A/N: Thanks everyone for the lovely reviews. So, I'm guessing chapter 37 was popular? LOL

Don't worry, chapter 37 wasn't the pinnacle, there's plenty more things to happen yet, before I'm done with using up your time. ;)

The issue of what their next task is, will be dealt with in due course, but we need a couple of 'dealing with current situation' chapters. It wouldn't be all that realistic if I had them kiss and then they just go "Done that, no big deal, let's move on." There's a bit of character development needed. Plus, I like to take these characters out of their comfort zone a little. :)

38: Not A Dream

Ginny entered a dream, no longer as concerned as before about having a dream where she hugged or kissed Hermione. She wasn't entirely sure what their real kiss would mean yet, and didn't want to think on it until she had to; for now she dreamed...zzzzzzz

Sitting on a comfortable sofa, staring into a roaring fire in a hearth, Ginny recognized the Gryffindor Common Room. She appeared to be alone, and as she looked to a window, she could see that it was dark outside.

A noise made her turn her head round, hearing the portrait door open and a little scuffling noise of someone or something passing through. She didn't see anything for a moment or two.

"Hello?" Ginny called.

In a breeze of motion, Harry suddenly stood before her, having taken off his Invisibility Cloak.

"Harry?" asked a surprised Ginny. "What are you doing?"

"Oh nothing much, you know, the usual," he grinned. "Snooping on things, keeping an eye on Malfoy."

"Was he doing anything interesting?" she asked. I really don't give a rat's arse what Malfoy was doing, she thought as she dreamed.

"No, he wasn't around. I figured you'd be alone now, so I came back to see you," Harry said, taking a seat next to her on the sofa.

"Any particular reason you wanted to see me?"

"Can't I see my girlfriend when I want to?" asked Harry, as he turned slightly to look at her.

"I'm your girlfriend again?" she asked, mildly surprised.

"You always have been mine, haven't you?"

Ginny didn't answer, because she didn't know how to answer. Harry had tried to split up with her and push her away a couple of times in real life, although it was obvious to most people that they were still techinally an item. To the Ginny dreaming this scene, she was confused, because in real life he was dead, and with all the horrible and crazy dreams she had had involving Harry, she wasn't sure how to talk to him anymore, even it if was only in a dream.

"Answer me, Ginny, please?" said Harry in a soft voice, reaching over and clasping her hands in his.

"It's a peculiar situation right now," she told him, turning a little so she was looking at him. "I'm not sure of anything anymore."

Harry studied her face. "So it's true," he said.

"What is?"

"You've got someone else, haven't you? HAVEN'T YOU?" said Harry, raising his voice.

"No," she answered. I've been dreaming of kissing Hermione, and have really done so too, but we're not...not going out...are we? she thought confused as she dreamed.

"You couldn't wait, could you?" Harry said in a stern voice. "I turn my back for a short time and you've already left me!"

"Left you?" Ginny said, staring into the fire now, not able to look at him. "I never left you. You always left me!"

"You were so quick to move on, weren't you? Anything with a damn heartbeat!" Harry said angrily. "You've never believed in me, never!"

"Believed in you? Harry, I've always supported you and believed in you and fought for your cause. You know I have!"

"Do I? You've moved on so fast, you might as well have killed me yourself!" Harry spat.

It was then that Ginny became aware of how cold Harry's hands had become, as they almost painfully clasped hers now. She looked down and saw with horror that his hands were the grey-green flesh she had dreamed of before. Not really wanting to, but unable to avoid doing so, she looked up into his face and saw the same decomposing face she had seen before.

"You're dead," she almost whispered. Well done! What a brainy observation! thought a sarcastic Ginny to herself.

"So it seems," said the dead Harry, but he loosened the grip he had on her hands now. "I'll always love you."

Ginny could feel a lump in her throat. "I'll always love you, Harry," she said. "Despite everything, you're were my first love, and will always be in my heart."

Harry made a sniffing noise, which could either have been a sniff of emotion or a dismissive gesture, Ginny wasn't sure. "I hope they're worthy of you?" he said sadly.

"Who?" asked Ginny. He can't mean Hermione, can he? That's mad to even consider her in those terms, isn't it? she thought, confused.

Harry just smiled, which actually looked dreadful, because of the dead flesh of his face. And just as suddenly as he had appeared he was gone again.

