A/N: I suppose this chapter could be seen as a linking or preparation chapter. It was also the correct placement for a particular dream...which is another one of those that could almost be a one-shot. :)
52: Relax
Hermione and Ginny made their way to the back door and scullery of Dumbledore's house and knocked before entering. With her usual magical etiquette Hermione used the homenum revelio spell, to check they were the only ones in the house.
"I'd say that Dumbledore rarely comes to the house, and Aberforth has hardly ever been mentioned," observed Hermione. "It's just not the kind of thing I feel happy to ask about."
"At least we still check, then we won't get caught unawares," said Ginny.
"I think I'll get a cup of tea on the go," said Hermione, as she made her way to the range stove. "There's no telling how long Kendra will keep us."
A short time later, with mugs of tea in hand, Hermione and Ginny made the familiar trek upstairs to the third bedroom.
"Mrs. Dumbledore?" called Ginny. "Can we talk to you please?" As usual, no immediate hint of movement was detected.
Ginny had to laugh when she heard the brunette mutter, " Bugger this!" under her breath, before approaching the empty portrait of the high-backed chair up close. "We have some very important news and Professor Dumbledore wanted to know about our return as soon as possible!"
It seemed to do the trick as the austere middle-aged woman rustled her skirts into view. "Oh, it's you two!" Kendra said.
"Yes," said Ginny, avoiding gritting her teeth by a mere whisker, and avoiding letting slip, 'Who else would we bloody be?'
"Professor Dumbledore wanted to know of our return, if you could please tell him," said Hermione, almost matching Kendra for haughtiness. "And we'd like a reply to know when he'll next visit."
Kendra studied the two young women as she always did, but instead of being obstinate and awkward, she gave what could have been a sigh, inclined her head and walked out of the portrait; not before both girls heard a muttered, "I might as well have a letter tied to my leg! What has my life become?..."
Hermione looked to Ginny and both gave a laugh. "Sounds like her son might have told her off recently?" she whispered. "That was so much easier than last time."
"Either sonny boy has spoken to her, or she's got trapped wind!" Ginny giggled, with a yawn following it. "I'm still tired."
"I am too," admittted Hermione. "We've been at this task for days. Although on the face of it, it appeared easy, it was the sheer amount of time, the things we had to plan and go through...fiddly things. Thinking on it, if Hepzibah had been difficult I'm not sure just how far our energy would have stretched."
"How many days were we on this, then?" considered Ginny, as she sat and sipped from her mug of tea.
"Let's see," Hermione said, setting her mug down on a desk and using her fingers to count the days. "We arrived in 1945 on the evening of the 1st May...a Tuesday. A day here, Cauldron...Borgin, and again...hmm...it's Monday 7th May today."
"We've been in 1945 almost a week?"
"That's surprised me too!"
"So altogether we've been away from...Hogwarts, our Hogwarts, for...," Ginny thought it through. "About seventeen or eighteen days?"
"Give or take a few hours or half days. I'm not sure exactly, because we've hopped about a bit."
"I know that sounds a long time, but it feels even longer...months."
"It does," said Hermione, as she finished her tea.
To their surprise, Mrs. Dumbledore walked back into her portrait, not making them wait long at all. "Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, my son will be able to see you tomorrow lunch time, 12.30pm."
"Thank you," replied Hermione.
"He said to remind you to enjoy his house and relax," added Kendra, before she quietly walked out of the frame again.
"That was short and sweet," said Ginny.
"Perhaps her son has told her not to be so bossy to us after all?" suggested Hermione. "It's unusual for Dumbledore to visit at lunch time, too."
"Maybe that was his only free time tomorrow, or he has a free period before or after lunch?"
"True. He might also like to keep others guessing for when he is and isn't on the Hogwarts' grounds." Hermione thought no more on it, and looking at her watch she saw it was approaching 1.30pm. "Let's have some lunch, shall we?" she said, standing up.
Ginny smiled, stood up and wrapped her arms around Hermione, placing a kiss on her lips before hugging her tight. "Another task complete," she said, as she held onto the brunette. "Another task we completed together."
Hermione pulled back slightly, with a beaming smile, "I think we're capable of anything when we're together," she said, as she gave Ginny a kiss back.
