Hermione was already there when Ginny arrived in the library. They were the only two there, other than Madame Pince. Hermione was sitting by the window and Ginny paused to look at her. She was truly beautiful with her long, wild, curly, mouse brown falling loose over her shoulders, chewing her lower lip slightly as she focused her book, her eyes narrowed in concentration...

Ginny shook herself out of her reverie before Hermione caught her staring.

Hermione looked up as Ginny sat down across from her.

"Hi. Got much homework?"

Ginny shook her head. "Just a little potions work. You?"

Hermione laughed. "Oh, I'm already finished with all my homework."

It didn't take them long to finish Ginny's work and when it was done, they decided to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.

It had snowed the previous night and a light dust of white powder covered the earth. The air was cold and fresh and the sky was clear blue.

They walked together around the lake and Ginny had to resist the temptation slip her arm around Hermione's waist or to take the witch's hand or something equally incriminating.

"So," Hermione began awkwardly after a few minutes of walking in silence. "Do you want to tell me what happened yesterday?"

Ginny laughed nervously. "You're still going on about that?"

"You looked really upset and I have no idea why."

Ginny looked away. What was she going to tell Hermione?

I overheard some Slytherin girls making fun of some other Slytherin girls by calling them lesbian and I got really upset because I'm lesbian so I went up to my dormitory and threw a fit.

It seemed so silly now, not to mention that explaining what was wrong would involve admitting to Hermione that she was lesbian, which she wasn't about to do. If she herself couldn't accept that part of who she was, how could she expect someone else to?

So Ginny shrugged. "It was nothing. I just got a little... upset."

"I could see that. And it must have been something to have you so upset."

Ginny sighed. "I guess... I've just been a little moody lately. It really isn't that important."

Hermione shrugged. "Okay then. Just remember that you can always talk to me."

Ginny nodded. "Hey, you want to go for a fly?"

Hermione shook her head. "No... I don't really like flying very much..."

Ginny laughed. "Why not? It's fun. You aren't afraid of heights, are you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No... It's just..."

"Then come on. No one else is around. I'll help you out. It'll be fun." Ginny gave her a pleading look.

Hermione laughed and muttered something about 'famous last words,' but she nodded her agreement and Ginny grabbed her hand, dragging her towards the castle to go get their brooms.

A few minutes later, they were both standing outside again, brooms in hand. Ginny waited for Hermione to mount before kicking off. Hermione followed her into the sky, knuckles white from her grip on the broom.

Ginny flew slowly at first, letting Hermione relax and get used to flying. It was obvious that she didn't fly very often, but Ginny already knew that. When Hermione seemed to have relaxed somewhat, Ginny sped up a little. Hermione followed a few feet behind her, mimicking her movements. Ginny looked over her shoulder at Hermione and smiled at the sight of the girl's flushed, smiling face.

"See, this isn't so bad, is it?" Ginny called back to her and was rewarded with a giddy laugh.

Ginny swerved to the left, then the right, flying higher, then lower with Hermione following the every curve and dip of her flight. Nothing fancy, just simple stuff a first year could do. But having Hermione there, following her and for once in her life actually enjoying flying made it as exhilarating and exiting exciting as if she had been doing the Wronski Feint.

By the time they landed, laughing and rosy-cheeked, the sun was just setting, staining the sky red and orange.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Hermione breathed.

Ginny nodded.

Hermione glanced at her. "It's almost the color of you hair," she joked.

Ginny giggled. "Come on. Let's go inside before we freeze to death."

Ron and Harry looked up from a game of wizard chess as the two of them entered the common room.

"Where've you been?" Ron asked.

"Flying," Ginny replied easily.

Harry blinked at her in amazement. "Flying? You actually got Hermione to go flying?"

Ginny nodded smugly.

Harry and Ron turned to Hermione, who shrugged, kissed Harry good-night, and went up to bed.

Still smiling, Ginny seated herself in one of the chairs and picked up Hogwarts a History.

Thanks to everyone who commented.
Steelsheen, thanks for reading my stuff. I'm glad you liked my stories, especially since you don't usually read HP (now I really have to read your stories... runs off to do just that). i, no I don't think I'm lesbian. But with luck things will work out for Ginny in the end (unless I loose control of the story and it developes into something completely different from what I've planned, which is entirely possible). Kashiga, here's my update. Hope you like it. And to Orange, thanks a million for being my beta. You know I love you (along with the rest of the cete)...