Ginny looked down at her hands and Harry's were gone. "Harry?"...zzzzzzz

She woke up, not with a start, but feeling a lump in her throat. Why does he keep appearing like this? she thought. Am I feeling guilt over leaving everyone? He's dead, he left before I did. Wouldn't he want me to be trying to fight for the others left behind? Surely it can't be about Hermione? Can it?

The redhead wiped a stray tear from her eye, took a deep breath and thought again. Are my dreams saying I've felt something for Hermione for a long time? Is that it? Am I'm being given dreams of guilt and loss because of all of it?

Looking at her position, Ginny could see that she was still tucked up next to Hermione and thankfully she hadn't woken her. She couldn't help a small smile as she saw how peacefully her friend slept, and despite everything, how beautiful she looked, with her tousled hair framing her face and spread on the pillows. More thoughts came to Ginny in those few moments.

What did those kisses mean last night? she thought. Was it just something that happened, and we smile and carry on like nothing has changed? Did they mean something more? Do I want them to mean something more?

I think you do. said her conscience. Do I? I don't know what I'm thinking. Harry died just over a week ago...well in actual days we've lived, not this timeline of course. I was devastated, I still am to an extent...how can I move my affections so fast?

Think to your dreams. You said you hadn't thought of marrying him. Maybe you never wanted to be with him like that. Think of your love for him as a brother and best friend instead. Oh that's just me trying to make myself feel less guilty. I don't know what I would have wanted with Harry.

Sex? I always thought we would do that, yes. Why does life have to be so complicated?

Because it just is. All I can do is wait and see what Hermione says and try to gauge things from there.

It was lighter in the room and lifting her head slightly, Ginny could see the clock on the dressing table was showing nine o'clock. That potion must have made me extra sleepy too, she thought. She looked over to Hermione again, and seeing her sound asleep, she gently and carefully moved and rolled away, and then rose from the bed. Flexing her hand she could feel that she no longer had a broken bone, and not even any stiffness; Dumbledore's potion had certainly worked on her. I hope it's made Hermione better too, she thought.

Ginny picked up the beaded bag and found up her clothes from the day they arrived here to wear, not wanting to put the WAAF uniform on again until she had to, and went to the bathroom to freshen up and dress. Then she went downstairs, thinking she would make a pot of tea and bring it upstairs so Hermione could have a cup when she woke up.

Hermione hadn't had anymore definite dreams. She had hoped to have a sexy dream or two about Ginny, now she actually had some real experience of locking lips with her. All she remembered dreaming was climbing stairs, more and more stairs, with never seeing the top. The dream made her so tired in the dream that she fell asleep in the dream too.

The brunette was aware of a little movement, and thought it must be Ginny, turning over. Hermione was going to let herself sleep again, but then she heard the toilet flush and footsteps go down the stairs.

Opening her eyes properly, Hermione saw that it was fairly light in the room, despite the curtains. She reached under her pillow for her wand and flicked it to move the curtains apart slightly, to let in more light.

Placing her wand back under her pillow, her next thought was of Ron. I've kissed his sister, she thought. I've kissed Ginny...twice...and not as a friend would kiss a friend.

You wanted to do it, it was very natural. I know, but I feel so guilty over Ron. Less than a week ago he and I finally kissed, finally got together, in a manner of speaking. Only days ago I was fantastizing about having a bath with him! After all those years and finally getting together in some way and yet in days I move on to his sister? That makes me...I don't know what it makes me, but the word 'slut' comes to mind.

You can't change how you feel. Even in dreams Ron is annoying you, but Ginny is there for you. Yes, but it could just be my mind offering a pleasant alternative brought on by the stress of everything.

Would you kiss Ginny again? Or more importantly, do you want to? Yes. But I think, deep down I was hoping once I kissed her I would have got it out of my system...but.

She's in your system, still? I think so...yes...I know so.

"You're awake?" asked Ginny, as she walked through into the bedroom with a tray, holding a pot of tea, two cups and a milk jug.

Hermione was brought back to the present, and smiled at the red-haired girl. "I'm sitting up with my eyes open, so that generally points to being awake," she chuckled.

"Smart arse!" said Ginny, grinning back. "How do you feel this morning?"

"I don't know," said Hermione. She stuck her head down her own T'Shirt and could hardly see even the faint red line of her chest scar, then lifted up her T'Shirt and found the stomach scar nearly invisible too. Then she lifted her arms above her head and tried to twist her body from side to side. "Better," she said as a result. "Just a little stiff."