They went down to the kitchen and were not at all surprised to find fresh food from Hogwarts, awaiting them in the pantry. With minimal preparation they sat down to roast chicken, with roast potatoes and vegetables, all finished off with a butterbeer.
"I was thinking that the rest of the afternoon we should do a check through of our bags again," suggested Hermione, as they finished putting away the plates and cutlery from lunch. "Check on our purchases and most importantly the Ring and Cup. If you're not too tired?"
"We might as well," answered Ginny. "There's nothing else we have to do...yet."
"I imagine some of our clothing could do with a few cleaning spells and a general tidy up."
The rest of the afternoon and early evening, the two young women went through a now familiar routine of checking their possessions, sat on the floor of the sitting room. They had a little pile of important items to one side, which contained all their purchases from Borgin & Burkes, as well as the Ring and the Cup and the purses with the remaining galleons that Dumbledore had given them. A pile next to it, held the WAAF uniforms, with a small heap of their paperwork and their 1940s muggle money.
"I really hope we've seen the last of these awful bloody things!" said Ginny, as she twirled her pudding-like WAAF hat on a finger.
"Me too," agreed Hermione, as she dumped the WAAF trousers and skirts onto the pile. "It's nearly the end of the war here, so I highly doubt we'll need them again."
There was a pile of their own clothing, as well as the oddments of Ron's they had transfigured. Ginny picked up the T'Shirt and shirt which had been Harry's and although she felt a definite twinge of some unknown emotion, it was no longer despair or longing, it was already acceptance. She looked over to Hermione, and she knew that all she wanted was in the room with her, and at that moment moving the bag with the tent, back into her beaded bag. Hermione, thought Ginny, she's all I need...and could that sound any more corny?
"What are you thinking?" asked Hermione, as she'd seen Ginny stare at her as she held Harry's clothing.
"I'm...I'm very happy with you," Ginny said, feeling a little daft. "I'm sorry I can't describe it properly."
Hermione shuffled over to Ginny and embraced her. "I'm happy with you too," she said, then kissed the redhead softly. She'd wondered if Ginny had been thinking of Harry and what that might be, but she'd seen the truth of how the girl felt when she spoke. They were together, and what they had been through had only cemented the bond between them.
They packed away most of their ordinary clothing, all cleaned, and only left out a few items they thought they might wear tomorrow, along with some sleepwear. Leaving the WAAF items in a neater pile, which they were going to place back in the wardrobe upstairs later, certain and hopeful that they wouldn't be needed again, it just left their purchases and the main two items in their pre-horcrux, harmless state.
Not overly hungry, Ginny and Hermione had a light supper, and not wanting to let their precious items out of their sight, they went upstairs with everything in hand. Both decided they would each take a bath before settling down for the night.
When Ginny passed a freshly bathed Hermione she could smell the red cherry bubblebath again, and laughed. Hermione gave a little groan of 'not again', but Ginny hugged her, taking a deep sniff. "I love how that smells on you," said the redhead.
"You love making fun of me, more like!"
"Only a little," said Ginny. "I mostly love the smell. It will always make me think of you when I smell cherries or cherry blossom."
Hermione felt a little shy for some reason, but embraced Ginny back. "I'll have to see if he has any other bottles hanging around, I'm nearly out of it," she giggled.
"I'm sure we can find some similar. Anyway, I'll go take my bath now," said Ginny.
"Good, then I can sniff you, when you get back!" said Hermione, which made them both nearly collapse with laughter.
Some time later, Ginny slid into the comfortable bed next to Hermione and they both felt amazingly relaxed. Until that moment they hadn't realized just how much tension they'd been living with, when staying at The Leaky Cauldron.
Almost immediately they turned to one another and enjoyed several gentle kisses. Soft probing tongues meeting, not duelling, just feeling for its playmate. Hands tenderly holding peach-soft cheeks, and sliding into silky freshly-washed hair. Caressing fingers and palms sliding down to rest and stroke against the swell of breasts and the peaks of aroused nipples through material. Breathing steady, but with the slight shudder of passion stirring. And all the time, a depth of emotion and trust was felt by both.
