That year, Mrs. Weasley invited both Harry and Hermione to the Burrow for Christmas, since Percy, Fred, and George had all moved out. It was the first year any of them had actually left Hogwarts for Christmas, since Harry wasn't about to go back to the Dursleys', the Weasleys preferred to stay at school where it was less crowded, and Hermione always stayed because her friends stayed.

Despite having an empty room, – Percy's old room had been converted into a study (which had basically involved removing the bed) in an attempt to distance the Weasleys from his memory – Harry still decided to share a room with Ron, saying that the twins probably had their old bedroom booby trapped (which was probably true) and Hermione opted to stay in Ginny's room for the same reason.

They ate dinner early on Christmas Eve and the four children went straight to bed instead of staying up talking or playing wizard chess or whatever like they usually did.

Sometime during the night, it began to snow – fat, white flakes falling from the velvety black sky to coat the earth in white and in the morning, after opening their presents and eating a quick breakfast, the four children ran outside for a snowball fight.

Teaming up boys against girls, they spent hours charming wads of wet snow to fly through the air at each other until Mrs. Weasley called them inside for a small lunch. As they ate lunch, Fred and George arrived with more gifts and Charlie showed up a few minutes later.

After they finished eating, the seven children when outside again for a game of quidditch. They even let Ginny play, after a little persuasion from Hermione (who had volunteered to referee).

Ginny couldn't help grinning smugly Charlie expressed his amazement at her skill, commenting that he hadn't even known she could fly a broom. Another time she might have been insulted by that, but just then she wasn't in the mood to be insulted.

Bill arrived with his girlfriend, Fleur, and joined them for the second game. Fleur stood on the ground, watching.

Ginny did her best not to be distracted by the two beautiful girls watching their game, doing a somewhat better job than her brothers.

By the time they came inside, it was getting dark out and Mrs. Weasley had finished making dinner.

Ginny found herself sandwiched between Hermione and Fleur and she couldn't decide if she was glad or not. Part of her was thrilled to be sitting between two lovely girls, but they were also a reminder of what she was and she was terrified that she would do something to give herself away.

She felt like she was sitting at a table of unsuspecting muggles or something, trying desperately to hide that she was a witch, but not sure how. Only she wasn't trying to conceal that she was a witch, but something worse, much worse. That she was lesbian.

No, she shouldn't think about that. If she did, someone would notice how distracted she was for sure, and she really didn't want to deal with that.

After dessert, they opened her brothers' presents and then Ginny excused herself and went up to bed. She didn't really want to be around anyone anymore. Their innocent talk, which seemed to focus on who was dating who and who the hottest celebrities were made her decidedly uncomfortable. And then Charlie had asked her if she was still dating Michael Corner. She had told him as nonchalantly as she could that no, she had dumped him and no, she didn't have another boyfriend yet and the discussion had moved on, but she had been left feeling very much like an outsider.

Now she lay on her bed, facing the wall, not quite crying, and wondering what was wrong with her. Why she couldn't just be normal, like everyone else.

She was so absorbed in her depression that she didn't even notice when the door opened. She jumped when she felt a hand on her hip and rolled over to see Fleur sitting delicately on the edge of her bed.

"What–"

Fleur put a finger to Ginny's lips, silencing her.

"It's okay," Fleur whispered. Her time with Bill had lightened her French accent, though it was still here.

Ginny blinked at the girl in confusion, trying her best to ignore her pale ivory skin, ice blue eyes, the silken waterfall of platinum blond hair spilling gracefully over her perfect, delicate shoulders. Tried to focus her gaze on that beautiful face and not her plunging neckline and those full, soft breasts. Tried not to loose herself in those enchanting, hypnotic blue eyes or the soft, shiny pinkness of her small lips.

Her nose. If Ginny could just focus on her beautiful, small, proud nose...

Fleur leaned forwards and kissed her. Soft lips, gentle. So gentle.

Smiling, Fleur sat back and brushed her long, graceful fingers across Ginny's cheek.

"I know and it's okay," Fleur whispered again, and gently murmured a sleeping spell in Ginny's ear.



When Ginny woke, it was morning and Fleur was gone. Hermione lay sleeping in the cot next to Ginny's bed.

Ginny closed her eyes, remembering Fleur. She didn't want to think about why Fleur had kissed her. She just wanted to savor the memory for as long as she could.

Rolling over, she noticed a bag beside her pillow. Glancing over at Hermione to make sure the girl was still sleeping; she sat up and opened it.

Inside she found a book and a note. She read the note first.

I did not want to give you this in front of your parents, but I think that you would like it. I know you like Hermione. I could see the way you looked at her two years ago and I can see it every time someone mentions her when you are around. I've noticed the way you look at me and at her and it's okay. You are okay. I am not very good at saying things, I am better at doing things. I love your brother Bill very much, but that does not mean I cannot see how beautiful you are and I just wanted to tell you that it's okay.
As I said, I'm not very good with words.

Fleur

Ginny read the note twice, not sure what to think. How could it be okay? And what did Fleur want her to do now? Putting those questions aside, Ginny looked at the book.