"That's good," said Ginny as she sat on the bed next to her, with the tray in front of her, pouring out their teas. "I suppose you won't know how tired you feel, until you get up or try to do something?"

"I'm sure we'll find that out later today."

There was a pause of silence between the two women now, both taking slightly slurping sips from hot cups of tea. There was a definite awkwardness and Ginny wasn't so sure she wanted to talk about last night and their kiss, not just yet anyway.

"So, do you want any breakfast?" asked Ginny.

"I think I might get up in a little while and try to get it myself," replied Hermione.

"It's no trouble," said Ginny, making to move from the bed again.

Hermione laid a hand on her arm. "I know it's awkward, I know it's complicated and maybe both of us don't want to talk, but I think we should talk about last night."

"Oh," said Ginny, sitting back again, realizing there was no escape from it.

An uncomfortable silence ensued for a few moments, until Hermione finally spoke. "It's all so confusing." Ginny didn't answer, she didn't know how to, and couldn't think of anything to say.

"It's happened so fast," said Hermione.

"Are...are you saying...," Ginny struggled to form the sentence she wanted to ask, and couldn't look at her friend. "Do you regret it?"

"No," said Hermione with no hesitation. "I've had dreams of kissing you and, as I said last night, it just seemed a natural thing I wanted to do. Do you wish I hadn't?"

"No," said Ginny in a quiet, soft voice. "I've had dreams about you too. It's...it's just, I don't know what to think."

"About what?" asked Hermione.

"About a lot of things. We've been here over a week, that's all. Harry...Harry died back then. It feels like months ago, but it's hardly ten days. It should feel wrong...I shouldn't be moving on...how can...," Ginny tailed off as she tried and failed to make her thoughts into a concise sentence.

"You feel guilty about it?" asked Hermione.

"Yes," replied Ginny. "Harry was in my dreams again last night. He was in the dead form, not as bad as before, but...but he still accused me of...well, moving on too fast."

"I feel guilty too," said Hermione. "After all those years of being annoyed at Ron for never asking me out or showing proper interest in me. We finally accept that he and I are sort of together, we finally kiss, even if it was in the middle of the magical world's biggest battle, and I know I care for him a great deal, and yet...,"

"And yet?" prompted Ginny, wanting to know what Hermione was thinking, because it might help herself to think through her own situation.

"And yet...those dreams I've had of you, they...you...," Hermione sighed, irritated by her own stumbling words. "What I felt for you in those dreams, and when you and I were separated...it's hard to describe but what I felt for you was...stronger."

"I don't know what to think about any of it," admitted Ginny. "I should be grieving, shouldn't I? For Harry? For Fred?"

"Hmm. A lot of people might think so," said Hermione thoughtfully. "But how long a person grieves is not written in stone. It's a personal thing, and how you deal with it is also an individual thing."

"So, maybe I'm feeling these...things for you, because it's how I'm dealing with my grief?" asked Ginny, frowning, taking some sips from her dwindling cup of tea.

Hermione considered what her friend had said and she felt a small dropping feeling in her chest, and hoped against hope that Ginny wasn't just experiencing the stress of events. Am I just stressed too? she thought.

"It's possible, I suppose," said Hermione, with a slight resigned tone. "Maybe it's the same for me, with the stress. But, I'm feeling something for you, Ginny. It feels real to me. Only you can know what you feel deep down."

"I just don't know," Ginny said, wishing she could gather her thoughts better. "The dreams I've had, surprised me. I've never had dreams about kissing you before, or any other girl for that matter. The dreams just happened, and although I was trying to run from them and stop myself from letting the dreams continue, I can't deny that...that I enjoyed them," she blushed, and looked down at the dregs in her cup.

"Are you worried about...the whole kissing a girl thing?" Hermione asked with curiosity.

"I've never thought about it before," said Ginny. "I think if we got back and...and someone found out, I'd be...worried about the reaction."

"I'd agree with you on that," said Hermione. "I don't find it odd, wanting to kiss a girl and be kissed back, but the reception from other people...it's disconcerting. The unknown can be scary."

"What would Ron think?" Ginny suddenly thought.

"I've considered that," sighed Hermione. "And I just don't know. To tell him I don't think he and I should be together after all...it would be so hard to tell him. I care for him a great deal, I do. A part of me will always love him, so I don't know how I could hurt him like that."