Ginny moved so she was hovering over the brunette now, and put her hand down to the hem of Hermione's T'Shirt, moving the material up, never knowing how she would ever get used to the beautiful sight of the girl's breasts. She lowered her head and pressed feathery kisses all over Hermione's chest; little nibbles and licks, all coming naturally to her. Holding one breast, she took the other's pert nipple into her mouth, rolling her tongue gently over it, savouring the taste that was Hermione and the cherry intoxication she would always remember.
Hermione writhed very slightly, feeling alive and never more tuned in or turned on to the way her body was feeling. She threaded her hands into the red locks fanned out before her, letting out small sighs and moans of pleasure. After a time she had an incredibly strong urge to let Ginny feel what she had, and she stilled the redhead's actions, bringing the girl back up to her lips; letting her know she'd done nothing wrong and she only wanted some time giving Ginny some pleasure too.
They changed positions and Hermione hovered over and uncovered Ginny's torso below her, worshipping the bare flesh before her. Lips to lips, lips to neck, to chest, to nipples, fingers and palms to the same places. How on earth could I want Ron? she thought, when I'm feeling this! Hermione chased the thought away again, but tonight only reaffirmed what she knew already; she and Ginny were together and it felt right.
Loving how Ginny's chest shuddered when she sucked on a nipple, Hermione was close to laughing, and that only seemed to make Ginny want to laugh too, which set off more sensations, and the redhead would sigh and gasp a little again.
Still not wanting to rush things or get too deep, they slowly and naturally ended their kissing and caressing session. Just holding each other, and pressing kisses to cheeks, lips and necks, was enough to feel impossibly close. Both felt nearly as sated as if they had gone further...or imagined how it would feel had they done so. The exhaustion and subconscious pressure of the past few days had ebbed away, and it left both young women feeling tired, but content and stronger.
After they settled, cuddled up close, Ginny finally spoke, "I suppose this is it, now?"
"It?" asked Hermione, not sure as to which part of their current situation Ginny was referring to. Was she expecting us to do more? Tonight?I'm not sure I can deal with more yet... Or...or is she talking about the tasks? she thought.
"We'll go back to the Battle at Hogwarts," Ginny said, quietly. "I think that's why Dumbledore made sure his mother told us to relax and enjoy his house. I think it was going to be the case whether we got the Cup or not...which he doesn't know about yet."
"Hmm, it might be," sighed Hermione, then added more adamantly, "Well, logically it has to be. We've been out of our correct timeline a long while, every day away is dangerous to the fabric of time. Hopefully we'll get the instructions or reasons for getting the Ring and Cup and back we'll go to that blown up Headmaster's Office."
"Yeah, we'll be straight back into the thick of it," said Ginny, a little glumly. "We'll have to be ready with a Protego charm straight away."
"I was thinking of that too. If we've got to take the two items somewhere when we arrive, then it's going to be tough even getting out of that Office!"
"Well," sighed Ginny. "Look what we've achieved so far. We'll think of something."
Hermione smiled and held herself closer to Ginny, almost feeling the strength and courage radiate off the girl and into her very being. "Ginny, we might have to go off separately, depending on the circumstances when we get back, and what's happening in the action."
"It might happen, I know that. But we'll do what we have to. Just try to take care of yourself. I'll do the same, because...,"
"Because?"
"I mean every word, Hermione," said Ginny, in a quiet and croaky voice. "When we get back I want to try to be with you...properly. I know it'll be hard, and we can't be all over each other straight away...my brother being one problem, but if we make it through...I'll still be there for you."
Hermione felt a tear roll from the corner of her eye, onto the pillow. She held Ginny tight to her, then turned a little to kiss her lips. "We'll do all we can to make it happen. I promise you." She kissed her again. "We've been through so much together, to let it go. If we survive, if...well...I'll be there for you too."
They held each other, with silent tears; not sad for themselves, not sad for the world, not feeling pity particularly, just knowing how momentous their bond was and what they might yet be capable of. There was power between them and within them.
Not unduly disturbed by their thoughts, they drifted off to sleep and Hermione entered a dream...zzzzzzz
It was night time and she was aware she was walking the grounds at Hogwarts. The dream-Hermione seemed to know where she was going, even if the real one dreaming it wasn't as sure. Everywhere was still and reasonably quiet, except for the regular wildlife from both the ordinary and magical worlds. There wasn't a feeling of threat or looming danger, and Hermione kept on walking.