The cover was almost exactly like that of the books her mother bought her that she hated so much, with one difference. Instead of having a boy and girl, the cover depicted two young girls dressed in school robes and smiling lovingly at each other.

Ginny looked over her shoulder to check that Hermione was still asleep, then opened the book and started reading.

Ginny jumped at a movement behind her. She hurriedly shoved the book under her pillow and looked over to see Hermione sitting up and rubbing her eyes blearily.

"'Morning Ginny," the witch said, yawning.

Ginny smiled, suppressing her annoyance at having been interrupted in her reading, which surprised her. She was usually glad of an interruption when she was reading.

"'Morning Hermione."

The two girls pulled on their clothes and went downstairs for breakfast. Her mother was already up and bustling about the kitchen, but the boys were still in bed, as usual. Ginny absently watched Hermione over her breakfast, noticing, not for the first time, how methodically she ate. First she ate her pancakes, then her toast, then her bacon, and finally she drank her milk. Ginny tended to just eat whatever happened to be closest to her fork.

By the time Ron and Harry stumbled sleepily downstairs, Hermione and Ginny were already finished with breakfast.

"Wanna go for a fly while Harry and Ron eat?" Ginny suggested.

Hermione nodded. "Sure."

Outside the air was cool. The two girls flew high over the trees and the Burrow, reveling in the feeling of the wind blowing through their hair.

Ginny tried not to think about Fleur and the book and instead found herself watching Hermione. The girl's flying skills had improved with practice, though she would never be a champion quidditch player or anything.

Still, it made Ginny proud to know that it had been her, and only her, who could persuade Hermione to try flying and selfishly pleased to know that Hermione still refused to go flying with anyone other than Ginny.

After a while, Harry and Ron came outside with their brooms and joined them in the sky.



On the last night before they returned to Hogwarts Ginny lay awake for a long time. She didn't want to go back to school, didn't want to give up the time she had with Hermione. Didn't want to give up going to sleep in the bed next to her.

When she thought Hermione was sleeping, she sat up on her elbow and studied Hermione's face. She was beautiful, so much more beautiful than Ginny with her freckles and ugly, red hair and too-long limbs and tiny breasts.

Suddenly Ginny didn't want to lie to Hermione any more. She wanted to tell her that she loved her. More than anything else in the world, she wanted to tell Hermione that she loved the brown-haired witch and just then, she didn't care what Hermione thought or how much she hated Ginny because of it. She just wanted to get it off her chest.

But Hermione was sleeping, and anyway, Ginny wasn't even sure how she would tell her. What would she say? How could she put the thoughts and feelings that had been consuming her for so long into words that the other witch might understand? She had no idea.

She watched Hermione for a long time before rolling over and falling into an uneasy sleep.

Classes started and once again, Ginny would go to Hermione for help with her homework. But she found that she could no longer focus on her school work. She still wanted to tell Hermione she was lesbian. She wanted to tell everyone, anyone... just to get it off her chest.

And she was beginning to hope that maybe, just maybe, someone else might understand and not hate her. After all, Fleur had hardly hated her for it, had hardly thought it was wrong or perverted or evil. And the book Fleur had given her was proof that she couldn't be the only one who felt like this, that someone was actually comfortable enough with it to write about it and that more people were comfortable enough with their sexualities to buy the book. Which meant that it couldn't be all that bad, could it?

Not to mention that Anna, the main character, seemed to be feeling almost exactly the same things Ginny was feeling. The same confusion and longing and shame and despair. The same desire to tell someone, the same uncertainty of how they would take it, the same fear of rejection, and the same uncertainty of how to say it even if she did decide to tell anyone.

Ginny sat in the library next to Hermione, trying to focus on what the girl was saying but distracted with wondering how she could Hermione she was lesbian. What would the girl think if she knew Ginny was lesbian? What would she say, how would she feel? What would her response be?

For a moment, Ginny considered just saying it, here and now. 'Hermione, I'm lesbian.' Would she stare in horror? Would she run away? Would she smile and shrug and say okay? Ginny found herself forming the words silently on her lips, as inconspicuously as she could. I'm lesbian. I love you. I love you.

"Are you even listening to me?" Hermione asked in annoyance, jolting her back to the real world.

"What? Er... yeah..."

Hermione looked unconvinced. "Are you sure you're feeling alright? You've been acting weirdly for weeks. Is there anything you want to talk about?"

Ginny tensed. This was her chance, her chance to just tell the girl and get it off her chest. She had to say it. She was thinking it, screaming it inside her head. I'm lesbian, Hermione, and I love you!

"I... uh... nothing. I'm just a little... stressed. That's all," Ginny muttered, silently cursing herself for chickening out.

Hermione gave her a worried look. "Alright then. Maybe we should take a break. This assignment isn't due for another week, anyway."

Ginny nodded and grabbed her books, walking back to her dormitory and silently cursing herself. Why couldn't she just say it? It wasn't hard. Three little words. I am lesbian. Not hard. But she couldn't say it.

A/N: Kashiaga: yeah, the last chapter was kinda short, but I think this one's a bit longer. Orange: cete, slashiness, and really bad eggs!! Whee!! (I'm almost done w/ RJL...)