A.N. The long awaited party chapter. It seems to be very long by my standards so I hope it was worth the wait. I think it will explain quite a lot.

The music was loud and rhythmic and hundreds of people were packed onto the dark dance floor. The group looked at Sam, obviously impressed. Most of the group headed off, either to the dance floor or the bar. Hermione, however, caught sight of Samantha leading Ginny over to a dark corner. She turned away and followed Ron to get some drinks. Tonight, she wanted to get trashed.

Samantha pushed Ginny against the wall and crushed their mouths together in a painful kiss. Ginny flinched and tried to push her away. When her eyes opened, Sam looked angry; she tried to push herself onto Ginny again.

'Hey! What are you doing?!'

Sam growled when she again felt Ginny forcing her away.

'I would've thought that was obvious' whispered Sam, trying to nibble Ginny's ear.

Ginny flinched again, moving away from her touch. Samantha glared at Ginny, anger and confusion obvious in her eyes.

'Hey, calm down.' Said Ginny, trying not to start a fight.

'Calm down? What the fuck is going on?! I try to kiss you, MY GIRLFRIEND, and you PUSH ME AWAY!' Samantha was practically screaming but few people noticed: it was still quiet compared to the music. 'AND YOU TELL ME TO BE FUCKING CALM!!'

She slammed her hand against the wall with so much force that is visibly shook. She dropped her head but rage seemed to be bubbling out of her. Her breathing was strained, heavy and fast like she was panicking. Some people were starting to look at her. Ginny certainly was: Samantha's hand had missed her face by less than half an inch.

'Sam,' Ginny's voice was quiet and nervous, 'Honey, y...you're scaring me.'

Her head snapped up at this and she looked deep into Ginny's eyes. The Ginny raised a trembling hand and placed it gently against the other girl's cheek. Sam closed her eyes and her breathing started to relax. After a few moments, she opened her eyes, looking perfectly calm.

'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…' Ginny shifted nervously as she spoke, not meeting Samantha's gaze.

Sam pressed a finger against Ginny's lips, quickly replacing it with her lips and snaking her arms around the girl's waist. This time Ginny didn't stop her.

Hermione was doing well in her attempt to get trashed. Judging by the bar top in front of her (and her rather unhelpful memory of events) she'd had between 5 and 7 shots of vodka washed down with a few beers. Ron was sitting next to her. He had been giggling for at least half an hour and she was starting to get a headache.

The girl behind the bar came over and started clearing away glasses and bottles. Ron was grinning inanely at her. She just rolled her eyes.

'He yours?' She asked, eyeing Ron with disdain.

'God I hope not' replied Hermione, laughing a little. 'I'm not that drunk am I?'

The girl just glanced at the glasses in front of her and raised an eyebrow. Hermione looked at her sternly before they both burst into laughter. Ron, in his confusion at the situation, seemed to have gone cross eyed and turned away muttering something about fire whiskey. Both girls grinned.

'I'm Kit' said the girl, extending her hand.

'Hermione.' she replied, accepting it. 'And the idiot there is Ron'

Ron muttered a few four-letter words and went back to his beer.

'What's his problem?' Kit asked jokingly.

'I just made the mistake of introducing him to vodka. I think he's gonna hate me in the morning.'

'I'm sure he will'

They both laughed again. Kit smiled and then looked nervous.

'So…umm…' Kit started, 'I get off work in a few minutes…and…ummm…do you want to dance with me?'

'Sure'

Kit tucked some hair behind her ear and smiled.

'I'll be back in a minute.'

She went over to the other end of the bar and started clearing away yet more glasses. Ron turned round and looked suspiciously at Hermione.

'Were you just…' he said, seemingly confusing himself in the process.

'What?'

'Were you flirting with her?'

'What!?' she choked, turning bright red in the process. 'No…erm…no. You're just drunk'

Ron seemed satisfied with this and turned back to his beer.

Ginny was heading over to the bar. Samantha had seen some friends and had left Ginny to go and get herself a drink or two. She was making her way through the crowd when she saw Hermione, leaning against the bar, beer in hand. She smiled and ran over.

'Hey, where's Sam?' Hermione asked, slurring slightly.

'Talking to friends. I just came to get a drink but I see you've beaten me to it'

Hermione smiled lopsidedly and tried to take a swig of her beer. She soon found that something was stopping her and, when she looked, she found Ginny holding onto the bottle. She pulled the bottle away from Hermione and downed it.

'You guys do love to party' came a voice from behind Ginny.

She span around and came face to face with a tall brunette. She looked about nineteen or twenty and stood a couple of inches taller than Ginny. She wasn't skinny but she was athletically built, something that, if Ginny was truthful, she found much more attractive. She looked well…hot. Ginny remember she should probably close her mouth before she started drooling on this complete stranger.

