Happiness

Happiness

Chapter Two - Secrets

A/N: Part two of my Hermione/Ginny slashfic. Note - that is SLASH! If you don't want to read it, then leave now! You have been warned so flame away - I like flames, they're funny!

Disclaimer: All belongeth to J.K.Rowling, nowt belongeth to me!

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"Hey," Hermione whispered, - placing her hands on Ginny's shoulders. Ginny smiled, enjoying the feeling of her girlfriend's fingertips running across her back. She struggled to resist the urge to turn and take the other girl in her arms, painfully aware of the people surrounding them in the crowded common room. Hermione sat down in the chair beside her.

"Here's the book you wanted to borrow Ginny," she said loudly, passing a battered copy of "Ancient Runes in Plain Language" across the table top. Ginny frowned and turned to ask Hermione what on earth she was talking about, but found she was once again alone at the table. She gave Hermione's retreating back a confused look and flipped open the front cover of the book. A tiny scrap of parchment fell out, bearing a single line of Hermione's unmistakable neat handwriting.

Charms classroom, 7th floor, 8pm

Ginny looked at watch. Nearly an hour to go - how would she survive to wait? She tried to read a few pages, but found it was impossible. Her mind kept wandering to last night's rendezvous with Hermione, in an alcove behind a tapestry on the 4th floor. She got up and wandered over to Harry and Ron, who were immersed in a game of wizard chess.

"We're going to raid the kitchens tonight with Dean and Seamus. Want to come?" said Ron, not looking up.

"I can't. I've, uh, got too much homework.," Ginny replied, hastily quashing the feeling of guilt that arose whenever she had to lie to them.

"That's what Hermione said too," said Harry, moving his bishop across the board. "You'll turn into her if you're not careful - you've been doing so much work lately."

Ginny hid her blush fairly successfully. If they only knew what she had really been doing all those time she had told them she was "working".

Ron moved his queen six spaces to the left. "Check. I was thinking of asking Hermione out again. I think she might say yes this time," he sent a knight forward a few squares. "Checkmate! Hah! I can still beat you!"

Harry made a face. "Huh. I let you win!" Yeah, do ask her. I think it's a great idea - she's been a lot more friendly to you recently."

"NO!" the word was out of Ginny's mouth before she could think. The two boys stared at her strangely.

"Why?" asked Ron.

"I…uh…well…" but Ginny couldn't bring herself to tell him that the reason Hermione was being so nice was because she felt horribly guilty. "Oh, never mind. Yeah, go ahead Ron," she finished lamely. This time she was unable to conceal the pink colour that was creeping up her neck and cheeks.

She made a hasty retreat to her dormitory and changed into her best jeans and new top under her black robes. She dragged a comb through her tangled red hair and applied a little makeup. This accomplished, she checked her appearance in the mirror and slipped, unnoticed, out through the portrait hole.

She arrived in the deserted 7th floor corridor and checked in all directions before darting into the Charms classroom. Hermione was already there, standing with her back to the door. Ginny tiptoed up behind her and put her hands over her girlfriend's eyes.

"Guess who," she said softly. Hermione giggled and turned around to give Ginny a deep kiss. Ginny reveled in the moment, wrapping her arms around Hermione's slim waist. Finally, Hermione drew back.

"I missed you," she said.

"We saw each other less than an hour ago," Ginny chided, laughing at her.

"You know what I mean," said Hermione, playfully bumping her nose against Ginny's.

Half an hour later, Ginny grudgingly admitted that they should probably get going or people would start to miss them. "I feel so guilty keeping this from Harry and Ron," she sighed, straightening her hair. "Maybe we should tell them."

Hermione gave her a pained look. "You know I hate it too, but have you any idea what would happen if we did? These things have a way of getting around. Before you knew it, there would be rumors all over the school."

"I suppose you're right. Oh - I nearly forgot. Ron said he was going to ask you out again soon. I didn't know what to say."

"Don't worry about it - I'll try to find a way of letting him down gently. I don't know why he even bothers - we haven't dated since fifth year," Hermione took Ginny's arm. "C'mon, lets get going. You've got lipstick on you nose, by the way."

Ginny groaned and tried to scrub it off with her sleeve.

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Most of their time seemed to be taken up with finding new places to meet, Ginny reflected, picking at her cornflakes and half-listening to Ron droning on about some Quidditch match he wanted to see next summer. Was that all boys ever thought about - Quidditch and food? No wonder she didn't like them. She grinned inwardly.

Some one poked her in the back and she gave a start.

"Harry!" she yelped, outraged. "Why can't you ever just say "hello" like a normal person?"

"I'm not a normal person," he laughed. "I'm The Great Harry Potter!"

She slapped him lightly on the wrist. "And you'll never let us forget it!"

He grinned, but then became serious. "Look, Ginny, I was wondering if you might…well…gooutwithmesometime?"

"You what? Speak English!"

"Will you go out with me, on a date."

Ginny's stomach caved in. All those years that she had fancied him, and he had to wait until now to ask her. Typical. But what could she tell him? "Um…I'm really sorry Harry, but…"

He cut in quickly, saving her the explanation. "Don't worry, I didn't think you would. See you then," he said abruptly and walked off. Ginny stared after him for a minute but supposed he couldn't be expected to deal with the rejection that easily. If some one had told her this time last year, that she would reject and offer of a date from Harry Potter, she would have laughed. Somehow she didn't feel like laughing now though. She just wished she could tell him the real reason. Her life seemed to have become a never-ending round of secrets and lies, and she hated every second of it. Except of course when she was with Hermione. That made it all seem worth it.