Okay, I don't own anything in the "Potterverse" as I've already stated in the previous chapters. I'm just a girl with an idea in her head that had to be put to paper...er...computer screen.

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long. Life has been hectic. I have been writing this story in the spare moments I get. I've also, thought up two other stories. One of them I have on here already called The Disappearance. It will be a chaptered fic as well, and the other is a humor one-shot that I'm in the process of writing between this one and the other one. Hopefully it will be up soon. Y'all have been totally awesome, and I'm really sorry I've made you wait so long. The next chapter is almost finished and should be up soon. In the meantime, y'all check out my other fic! Please... I'd really appreciate someopinions on it. I would like to keep going with it, but I don't know if I'm just waisting my time. Thanks for all the kind words, and if you have any advice on something you'd like me to try in this fic, my eyes are open to y'all'ssuggestions. Until next time, enjoy!

Chapter 8: Acceptance

Ginny was quietly sitting in the same spot she had been all afternoon. She hadn't risen since Hermione had left her side. The warm sunlight had dried her tears leaving salty trails down her cheeks. Her eyes still stung, but she expected they would for quite a while. She had never cried that hard in her life. She lost control over her motor functions when she had finally told Hermione how she felt.

It was the most horrific feeling. Breathing had first become a labor, then she felt her throat begin to close. Already crying uncontrollably, she had been unable to even gasp for air. As the last bubbles of oxygen began seeping out of her lungs, she had felt the bile begin to rise from her stomach and burn her throat. She had never felt so completely and utterly out of control. It was as if her fear of Hermione's reaction had solidly formed and completely taken control over her body. She had begun to panic until she had heard Hermione whisper in her ear. The strength in the older girls voice had broken through the fog that had surrounded her mind as she began to lose consciousness. Hermione's voice had driven back her fear and enabled her to think again. She had painfully forced her lungs back to life after they had abandoned her, and begun to breathe once more.

Ginny saw movement out of the corner of her eye and quickly turned her head towards the intrusion. A small squirrel was staring back at her. It had ventured close to her to see if the invader into its home was a threat. Apparently, curiosity sated, it had determined that the young woman was no danger. The squirrel turned from her and climbed upon a fallen tree limb that was resting halfway into the stream.

As she watched it rapidly dipping its forepaws into the water and washing its face, her mind began to wander. The brown eyes the squirrel had used to study her and its flitting bushy brown tail both reminded her of Hermione.

"What do I do now?" she quietly asked the squirrel. It paused from its bath and turned its head to her for a moment. Ginny held her breath, worried that she would scare the little creature away. After a few moments it resumed its bath once again.

She sat there for a few minutes gazing up at the infinite blue sky and was absorbed with her thoughts. I didn't think it was going to be that bloody difficult. I don't know what I was expecting from her. It must have been a terribly odd situation for her to deal with. I do feel better now that she knows, at least I'm not hiding anything from her anymore.

"Maybe I should apologize to her," she said to the passing clouds.

Bollocks Ginny Weasley, you have no reason to apologize. You did nothing wrong, her mind fought back, a little of that Weasley stubbornness coming out.

"Eergh, I'm so stupid sometimes," she blurted out as she pounded her fist into the ground beside her.

Her sudden outburst finally scared her tiny companion away. She watched the tip of its tail fade away under the rose bush growing next to her, and slowly stood up. After putting her shoes and socks on, she studied the wild bush for a moment and turned to leave. Second guessing herself, she turned back around and hurriedly plucked a rose from it.

"Ronald Weasley!" she heard through the old kitchen door of The Burrow. "How many times do I have to tell you to wait until the supper is on the table before touching it?"

Have I really been gone that long? It felt like only minutes since she had opened up to Hermione, not hours.

"But mum, I'm dying of starvation. De-gnoming the garden is hard work. A man builds an appetite."

Ginny opened up the door to see her mother glaring menacingly at Ron, both hands firmly on her hips. Ron had one hand in the cooking pot trying desperately to snatch a small morsel before being driven away, and a battle ready look on his face.

"A man? Oh really Ron, a man wouldn't be caught nicking food out of the pan. A man would have enough manners to eat properly at the table. Honestly, I don't know how Hermione puts up with you!"

Ginny knew if Ron didn't back down he was going to receive a severe thrashing in a moment. Her mother was on the war path. So did Ron, for he immediately backed away and shamefacedly mumbled an incoherent apology under his breath.