"If you hadn't dreamed of kissing me and actually doing so," said a still blushing Ginny. "Would you still want to break up with Ron?"

Hermione sighed deeply. "I think the answer is 'yes'. If my dreams have shown me anything, it's the fact he and I would always be arguing. We have a deep connection, that can't be denied, but to be a couple? I just don't think that would ever work for long."

"I always thought, I'd be with Harry in some way," said Ginny. "I'd never really thought about the long term thing, and a couple of my dreams tell me I wasn't ready for more with him yet, but I just assumed he'd beat You Know Who, somehow, and we'd be able to get together again properly."

"If Harry...," Hermione paused, thinking over her words carefully. "If Harry hadn't died, would you have been with him, then?"

"I don't know...I think so," Ginny said, shrugging her shoulders. "Although, I never liked the way he pushed me away. He was always saying it was for my safety and all that stuff, but it hurt for him to end things with me like that, however good the intentions were behind it."

"Sooo...," Hermione sighed yet again.

"What?" asked Ginny.

"It brings us back to...well, us."

"Oh."

"What do we do?" Hermione said, leaving the question hanging there.

"I don't know," Ginny said, feeling weary all of a sudden. "I...I...bugger it, I don't know!"

Hermione slid the tray with the teapot and cups further down the bed, then turned to Ginny and got hold of the redhead's hands, so that she looked up and they looked into each other's faces.

"Would you like to see if we could be more than friends?" Hermione said. "There's no pressure. You don't have to say 'yes'. If you did there would still be no pressure and we would take things really slow, because above all we have a serious situation going on here with Dumbledore's work, as well as us both having come from highly stressful events back at Hogwarts. But, we could be closer, if you'd like that? It's up to you, but for me, I'd like to be more than friends with you. To at least try it. I know it's happened fast and in peculiar circumstances, but it's happened, I can't change how I think I'm feeling."

Ginny could feel her cheeks flush warmly again, and thought she might as well give up trying not to blush, because it never worked in preventing the blush; she thought she had probably been continually red-cheeked, in varying degrees, since the conversation began. She looked down at her hands being held by Hermione's and spent several moments thinking.

"Life is fragile here, and back there at our Hogwarts, Fred and Harry have taught us that," began Ginny. "In all the thoughts I've had after my dreams of you, a notion came up once or twice about being away from everything and everyone else and that it was an opportunity to be with you, with no one knowing it...to try it, to experience it without the world passing judgment; and yes, I know how cowardly that sounds! Anyway...I think...," Ginny tailed off again, not quite ready to say what she had been going to say, and knowing she had been on the verge of an almighty babbling ramble.

"You think?" Hermione prompted.

"I...yes," Ginny said, letting out a breath. "There, I've said it. Yes, I would like...you know...to try."

Hermione smiled and gave Ginny's hands a little squeeze. "I know we're best friends," she told the redhead. "If possible, I never want that to change, but I'd like to see if we could have more than that. And by the way, I don't think you're cowardly at all, you made perfect sense to me."

Ginny nodded, wondering if she was about to wake up and find this whole tricky conversation was another lucid dream of hers.

"Can I...?" Hermione started to say then had her own attack of embarrassment.

Ginny looked up again, and saw Hermione's cheeks coloured once more. "What?" she asked, wondering what Hermione wanted to say.

"Can I kiss you, now?" Hermione said in a timid voice.

Taking in a deep breath Ginny nodded and smiled, before letting the breath out slowly again. Hermione kept hold of one of Ginny's hands, but reached forward with her other hand to cup the redhead's cheek.

"Your skin is so amazingly soft," said Hermione. Seeing Ginny want to look away bashfully, Hermione let her thumb stroke her friend's cheek and not wanting to make Ginny feel anymore awkwardness she leaned forwards and placed her lips against the redhead's.

After a few moments both young woman began to move their lips, gently nibbling and pressing their lips against the other woman's. Ginny moved one of her hands up and cupped Hermione's cheek, and moved it into the brunette's hair.

Keep it simple, Hermione thought to herself as she enjoyed the kiss. Not too much too soon.

When Hermione could begin to feel herself wanting much more and wanting to hold Ginny tighter and deepen the kiss further, she gently pulled back, leaving a lingering caress of a kiss on her friend's lips.