After a short time, Hermione realized that she was making her way to the quidditch pitch. Why am I going there at night? she thought.
On reaching the changing rooms, she simply walked through the unlocked door and was immediately grabbed by something or someone from the darkness within.
"Arggghh!" she tried to shout in surprise, but was muffled by a hand around her face. She felt panic and was wondering how to get to her wand and escape her attacker in one swift and successful move.
Hermione's movements and thoughts ceased, however, when she heard a breathy giggle. A familiar girl's breathy giggle. "Who is it?" she said, as the hand dropped from her face and she spun to face the person in the shadows.
"Who do you think it is?" the girl whispered, very amused. "Unless you've started meeting other women here at night? Is there something I should know about?"
Ginny? Hermione thought, well, obviously! Why am I so slow in these dreams?
Arms wrapped around her as she was led to a bench, and small kisses were pressed to her cheeks and neck. "I've been thinking about this all day," said Ginny.
"You have?"
"You know I have."
Hermione found Ginny's lips with her own, the whole situation firing her with passion and want. This is sexy, to be meeting her here at night, she thought, and very risky. Don't ruin it! her conscience chided her.
Hands tugged at clothing, with Ginny flicking her wand to strip them both of their shirts and bras, almost immediately embracing again to feel their flesh against one another. Putting some towels on the floor, they moved down to lie there.
"You feel so good," Hermione managed to utter.
"You too."
The real Hermione was greatly enjoying the heat and action of her dream. Lips, tongues and hands grabbing, caressing and kissing each other.
"I want you, Hermione," Ginny moaned. "I really want you." With that said, Ginny flicked her wand again and her lower clothing left her body too, as she then reached for Hermione's hand and placed it between her legs.
Hermione could feel the wetness there, making herself want to squirm, only able to imagine how her sleeping body was reacting to the dream. She didn't back away from the dream, she wanted to experience it, and moved her fingers along and inside of Ginny's nether lips, before gently entering the redhead.
Ginny moaned loudly, and thrust her hips against Hermione's hand; it made the brunette feel incredible. She decided there and then, to reach for her own wand, and removed her own lower clothing. Noticing the change, Ginny slid her hand down to Hermione's mound.
They began a rhythm, which came to them as naturally and as instinctually as could be. Hips rocking against questing hands, lips kissing on bare skin, a feeling of burning, tightening delight, low down in their bodies and then...the door burst open.
"What the bloody hell is this?" shouted an angry voice, waving the light of their wand, training it on to the two naked women.
Hermione scrabbled around for a piece of clothing or towel to cover herself, more worried about her modesty than whom the intruder was, for the moment. When she looked up and saw it was Ron, her heart lurched.
"Ron!" shouted Ginny. "Piss off!"
"Piss off? You're fucking my girlfriend and I'm the one being told to go and do one?" he shouted back.
The dream-Hermione seemed stunned and unable to speak, and the real one watching her dream was equally stunned. She thought she'd feel embarrassed, if Ron found her and Ginny in real life...Okay, more like mortified shock followed by a trip to South America for a few months, she thought as she dreamed. However, in this dream, she didn't feel embarrassed, she felt shock from being found, but not by the particular person standing there. She felt a little bad for him in her heart, but not the deep hurt she expected.
The whole time the dream was paused in this strange set of events, Hermione kept glancing to Ginny. She's really who I want, she thought, and Ron can shout, swear, bluster on and try to make things as bad for me as he likes, but having Ginny in my life makes it all possible. It will be tough in real life, but together we're stronger.
"Ron," said Hermione. "I'm not your girlfriend."
"What?" he shouted. "We kissed...after all those years, all that danger, all those times we faced death together? Of course you're my girlfriend! We...we kissed for crying out loud!"
"A kiss or two doesn't mean we're contracted to each other," said Hermione, as she seemed to calmly put her clothes back on, taking no notice of the turmoil in Ron, as he watched who he thought was his girlfriend, but now wasn't, covering up her nakedness in front of him.
"But we were meant to be together?" he tried. "Everyone said it, even Harry, even Mum?"
"Every Death Eater says mudbloods are scum, it doesn't make them right, does it?" said Hermione plainly.
"But, Ginny?" he said, only just managing to say his sister's name without nearly spitting it. "Why her?"
"Would you prefer it if she slept with Harry?" asked Ginny, drily.