'Gin, this is Kit. Kit, this is Ginny.'

'Hi'

'Hi'

'So, Hermione, do you want to go?'

'Yeah. Ginny, do you want to come dance with us'

'No, that's ok. I'd better go find Sam anyway.'

Ginny walked up the stairs to the balcony, where she could have a better view of the dance floor. She'd never seen Hermione dance before; she wasn't going to miss this.

'Who was that?' Kit whispered into Hermione's ear as they walk towards the crowd.

'Ginny? She goes to school with me. She's like my best friend. Or at least she used to be…'

'What happened?'

Hermione paused for a moment, considering what to say. Even she wasn't really sure why they were drifting apart; it wasn't what she had wanted.

'Sam' she finally came out with.

'Oh'

Ginny watched them as they started to dance. Kit was confidant and encouraged Hermione, who seemed quite nervous. She was smiling sheepishly, but even from a distance, Ginny could see that she was enjoying herself.

A new song started with a faster beat. Ginny found her self-questioning why the couple were dancing so close. She was analysing every movement and every touch as if she were suspicious of Kit's actions. Which, in truth she was. She felt she ought to be protecting Hermione from this stranger she was dancing with.

Hermione looked down towards her feet as the song ended. She was exhausted but also having a great time. She loved dancing with Kit; she felt she could let herself go and finally get close to someone. She heard the music start up again and suddenly became quite shy: it was a slow song. She felt Kit step a little closer to her and decided to look up. Kit was smiling at her. It was a gentle, kind smile and it made Hermione glow inside.

Kit moved slowly, looking at her the entire time to make sure it was ok. She placed a gentle hand on Hermione's waist and, slowly, the girl put her arms around Kit's neck. They started to dance slowly, staring into each other's eyes. Kit moved a little closer, searching Hermione's eyes to make sure it wasn't a mistake. She brushed her lips gently against Hermione's. It was gentle and chaste but for both it was magical. Kit drew back and smiled shyly, tucking strands of hair behind her ear, and looked back towards Hermione. She ventured another kiss.

Ginny's mind was racing, trying to process what she had just seen. She kept coming back to one thing: Hermione was gay. She felt hurt but wasn't quite sure why.

Sam was watching as she approached Ginny on the balcony. She seemed upset and Sam was sure she could see a tear rolling down her cheek. She walked over and put her hand on the girls shoulder. Ginny spun round quickly, surprised.

'It's almost midnight. Do you want to go downstairs for the countdown?'

Ginny nodded and Sam took her hand.

'Two beers' Hermione called over the din.

'Make it four' came a voice from behind her.

The bartender nodded and grabbed the bottles, swapping them for the cash on the bar.

'Hey Gin' Hermione said without even turning round, 'Having fun?'

Ginny shifted uncomfortably as Hermione looked at her.

'Yeah…How about you, you're, um, making friends'

Hermione blushed and looked away. She tried to say something but ended up mumbling incomprehensibly.

'So… you're gay then?'

Hermione looked like a deer caught in headlights.

'No, well, y...yes but…. no' she stopped and looked up at Ginny, 'How?'

'Well, to start, public kissing probably isn't the best way to keep a secret'

'Oh, um'

Hermione couldn't say anything. She just looked at Ginny and felt confused. She had been so sure that Ginny was what she wanted, but now, she wasn't so sure. She really liked Kit, that much she had figured out, but where did that leave Ginny?

Ginny grabbed the bottles and said goodbye as Kit approached.

'You like her, don't you.'

'What?' Hermione looked up, surprised and confused.

'Ginny, you like her. That's what happened with you two isn't it.'

'Um,' Hermione looked at her feet, 'Yeah' She looked up, her expression sad.

Kit pulled her into a hug. It was all she could do. She felt Hermione start to cry.

'You've got to tell her.'

As Hermione looked up, the countdown started. She saw Ginny and Sam across the room and felt a familiar sickness. She leant her head against Kit's shoulder and sighed, wrapping her arms around Kit's waist.

'Ten'

'Do I still get a New Years kiss?' Hermione smirked, 'Coz you know I'd feel like such a loser if I didn't.'

'Nine'

Kit looked Hermione in the eyes.

'Eight'

'You wouldn't mind?'

'Seven'

Hermione grinned.

'Six'

'Not…'

'Five'

'At…'

'Four'

'All'

'Three'

Kit smiled and stroked Hermione's cheek.

'Two'

'One'

Kit leaned in and kissed Hermione. She glanced up and saw Ginny glaring at her. She moved slowly and whispered into Hermione's ear.

'Happy New Year.'