Chapter 2
September 1st, Kings Cross Station, Platform 9 ¾
Hermione was waiting for her friends very nervously on the platform. She was going over in her mind how to come out to them. But each time she thought about it, she only became more nervous causing the voices inside her head to argue.
'Jeez, why am I so nervous?' She thought to herself.
'Maybe because you're afraid that they will reject you', said another voice in her head.
'They will not,' she argued back. 'They love me'.
'How do you know?'
'Because they're not prejudiced about anything else so why would this matter?'
'Well, they've never stumbled across one of their friends being gay, now have they?'
'Shut up, it's going to work out fine.'
With that, she took a deep breath and sighed. "Well at least I hope it's going to be alright."
"What's going to be alright love?" said a voice behind her.
She jumped then turned around with her wand whipped out, and there was Harry, grinning at his ability to spook the clever witch. She hugged him then playfully smacked his arm saying, "Goodness, Harry you scared the living daylights out of me!"
"Sorry I couldn't resist and your facial expression was well worth the price of a swat. So why are you so jumpy? What's going on in that brilliant head of yours?" said the black haired wizard.
"Well I didn't find it particularly funny" stated Hermione. "I was lost in my thoughts and didn't hear you coming. I was debating on how I'm going to tell you and the others something important."
Ron and Ginny walked up, "What's so important you've got to tell us?" The younger redhead inquired while hugging Hermione.
"I'll tell you in a bit" Hermione said delaying the inevitable. "How was everyone's summer holiday?"
"Well," started Ginny, "it wasn't too bad. The twins moved out and bought their own flat in London so it's nice to have more space in the house plus without their crazy experiments things are a lot quieter. They took us on a nice vacation to Romania to see Charlie, though, so that was nice. You wouldn't believe the amount of money they're making! Soon they're going to have the house remodeled!" she said excitedly.
"I've been writing Lavender Brown and she finally agreed to go out with me. Persistence pays off" Ron said looking quite pleased with himself.
"Wow look at you" Hermione said surprised that the awkward boy got such a pretty girl to go out with him. "How was your summer Harry?"
"It was awful as usual with the Dursley's. Then Dumbledore fetched me to help him with some quest to recruit an old professor to return to Hogwarts. Professor Slughorn is going to be the new defense against the dark arts teacher I think" replied Harry. "Maybe we can finally have one stay. He can't be any worse than Umbridge."
Everyone agreed shuddering from the memory of the previous year. "How was your holiday Hermione?" asked Ginny.
"My summer was lovely. I vacationed in France with my parents, which was wonderful as usual. We got to visit some vineyards and go to the beach along the Mediterranean. The scenery is a great place to finish summer homework in."
"Only you would waste a vacation doing homework" declared Ron. "What a colossal waste of time when you could be ogling topless girls running around the shoreline."
Hermione rolled her eyes at this, "One track mind much Ronald? I don't think your new girlfriend would approve."
Ron scowled at her, "I hate it when you use my full name. You're not my mother or my teacher. As for Lavender what she doesn't know won't hurt her."
Hermione shook her head in disappointment. She glance up at the clock on the platform and said, "Well, let's get our seats before the train leaves without us."
The trio parted ways with Ginny and made their way to the prefects' cabin. Once inside Harry asked, "Well Hermione it's later, so what have you been waiting to tell us?"
"Well since our 'friend' here brought up the topic of women I guess it's a good a place to start as any. Just as you two are attracted to women; so am I"
"So you're saying you're not interested in men? Ron said disbelievingly. "What about Viktor Krum?"
"Oh I just went to the ball with him because I was so ecstatic that someone actually wanted to pay attention to me. I figured I'd give it a go with him to see if I'm really gay but he kissed me once and nothing inside of me responded. He couldn't even pronounce my name correctly. I'm really attracted to men. I look at them like they're art but not art I want to touch. Women strike my fancy. I'm a lesbian."
"Well he must not have been doing it right. Have you ever shagged a guy? How do you know you're gay if you haven't tried it? You're telling me that you have never found me attractive" Ron said incredulously.
"Way to make it all about you" groaned Hermione. "I'm not attracted to you Ron. Just because we have banter doesn't mean I'm flirting with you."
"Whatever. So if you're really gay you would have been checking out the girls at the beach in France" challenged Ron.
"Not that it's any of your business" asserted Hermione, "but yes I did steal some glances of the beautiful women while I was in France. Just because I find them attractive doesn't mean I turn their beauty into objectification like you."
Ron rolled his eyes but before he could respond Harry chimed in. "She's right Ron. You can drop the macho act. Just because we're guys doesn't mean we have to be jerks."
"Thanks Harry. Ron, this wasn't a choice I made. It's just like you don't choose to be straight. The only decision that I have about it is coming out. I would appreciate your support rather than getting interrogated. Please just try to understand where I'm coming from."
"Okay, I get it. So what am I allowed to ask?"
"I'll inform you about what I wish to share but don't think I'm going to check out chicks with you and play the yes, no, maybe game with you."
Ron crossed his arms and began to sulk. "Come on we better do cabin checks and make sure everyone's on the train" Harry said trying to break the tension.
They all agreed and began patrolling through the train's corridor. Once they finished their sweep they took a break and to go visit with Ginny.
"Hey, it took all of you long enough to get here," said Ginny.
Hermione smiled at her impatient crush. "Well you know duty called and we couldn't exactly ignore it."
"Fair enough, here have a chocolate frog, there's plenty to go around" offered the 5th year Weasley.
"So Gin you won't believe what Hermione just told us" proclaimed Ron. "All these years we've had a lesbian hiding under our nose."
"Ron that wasn't your news to share" said Harry sternly. "You don't just get to out people because you feel like it. She trusted us with that information and we shouldn't go sharing it without her permission."
Ginny smacked her brother then went over and hugged Hermione. "That was really rude of my brother but I'm glad we know. I thought you've been acting different for a while. Did you think we were going to reject you for being something you can't control? You could have told me sooner; it's not good to hold stuff like that inside. It hurts you till you almost lose control. Thank you for trusting us and being comfortable to be your true self," she said knowingly.
"Thanks Gin, that means a lot to me."
"Well, you seem to know a lot on the subject," said Ron suspiciously.
"Ron, you should know by now that half of my friends are GLBTQ so I already might know a thing or two about their points of view." Ginny turned to Hermione and asked, "So, do you have a girlfriend yet?"
"No" said Hermione blushing and then looking down at her feet. "I wish though."
"Anyone you have your eye on?" Ginny said with a wink.
"Well sort of, but, I highly doubt that she swings that direction so it's probably a sunken ship already."
"I think you should tell her and get it out there," said Harry.
"I'll think about it. For right now though, I want my sexual orientation to lay low and not be in the center of school gossip if you don't mind."
"All right, fair enough," they agreed
Just then the train pulled to a stop and everyone got off and made their way to the Thestral carriages to face at Hogwarts; their home away from home.