"You keep out of it! It's none of your business!" Ron shouted to his sister
"No, Ron. She's my girlfriend, it is her business," Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry, Ron, truly I am, but what I feel for her, is deeper than what I've felt for you. Ginny and I have been through so much together, and we realized we were meant to be together."
"NO!" Ron shouted, defiantly. "NO!"
"Ron, I'm in love with Ginny...,"
Ginny went serious, "And I'm in love with her...,"...zzzzzzz
Hermione suddenly woke up, with a little grunt. She was a bit disturbed by her dream, in many ways. Firstly she felt an ache between her legs from the sex she'd dreamed of with Ginny, then she was confused over how she felt about Ron finding them, but the biggest feeling was from the last moments of the dream.
The moment she'd told Ron that Ginny was her girlfriend and that she was inlove with her, and the redhead had echoed her, she felt different. Her chest tightened and fluttered, and her body felt light, as if she floated above the bed rather than lying in it. I think I've truly acknowledged it, she thought, I've never been more sure of myself. I think I've mentally accepted that I love her, really love her. I think this is what Tonks and Fred wanted me to feel. To see the difference between what I felt for Ron and what I feel for Ginny, in that potentially bad situation...it's resulted that I know my feelings for Ginny are deeper and more important to me. What I felt for Ron was a shadow in comparison.
"All right, Hermione?" asked Ginny, who had felt her stir awake.
"Yes, just an odd dream, nothing bad." Hermione decided to tell her a shortened version of the dream for the sexy bit, and for the awkward Ron moment, but she glossed over all the deeper meanings. I won't pressure her to think like that, she thought, I'm pretty sure she's feeling something deeper for me, but she needs to find it for herself. I'm patient, I'll wait.
As Hermione predicted, Ginny enjoyed the dream, and the idea of managing to lure Hermione out after dark, for a night of passion in the quidditch changing rooms. They had several laughs over the choice of meeting place.
"Why there?" asked Ginny. "It always smells of feet, and there's no beds or sofas."
"I suppose we thought no one would think to look there."
"So how on earth did Ron find us?"
"It's a dream," said Hermione. "Anything can happen. I wouldn't put it past him to follow me in real life, wondering if I'm on some mission he doesn't know about, so maybe he did in the dream?"
"Hmm," answered Ginny, in thought, followed closely by another, "Hmm."
"What?"
"I think you've answered again, why you never even told him about your conversation with McGonagall and Flitwick."
"Really?"
"It's like you knew, that even if you told him, he'd still think you weren't telling him the whole truth. Then he'd get grumpy and so on, and keep trying to push you for other information he thought you had and were hiding," said Ginny.
"You know, I think you're right," replied Hermione, seeing the situation from that angle. "He was a bit like that when we were on the run...the three of us. It didn't help that we had little food and then got lumbered with taking turns wearing that horrible horcrux Locket, but he was the worst to deal with. He even thought Harry and I were getting together."
"Did he? What gave him that idea?"
Hermione had felt Ginny tense slightly. "No, Harry and I never felt anything like that for each other, I promise you. It was always a brother-sister thing. But Ron's heightened horcrux-enduced paranoia somehow made him think we were carrying on behind his back!"
"My brother was never the most rational," sighed Ginny.
"He can be brilliant at times, when he applies himself," said Hermione. "But so difficult to work with, to discuss things with. Many times I felt so alone, even when they were both there. There was Harry brooding more than ever, and understandably so, but I couldn't talk to Ron either. He was gloomy and brooding too. And yet both of them kept expecting me to find the answers."
"It must have been so tough," said Ginny, as she nuzzled into Hermione, trying to convey some comfort.
"Yeah. And it all seems a world away now...which I suppose it is. An Age ago."
After a short silence, Ginny finally said, "Sometimes you can't hide from fate, but despite all the pain, I've found you...got closer to you. And if that's the payment I get for all the suffering, then I still consider myself lucky."
With watery eyes, Hermione turned and kissed Ginny on the lips, unable to speak and only able to kiss her emotions to the younger woman.
"See you in the morning," said Ginny, keeping her body close up to the brunette. "Let's hope for no more dreams...however kinky," she chuckled.
"Night," replied Hermione. Night, my love, she thought with contentment.
