I would just like to say that although I love J.K. Rowling and all of her characters, imagery, storylines and the such, they have never been mine and will never be mine. Rowling has just given me a push to explore my own imagination.

A/N: Oh, the drama...it's killing me...what will happen? Sorry you'll have to wait. I had to quit writing in order to pick my sister upfrom work. I decided to try and get these chapters in beforeIleft to keep y'all busy while I work on the next one. Don't shoot me, please!

Chapter 5: The Confession

The conversation at the breakfast table was nothing more than idle banter. They discussed what they thought the next school term would be like, the wonderful weather outside, and the dejected looks the boys had as they left the house to de-gnome the garden. All mention of the events of the past year carefully avoided.

Finally, as the girls had finished their meal and helped Mrs. Weasley clear the table, she shooed them out of the house. As they exited the kitchen door, they saw the boys exasperatingly flinging gnomes over the garden fence, only to have them run right back.

"Oh bloody hell, this is going to take ages!" Ron angrily cursed. His face was even redder than his hair and sweat was steadily dripping down his forehead. Harry wasn't fairing any better. Ginny snickered as the gnome Harry had just thrown over the fence hurriedly crept back under.

"What are you laughing at?" he angrily spat at her.

"Harry Potter!" Hermione scolded him. He gave her a disgusted look as he turned to grab the gnome who had just kicked him in his ankle as it ran past.

"Well, I'd like to see you girls do any better," Ron sighed.

"I wouldn't want to take away any of the fun you're having," Ginny said, failing miserably to hide the smile creeping over her lips.

He squinched up his face and shot out his tongue. As the girls walked away, Ginny called over her shoulder, "Ron, you'd better not spend too much time with those gnomes. You're beginning to look like one!"

"Oi, what a bloody prat," Ron mumbled as he turned back to his tedious chore.

They walked along in silence for a while when Hermione finally broke it. "Ginny, where did you run off to yesterday?"

"Oh, it's just some place I found a few years ago. I had run off after a fight the twins and I had gotten into. They had tried out a new invention in my room. It backfired, exploding in my face and singeing off my eyebrows. We got into quite a row and all they could do was make fun of my non-existent eyebrows. It took weeks for them to grow back properly. I'm surprised they never told you about it. They were quite proud of themselves. I go there to clear my thoughts and think about things."

"Does anyone else know about it?"

"Well, I suspect mum does. She knows everything that goes on around here. As far as I can tell, nobody else does."

Hermione stopped and turned to Ginny. "Will you take me there?"

"Well…" she replied with a devilish grin plastered over her face. "I don't know, it's sort of a secret." She knew full well she would take her there. She would take Hermione anywhere just to spend a few moments in her presence.

"Oh come on," Hermione squealed as she playfully shoved Ginny's shoulder.

"Well, I suppose I could, but only if you swear to keep it a secret."

"I swear, not a word. I promise!" Hermione exclaimed gleefully as she clapped her hands together.

Pretending to ponder over it for a minute as she acted like she was changing her mind, Ginny used those spare seconds to admire Hermione's beauty. Hermione had really grown out of that clumsy adolescence all children are plagued with. Her skin was unmarringly smooth. She had beautiful brown doe eyes that gave away her every emotion, and her hair had lost some of its bushiness. It was much more manageable now. She was growing into a very breathtakingly gorgeous young woman. Every time I look at her she grows more beautiful, Ginny thought blissfully.

"What are you waiting for?" Hermione asked disturbing her thoughts.

"Just waiting to see how long it would take you to say something," she quickly covered up. "Follow me!" Off she ran, hair flying behind her.

"Ginny Weasley, you're completely incorrigible sometimes!" Hermione yelled as she gave chase.

As they approached the small clearing both girls slowed to a stop next to each other to catch their breath. When Hermione could finally speak she exclaimed, "My Ginny, I see why you come here. It's absolutely breathtaking!"

Ginny thought, it's nothing compared to you. The clearing was surrounded by voluminous oak trees, bushes dotting the ground here and there. A few rose bushes grew wild by the edge of the bubbling stream. Birds were merrily singing a chorus to each other as squirrels ran about collecting their winter stores.

Both girls slowly walked to the edge of the stream silently taking off their shoes and socks and sitting down to let their feet plunge into the refreshing water. Ginny thought, I should tell her now about everything I'm feeling. What if she doesn't feel the same? She probably doesn't, I'm sure of it. What if it makes things awkward? What if she's disgusted with me? No, Ginny Weasley, she would never be like that. She's not that judgmental of people. She has put up with Ron for all these years. I should just do it, she deserves to know. She's concerned about me, she cares. She won't treat me any differently, I know it. If she doesn't feel the same way about me I don't think it will really change anything. I'm not really sure myself, of what I'm feeling. Ginny finally decided to tell her before she completely lost her nerve, resigned to the fact that Hermione wouldn't return the feelings.

"Hermione?"

"Hmmm…" she lazily replied, gazing up at the clouds.

"I-I have something I need to tell you."

Hermione turned to her expectantly.

"I don't really know how to say it."

"Ginny, you know you can always tell me anything. I care about you, you don't have to be scared."

"Well," she said heart beating wildly in her chest, "This is kind of hard." Oh just tell her you bloody ass, get it over with she berated herself. "I think…I think I like you Hermione Granger." She held her breath for Hermione's reply.

"I like you too Ginny. You're great fun to be around and much better company than Harry or even Ron sometimes. You're probably my best friend."

What, Ginny thought. For being so smart, she's a bloody idiot sometimes. She doesn't get it? She slowly let out her breath.

Ginny looked down at her lap and began to fiddle with the hem of her skirt. "I don't mean as friends. Hermione, I'm so confused, I think I want you to be more than just my friend." She was scared to look up at the girl's face.

Hermione placed her hand gently on Ginny's shoulder and asked, "What do you mean?"

Bloody hell, Ginny thought, how bloody clear do I have to make this? It's hard enough already. She could feel the tears damning up as she looked into Hermione's eyes. "I think I'm developing feelings for you Hermione. Stronger than any I've ever felt for Harry," she said, voice breaking to barely a whisper. Then the tears broke through and began to fall to her lap.