbelief. "I didn't pressure you or give you a hard time?"
"No," Ginny replied easily. "If you were feeling impatient, I'm sure you would've been quite upfront with me about it," she chuckled. "And I know we already shared most things – both our names are on the lease here, we previously had a joint account – in addition to our individual ones – whatever else, you name it. But I wanted to propose – make it formal. You know the rest of the story though."
"Well," Hermione said as she sat up in bed, "if it's any consolation, I think that if you had asked me, I would've said 'yes' – even with things the way that they were."
Ginny, too, sat up, pulling up her knees and resting her arms against them. "Maybe. Maybe not. The more I think about it though, the more I have to admit – regretfully so – that if I'd asked, you should've said 'no'. Things weren't good enough between us at the time. I think if you did say 'yes', that maybe it would've been just to salvage our relationship. I want things to be better than that. I want you to be," Ginny stopped abruptly; averting her gaze downward as she cleared her throat before looking back up, face tinged pink. "I would have wanted you to be ecstatic and excited for our future – not wondering why I'm doing it or if things will actually change."
Hermione watched the other girl, quietly processing her words. She smiled. "That's very sweet of you. I hope the old me gets a chance to hear that – I think it'd go a long way."
A faint smile crossed Ginny's face. "Me too," she said before smiling broader. "But I'm just as happy to have you hear it now."
Hermione leaned over and gave the redhead a quick kiss on the cheek. "I suppose we should get up, hey? I'm going to my parents today. You should come! Oh wait," she stopped herself, "I forgot already, you have work."
Ginny craned her neck to look at the clock and gave a shrug. "Well I'm already late for work, why not take a day – Merlin knows I have some lieu time clocked. Plus I still owe you lots of time for all the instances where I canceled on you over the years," she added with a wink.
"Really?" Hermione said, brightening up again. "That'd be great. I got to meet your parents, so it's only fair you get to meet – well, see – my parents too."
"I doubt they'll feel as enthused about this as you," Ginny relayed in a flat voice as apparent uneasiness set in. "I know they weren't my biggest fans the past few years – and they had every single right to feel that way, I'm not judging."
"I think they'll be happy to see how you've changed," Hermione offered. "And I've defended you in my talks with them."
"Oh good," the younger girl muttered with a roll of her eyes.
"Well, Ginny, I'm sorry, but it was necessary for me to defend you – as you admitted, your behaviour was less than perfect the past few years and my parents noticed. Combine that with how biased they would've been simply because they're my parents, and well..."
The redhead nodded. "I know; you're right."
"Try not to worry. They both said they always really liked you; they were just worried about me. They'll see how things have changed."
Ginny sighed dramatically. "Okay – if you say so. Gosh, it's like I'm meeting them for the first time all over again," she mumbled jokingly.
"And how'd it go?" Hermione teased as they both climbed out of bed. A smug smirk crossed Ginny's features as she looked the brunette's way.
"Quite well. They wholeheartedly invited me to join you guys on your annual trip to France."
"Perfect!" Hermione confirmed in a chipper tone. "So, the way you charmed them that first time? Do it again."
"No pressure," Ginny replied sarcastically as she held out a palm out in gesture. Hermione gave the redhead a flirty smile.
"You got me to fall in love with you twice – you can do anything."
Hermione knocked on her parent's front door eagerly as she stood on the stoop with Ginny next to her. She gave the redhead's hand a squeeze and flashed her a reassuring smile. The girl gave a sad attempt at a confident smile and instead exhaled nervously.
"Don't worry, you'll be f-"
"Hermi- Oh, Ginny," her mother nearly exclaimed as she stared at the withering redhead wide-eyed. "Um, it's, it's nice to see you again. What a surprise," she added in a tone that Hermione knew her mother used when she was trying to be polite.
"It's good to see you again too, Mrs. Granger," Ginny smiled with a slight bow of her head in acknowledgment. "I'm sorry to show up unannounced, I-"
"I invited her," Hermione interjected confidently, essentially daring her mother to protest. Normally Hermione got along swimmingly with her parents, but this was a battle she'd be willing to fight if her mother or father chose to engage.