Opening their eyes, and looking at each other, both couldn't help smiling, then snorting with laughter. Everything just seemed bizarre; here they were in 1943 and snogging? If they didn't already know, life could be surprising and crazy.

I've kissed Hermione again, thought Ginny, and it's not because of potion or tiredness. We're going to 'try us'. Bloody hell...how did this happen?

"Thank you," said Hermione.

"For what?" asked Ginny.

"For that kiss, for wanting to give 'us' a go," the brunette smiled.

Ginny moved to take the tray off the bed to the dressing table, giving her a few more seconds to think of what she wanted to say. "Hermione," she said, not turning around from the dressing table and only peeping at the reflection in the mirror, then not able to even do that as she began to speak again. "You don't...you don't have to ask for kisses in future." Wow, I'm forward now!

Hermione didn't answer, and Ginny didn't turn around. Have I said too much now? Ginny thought, studying the teapot nervously. "I don't mean we have to kiss every second of the day...or, whenever. I just meant...," It was then Ginny felt arms wrap around her from behind. She hadn't heard Hermione get up and walk to her. This is a dream, she thought, it has to be. I'll wake up any minute.

"You're not dreaming," said Hermione.

Ginny turned in Hermione's arms, looking confused. "Oh, I must have been thinking out loud," she said slightly embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it," Hermione chuckled. "But this is real." She leaned forwards and placed a peck on Ginny's lips. "I could get used to that."

"I think I could too," said Ginny. "If I can keep reminding myself I'm not asleep!" She then thought of a dream which was the reverse of what Hermione had just done to her, wrapping her arms around her from behind. "Hermione, did you ever used to go to the Owlery much?"

"Sometimes, why do you ask?"

"Did you have a secret place there? A top floor that most people don't know is there, with a little room space with a spectacular view from a glassless window?"

Hermione's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped slightly, "What?"

"Oh, it was just a dream I had the other night," said Ginny. "You took me up there to talk, I figured it was just my imagination."

"No, it wasn't completely," said Hermione. "There is a place at the Owlery where I'd go to think. But...how did you know about it? Dumbledore and McGonagall told me about it during my Third Year, when I needed some space from my hectic timetable...but I didn't think anyone else knew about it?"

"I didn't until that dream, and I just thought my brain had made it up," replied Ginny. "So it exists?"

"Yes."

"It seems our dreams are accurate on some things, then?"

"It would seem so," said Hermione. "A bit like my dream of Nagini biting me, that was before Gaunt did it. I've wondered if that was prophetic in some way."

"Oh well, at least when I dream of you now, I won't have to keep telling myself to jump out of the window and stop it!" said Ginny, grinning.

"I know what you mean," replied Hermione. "Anyway, I think I'm going to go to the bathroom and get up, see how well I've healed."

"If you need any help with anything, just shout," said Ginny.

"Ginny Weasley, you're being very bold!"

"I...I didn't mean it like that, I just meant...,"

"I'm teasing," said Hermione. "I knew what you meant. And thank you."

"I'll get breakfast started, what would you like?"

"I was thinking of toast," said Hermione.

"I thought I'd make myself some scrambled eggs on toast, would you like some?" asked Ginny.

"Yes, that sounds good. I'll be down soon." Hermione went to the bathroom taking her beaded bag with her to choose some clothes.

Ginny descended the stairs and as she began to get the things she needed, ready in the kitchen, she found herself going over the recent conversation.

Hermione wants to try being more than friends with me? She wants to kiss me? She doesn't want to judge me on how fast all of this is happening? Ginny thought. And she doesn't want to pressure me and wants to take things slow. I don't care what she says, I do feel like I'm dreaming. But, even the little kisses this morning, felt right, in an odd way of course, but it didn't feel wrong.

As Hermione freshened up and began to dress she halted as she did up her bra. Goodness! Ginny must have felt so awkward when she saw me nearly naked last night. I thought her eyes were roaming, but now I know they really must have been! Yet, she didn't try anything with me, she thought. Too nervous and peculiar, the poor girl. Now, Ron would have blushed, but probably got over it, stared and then maybe got a hold of 'things'. Kissing Ginny didn't feel wrong and when I held her, it felt good...close and right...not at all wrong. I still don't know how this has happened so fast. Maybe it is the stress that's hurried things along? We'll take it slow from here and see what happens, that's all we can do.