At the mention of Hermione's name, Ginny had turned to inspect the room for the whereabouts of the older girl. She found her sitting at the table, next to Harry, reading some ancient tome she had apparently brought with her. Hermione hadn't even looked up from the book as Ron had received the thorough chewing out from his mother.

"Ginny, good, you've returned just in time for supper," her mother said looking very relieved.

Hermione finally took her eyes away from the book long enough to look up, and her eyes locked with Ginny's. For once, Ginny couldn't read the other girl's blank face and she sadly looked away.

"I'm not really feeling well mum. I'm going to pass on supper and go to bed for the night."

Mrs. Weasley, a concerned look clouding over her face asked, "What's wrong love?"

"I think I was just too long in the sun. I've a horrid headache." She wasn't good at lying, especially to her mother, but she thought it would work.

"Okay then dear, but if you need anything just call. I'll send Hermione up with some food later incase you find your appetite."

"Yes mum. Goodnight." I hope I'm asleep before she comes to bed.

When she reached her room she sat down at her desk and took the rose from her pocket. She laid it onthe cluttered mess before herand leaned against the back of the chair slowly closing her eyes. I will apologize to her, but not for the way I feel. She openedher eyes and begansearching for a blank piece of parchment. She spied one under her well worn copy of Quidditch through the Ages and snatched it out from underneath the book. She ignored the book as it fell to the floor, intent upon what she was going to write.

She furrowed her eyebrows and absently ran her fingers through her hair as she carefully contemplatedwhat to say.

Dear Hermione,

I'm not quite sure exactly what I want to say to you other than I apologize for today. I'm not sorry for the way I feel Hermione. You give me something to look forward to when I close my eyes at night. Your feelings, friendship, and most importantly you, are very special to me. I really wanted just to apologize for putting you in that position. I know you love Ron and it was completely presumptuous of me to think you would return my feelings. I hope I haven't made you feel uncomfortable or pushed you from me in any way. Whether you realize it or not, I need your friendship. I'm still me even though you know my innermost secret now. I'm still the same person I was before I told you. I hope you can forgive me and find it in your heart to accept me as I am, feelings and all. They sort of come with the package.

Always,

Ginny

After reading her letter several times she folded it in half and placed it on Hermione's pillow, setting the rose on top of it. I hope the rose isn't too much, she though as she climbed into bed totally exhausted.

Ginny accepted the fact that Hermione didn't feel the same way about her, but she wasn't going to act like she'd never told her. She felt a closeness to Hermione now that she hadn't expected. The older girl knew everything there was to know about her now, inside and out. Nobody else, not even her mother, knew her so completely. She didn't want to act differently around Hermione, she didn't want the friendship that they had to diminish in any way. She wished beyond hope that this event would just bring them closer than they already were. It had hurt at first that Hermione didn't return her feelings, but that pain had faded as she realized Hermione wasn't going anywhere. Ginny knew she may act differently for a little while, Hermione was the kind of person that needed time to process information like this, but she knew in her heart that Hermione would never abandon her. She still cared very deeply for her and still wanted to be a part of Hermione's life, whether it be friend or more. She wondered why she wasn't angry with her, but she knew that it was because there was just something about Hermione that made it so she could never be angry with her. She assumed that she made Hermione feel uncomfortable by revealing all that she did and was angry towards herself for putting anything but laughter on the older girl's face. Little did she know that Hermione was downstairs feeling the same way. At first she thought what she was feeling wasn't right, but that quickly passed. She didn't care if Hermionehad beena boy, or girl, or goblin, or centaur, for that matter, she still loved her and she wasn't afraid to let it be known. Judging from Hermione's reaction, she felt she'd better keep it between herself and the older girl though. Ginny was the type of girl that the things people said and thought about her didn't matter in the least. She'd grown up hearing remarks from people such as Draco Malfoy about her family and herself. It didn't faze her anymore, it had made her a stronger person. That's why she was able to tell Hermione, she felt comfortable enough in her own skin to express who she really was. The Sorting Hat had definitely done justice by Ginny Weasley by putting her in Gryffindor. She was full of self pride, she loved herself for who she was and she had bravery that most people strive for. She wasn't just brave in the fact that she could face dangerous situations, she was also brave in the fact that she could overcome her inner fears and it only made her stronger.

Ginny turned her back to the door, sleep invading her body. The last thing she thought about before she went to sleep was the way she felt about Hermione. Do I really…love…her… Then she was off to visit her dreams. Dreams of one day being able to express her love for Hermione openly.