"I see," her mother said with a light laugh. "Well, come inside, both of you – there's plenty of food for all of us."
"Thank you, Mom," Hermione said and Ginny echoed the sentiment, following closely behind the brunette as they made their way into the dining room.
"Ginny!" Her dad greeted with surprising warmth as he spotted the younger girl. "This is a nice surprise. Good to see you again. You're looking well."
"Thank you, sir. It's great to see you again. How have you been?" Ginny asked, looking visibly relieved to have received such a welcome from him.
"Well, thank you. There isn't much in the way of downtime with work, but that's okay, keeps me busy. How have you been?" He asked.
"Glad to hear it," Ginny smiled. "I've been doing well. Not as busy as...before. But, still putting in a lot of time to, uh, catch the Death Eater," she trailed off uncertainly.
"Ginny, please, have a seat," Mrs. Granger offered. "Hermione, mind helping me bring the tea and lunch in?"
"Sure, Mom," Hermione replied as she gave Ginny's hand one more squeeze before following her mother into the kitchen.
The second the door had swung shut, Hermione's mother shot her a tired look.
"So, I guess a few things have happened since we last saw you?"
"Mom, please don't be like that," Hermione pleaded, being sure to keep her voice hushed.
"I'm not trying to start a fight, Hermione. I'm just...well, never mind, I'm not overly surprised. I got the sense that this was the direction you were going."
"And that's a bad thing?" Hermione asked, trying not to sound too harsh.
Her mother stared at her for a brief moment before exhaling quietly. "No. It's not." She gave Hermione a wry smirk. "She arrived here with you, so that's a positive sign."
"Mom, she's been amazing this whole time. She's really looked after me. And I've learned a lot about what was going on with her during those years leading up to our breakup. A lot that I don't think I was aware of before," Hermione shared with a pointed look. "I'm in love with her."
Hermione frowned as her mother uncharacteristically rolled her eyes. It was only after that she spotted the subtle smirk gracing her mother's lips.
"Here we go again," her mother said lightly.
"Mom," Hermione half-pleaded, half-laughed.
Her mother was quiet for a moment before taking a step forward and tenderly placing a kiss atop Hermione's head. "I trust that things have changed – for the better. I know we haven't had a chance to sit down and talk yet, but I can see already how happy you are and I haven't seen you this genuinely happy in a long time – it's so great to see. I told you, I just want you to be happy, and clearly Ginny is the one to do it." She smirked before growing serious. "But don't get me wrong, if I see cause for caution or worry – I'll be the first to let you know. But, I guess sometimes two people are just meant for each other."
"Welcome back, Hermione," Mr. Whittner greeted enthusiastically as he shook her hand vigorously. "It's great to have you back; the team hasn't been the same without you."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione reciprocated. "It'll be good to get back into the swing of things and contribute as best I can."
"I have the feeling that won't be a problem," he assured her.
"I appreciate the confidence," she expressed with a slight nod.
"So, just to get you back up to speed, I've got some small tasks for you to handle this morning, but you'll be joining Janine later at an off-site meeting. I just want you to listen and observe – I think it'll be good for you."
"Sure, if you think so," Hermione agreed, though her chest began to constrict slightly with apprehension.
"You'll do great," he soothed. "So, go ahead and get yourself settled. I'll check in with you in a while, alright? And if you need anything, my office is right around the corner."
She nodded her thanks with an unfortunately tight smile before making her way to her office. As she rounded the corner into her office, she immediately spotted two items placed very clearly in the middle of her desk accompanied by a brief note. She approached the items with a knowing smile and picked up the note.
Here's to your first day back in action! Try not to worry too much – relax, you'll be your usual amazing self. Let me know if you need anything, okay?
Yours,
Ginny
Hermione tried to contain her smile as she set the note down and picked up the new leather-bound notebook and quill that Ginny had left for her. Some girls might've swooned more over a floral arrangement sitting there waiting for them, but Hermione appreciated nothing more than a thoughtful, practical gift and these qualified as just that.
"I see someone left a gift for you."
Hermione startled as she whipped around to see Janine standing in the doorway of her office.
