The Secret Heartache of Hermione Granger
Chapter Six
By darthelwig
I don't own the characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling.
This story is rated R.
Hermione found Ginny sitting under a tree on the edge of the property, cleverly concealed by a clump of thick shrubbery. Unfortunately for Ginny, Hermione could always find her, no matter where she tried to hide. It was just another facet to the bond they shared.
Ginny looked up as she approached, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Hermione sat next to her, not touching her yet. Ginny was shaking with emotion, trying to hold in the sobs. Hermione wanted to reach out to her and hold her, to comfort her, but she needed to say this first.
"I've done a lot of thinking, Ginny, and I've made my decision. You were right, you know. I've been afraid to live, afraid to change, afraid to dream. I've been afraid to let go of the past and grasp my future. You were right about everything.
So I've decided. I love Ron. I do. He has always been my dream. I've always felt safe knowing he was there for me, waiting for the opportune moment. He has been my safety net all these years. I treasure him still, yet he doesn't inspire in me the kind of passion that you do.
It's you that understands me and makes me feel. You are my passion. You possess my soul. You are my love and you always will be.
I love you, Ginny Weasley. I will love you well if you'll only give me the chance."
Ginny's tears were flowing freely now, streaming down her face and soaking her shirt. Hermione reached out one shaky hand to touch Ginny's hair, brushing a stray lock of it off her face. Hermione leaned forward and pressed her lips to Ginny's in a soft, hesitant kiss, feather-light and gentle. She could taste the salt of her love's tears on her lips, and her heart broke with the sorrow of having caused them.
"I love you," Ginny whispered, her breath like a warm caress on Hermione's face. Ginny reached up and pulled Hermione into a deep kiss- drinking her, filling her soul with her lover's sweetness. There was no healing more powerful than the love she had fund in Hermione's kiss.
They were too wrapped up in each other to notice the snap of a twig and the soft footsteps which heralded someone's arrival at their private tryst. So there was no warning before they heard a voice that cut through the happiness clouding their senses.
"What in bloody hell are you two doing?"
Ginny's entire body went rigid as she recognized her brother's voice. She stood quickly, nearly knocking Hermione over in the process. For her part, Hermione just sat there in shock, staring up into Ron's enraged face.
"Ginny? Hermione? What is going on?" Ron looked furious, and Ginny didn't blame him. He'd just caught his girlfriend making out with his sister. That had to come as a shock. The look of betrayal on his face, though, was her undoing. She didn't want to hurt him. She'd never wanted to hurt him. She had to make him understand somehow…
"Ron, you've got to-"
I've got to nothing! How long has this been going on? And when were you going to tell me about it?" Ron was shouting at Hermione, whose face was white as death. Her eyes were huge as she looked up at him, visibly shaking as she sat there. A hot flame of anger ignited in Ginny as she watched Hermione take the brunt of Ron's anger.
"This isn't her fault, Ronald, so why don't you shout at me instead?"
"Don't even get me started on you! You're my sister! How could you do this to me? We're family!"
"I didn't do this to you, Ronald. Neither of us did. We love each other." Ginny watched what she had said sink in, watched Ron's anger slowly fade away to be replaced with a heartbreaking sorrow. He looked at Hermione, his eyes shadowed and dark. For a moment Ginny didn't recognize her brother, as his turned his head towards Hermione. For just that split second, he looked older than his years, his face a study in defeat.
"You love her?" he asked softly, his eyes locked on Hermione's. She slowly nodded her head.
"I do. I'm so sorry, Ron," she whispered.
He nodded his head silently, turning away from them both. He began to walk away, but paused when Hermione called out to him.
"Ron, wait!" she said, pulling herself to her feet.
He didn't turn around or look back, but they both heard him clearly.
"Be happy," he said, his voice hoarse. And he walked away.