A Rose By Any Other Name.

By Kes.

Disclaimer: Mine? Nope.

"Happy Halloween!"

Ginny, somehow managing to get passed Hermione's extensive locking system, had let herself in and was currently sitting on the bed staring at a bleary-eyed Hermione.

"What the hell? Oh go away Gin, please, I'm tired!"

Ginny glared at Hermione. "No. You are getting up. It may be Saturday, but you still have to get up at some point today..." She replied, casually glancing at the clock. Hermione's eyes follwed her's and she jumped out of bed. "12.30?! Why didn't you wake me before?!"

"Because I was under orders from Harry who was under orders from someone who he wouldn't say, not to wake you up until we thought it was time, and since we know what you're like, we thought you might come shopping with us?"

Slightly disorientated, Hermione glanced around the room, looking for her towel and some clothes and dashed into the bathroom. "Yeah, sure...be right back..."

Ginny pottered around Hermione's room, making her bed, shoving her dirty clothes into the basket to be taken by the house elves, tickled Crookshanks and opened the curtains. She blinked.

There was a majestic owl staring at her, slightly peeved as if it had been there a long time. She hastily opened the window to let it in. The bird flew in, deposited a letter on the bed and flew out again.

The roll of parchment opened as it was not sealed with wax:

Dearest Hermione,

I hope you have had a refreshing sleep, I thought you may like one since you have already started revising a little each night for your exams which are months away. I have asked Potter Harry to let you sleep as he seems to be the only one who knows about us.

I would like to see you some time this weekend, perhaps in Hogsmede, although that may be too risky to attempt again. We should not tempt fate as it does not seem it will always be in our favour. I told you about my discussion with Albus, and although he is very understanding, I fear others may not be. I do not want to have to ask this of you, but I feel I must request you to limit the number of people you tell about us, presuming there is an 'us'.

I hope to see you soon, though it may not be possible I know.

SS

Ginny stared at the letter wow...that is so...weird. Hermione and Snape? Although...I guess they could be a couple, I mean, it would be kinda cute in a strange and unusual way.

She was abruptly shaken out of her thoughts by the opening of a door. She hastily dropped the letter, which rolled back up of its own accord. Hermione saw this.

"It...it just opened when the owl dropped it on the bed. I didn't mean-mean to open it. I swear, I promise, honestly. But if you never want to talk to me again, I understand." Ginny was blurting out incomprehensible words as always whilst making a quick exit towards the door.

Meanwhile, Hermione had opened and quickly scanned the letter.

Hermione looked up at Ginny. "So...er...are you going to tell anyone?" She coughed nervously.

"What?" Ginny stared at her, wide eyed. "No way! You're my best friend, I thought you might need a boyfriend, I mean I obviously didn't see that person as Snape, but hey... it's your life and all that..." She paused and looked at Hermione. "Do you like him?"

Hermione smiled wistfully. "You know what, I think I do." She said shyly.

Ginny grinned. "Well, that's good enough for me! Just, don't talk about your sex life. The idea that Snape - Severus - has sex...I don't think I'm ready for that..."

"Neither am I." Hermione blushed even more.

Ginny brightened. "So you haven't...you know..."

"Not yet..."

"But you will?"

"Eventually, I think. I don't really know though. I guess if it happens, it'll just happen..."

"Right. Ok."

They sat in silence for a minute or two, contemplating, both having sat on the bed. Hermione's wet hair dripping; she absently got her wand and performed a drying charm.

"So, do you call him Severus?"

"No. I call him Professor Snape...of course I call him Severus!" She added at Ginny's semi-horrified look.

The girls giggled for a minute. "So...how far have you gone? With him, I mean."

Hermione breathed in. "Well, he has a nice chest, and no, it's not that pale actually. But that's all I've seen. Honestly. Mostly, we just talk and stuff, you know, I love hearing him talk...that voice...arhh!" She threw a pillow across to Ginny and laughed. "God, I'd kill to be able to hear that everyday for the rest of my life..."

"But you can..."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." She smiled. "Wow..."

"What?" Ginny's eyebrows knitted together, confused.

"You like his voice too? I mean, I'd have thought you would have yelled at me!"

"Well, yeah, it has potential, and he probably uses it on you which is annoying. But I mean, if you think about it, a student dating a teacher is kind of like a porn movie plot isn't it? With that kind of gossip and you think I'd be bothered with the fact that you get horny from his voice?"

"Ginny!" Hermione stared at her friend, mortified.

"Oh come off it, I know you feel stuff like that, we all do. I mean, you lost your virginity to my brother and vice versa..."

Hermione stared at her, mortified. "How in the name of GOD do you know that?! I thought that was just between me and Ron..."

"Don't get mad at him, he stupidly told Fred, Fred told George - naturally - he told me" She sighed dramatically. "-and so the circle of life is complete."

There was a knock on the door, both girls jumped. "Ginny! Mione! You in there? Ginny, you came up here an hour ago! Come on, the Quidditch supply store is open!" Ron's deep voice echoed through the room, and Ginny squealed with delight.

"Wait 'till I tell him, he'll be so pleased! He does love you, you know. At least I think he does. But he wants you to be happy..."

"No! Please, don't tell him. He'd yell at me. And you, and probably Harry too."

Ginny bristled. "Harry knows...why didn't he tell me? Oh, never mind. I guess we have to go. You should tell Ron you know."

"Yeah, I will...just in my own time."