"Dare I ask who was so thoughtful and generous?" The blonde asked with a teasing grin.
Hermione delayed for a moment before opening her mouth to speak, only to be cut off.
"Ginny, I know," Janine said with a small smile as she gave a nod of acceptance.
"Yes, Ginny," Hermione confirmed resolutely, not sure whether she needed to be defensive or not. Janine just dropped her gaze and nodded once more.
"I suppose we should talk," Hermione started despite her wish to not have this confrontation. She frowned as Janine gave her a weak smile and a slight shake of her head.
"Message received," Janine stated mildly. "You're Ginny's girl. I understand. I don't particularly like it, but...hey, it's always been that way, hasn't it? And if we're going to work together, I guess I have to...deal."
Hermione's frown deepened. "I'm nobody's girl," she protested in a tone, disliking the connotation of such a statement, but ultimately backing down a touch. "But yes, I'm with Ginny. Very much so."
Janine gave her a crooked smile and shrugged her shoulders. "However you'd like to put it. Anyway...for your sake, I really hope Ginny's changed."
Hermione held up her new notebook in response. "Ginny and I have worked things out. I understand her better and she's back to her old self – before all of this got well out of hand. Thank you for your concern."
Janine merely dipped her head in reply as she began to step out of the room. "Meet you in the hall at quarter to 1? Then we'll go to the meeting?"
"Sure."
"Okay," Janine replied in a stilted kind of way as she patted the door frame, about to leave. Hermione was about to turn back around when Janine stopped and turned to face her once more. "Look, I just have to get this off my chest; I know I was a bit of a nasty bitch about Ginny. I know. But...I just...it drove me nuts to see her treat you the way she did and get away with it. You need to know that I think you're amazing and I thought you deserved so much better. And I was a bitch about her because I know how you felt about her, even after you broke up, and I just handled it all poorly. I always felt she'd win you over again – not that I'd understand how after all that happened between you – but, well...here we are. Anyway, I know things won't be the same between you and me, but I'm ashamed to say that this whole thing brought out the worst in me. And I'm sorry."
The discerning expression that had been on Hermione's face softened as the blonde's proclamation settled in. "Thank you, Janine. It makes a difference to hear that from you," she offered, though not entirely sure what to do with the statement.
"'Kay, well, I'll see you at 1," Janine repeated with a tight smile as she disappeared down the hall.
Despite Hermione's original expectation, the morning flew by and before she knew it she found herself rushing to meeting Janine to leave for their meeting. A recollection of their earlier conversation rushed through the brunette's mind and she closed her eyes briefly wishing that their time together this afternoon could be as void of tension as possible.
"Hey Hermione," Janine greeted as the brunette approached. "How was your morning?" She asked with about as comfortable a smile as she could manage.
"I hardly know where it went," Hermione replied with a fleeting smile. "How was yours?"
"About the same," the blonde answered with a soft laugh. "Are you ready? Shall we?"
"Lead the way."
The two made their way to the Atrium and Janine gestured to one of the free floos. After receiving brief instruction from Janine, the blonde went first and Hermione followed.
When Hermione came through the green flames at the other end she came up behind Janine only to have the blonde hold out her arm protectively and push her back.
"Mione, get back in the floo, go back to the Ministry. Now," Janine said in an urgent whisper without actually bothering to look back at the brunette. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the man standing a few feet in front of her.
Hermione's eyes locked with the man and a cold feeling of dread shot through her immediately. She drew her wand without even realizing it and was quickly nudged by Janine once more. She turned just to find that the floo was no longer there and that, in fact, the room was entirely empty besides the three of them standing there.
"I recognize you," Janine stated, an undertone of trepidation in her voice.
"Yes, it always seems to be you two, hm?" The man replied with an empty smile before looking past Janine and allowing his cold stare to focus upon Hermione once more. "Miss Granger," he smiled, "you should've stayed home."
AN: Hi everyone :) Thanks again for the feedback from the last couple of chapters - always much appreciated ;) So, after 29 long chapters, we finally have the beginnings of a real confrontation! I hope everyone is doing well and I hope that you like the latest update. Thanks again :)
