The following morning Hermione awoke to rays of sunlight stinging her eyes. She inhaled the gentle scent of vanilla and smiled remembering Ginny's presence. Hermione opened her eyes fully to find a shadowed figure framed by the light. She squinted in hopes of identifying who was watching her, but the sun was simply too intense. Hermione looked away, suddenly realizing that she was wearing Ginny's shirt, entirely unbuttoned, but that was all she was wearing. The rest of her body was being covered by either a blanket or Ginny's own nearly naked body.
Hermione gasped pulling the shirt closed, causing the mystery person to jump pulling the curtain shut. "I'm so sorry! I was about to leave for class. I hadn't heard you all morning. I just wanted o make sure you're alright. I didn't mean to-- I'm sorry! I'm going!" The girl yelled as she clambered to the door, and slammed it shut behind her.
Ginny stirred as Hermione's heart and mind raced. Someone had seen them lying in bed, scantily clad at best, the worst part being Hermione had no idea who. Ginny began kissing Hermione's exposed flesh, but when she finally noticed her lover's complete lack of reaction she pulled back and looked at her worriedly. "What's wrong sweetie?"
Hermione jumped slightly, being previously unaware that Ginny was awake. "Someone was here. They saw us... like this..."
"What? Who was it?" Ginny questioned, suddenly becoming self conscious and curling up to fit most of her body under the blanket.
"I don't know. I couldn't see a face and I wasn't awake enough to recognize the voice. All I know for sure is it was a female who had long hair, but that describes every girl in this dorm and then some." Hermione said dully. She finally met Ginny's eyes. Ginny sighed running a hand through her tangled red hair. After a few moments of quiet contemplation Hermione spoke again. "Time to go." She said pulling on her previously discarded clothing. Ginny looked at her incredulously. "Come on, we've got to hurry." She chided snatching the blanket away from her bed-mate in hopes of finding her red and gold necktie. Ginny quickly snapped to attention and gathered her own clothing.
When Ginny was mostly dressed she asked, "What are we doing?"
"Getting ready for class, we've probably missed breakfast completely..." Hermione answered scurrying around the dormitory.
"Class?" Ginny stopped in the middle of buttoning her shirt. "What are we going to do about the peeper?"
"For the moment, nothing. We'll go to class, continue the day as usual, we can discuss the rest later." Ginny opened her mouth to protest but Hermione quickly covered it with her own. "No arguments, I'm a school prefect." She said ushering the girl out of the room. "You get ready, I'll see if I can scrounge us up some food from the great hall. Meet me down there ASAP " Hermione said striding passed Ginny.
Hermione ran into Harry and Ron on her way down to the great hall. Unsure whether or not to inform them of her predicament, reasonably reluctant to reveal intimate details of her life with Ginny, she chatted idly with them. Soon enough Ginny arrived, slightly out of breath. Hermione had succeeded in her mission to acquire food, noting that it came in handy to have house elves on your side. She shoved a plate at the younger witch. "Take this, eat it on your way to class. I'll see you up in the common room when classes are through."
Seeing all of her favorite foods Ginny took the plate gladly. "What about lunch?"
"I'll be busy with Harry and Ron at lunch. If anything happens you can find us at our usual spot by the lake, but aside from that. I'll see you later."
Ginny was still worried about all that had happened, but it was no use arguing. Hermione was clear that time with Ickle Ronniekins was time without Ginny, and she couldn't endure one of those crushing encounters today. It was clear to Ginny that Hermione did not want to see her during the day. Ginny nodded and began to walk away. Hermione caught her elbow so she turned back to face the older witch. "I will see you later. You'll have a fine day, I know it." Ginny's lips twitched into a slight smile and she nodded once more before setting off for her class.
"What was with her?" Ron asked.
"Dunno. That time of the month maybe." Hermione answered half heartedly as they started toward their first class.
"Ew." Ron replied his face contoured with mild disgust.
Harry nudged him. "Grow up." He knew there was something else going on, but he wouldn't press her. Hermione barely spoke a word during their morning classes, only answering questions if the professor sought her out. By the time lunch came around Harry had worked up he nerve to confront her, but he didn't need to.
"What's gotten into you 'Mione?" Ron blurted out on their was to the lake."What do you mean?" Hermione asked sounding slightly offended.
"You haven't been your loud, know-it-all self. You were so quiet I wasn't sure if you were still breathing."
She knew exactly what he meant, he didn't intend for it to be insulting, but she couldn't deal with telling him the truth, not now. Tears threatened to fall. "So that's what you think of me still? I'm loud and too smart and when I'm not I must be dying? Well Mr. Weasley you have a lot to learn!" She said storming off.
The boys were left staring at each other in slight disbelief. "What did I do?" Ron asked sounding distraught.
"Dunno mate. Listen I better go check on her, will you be alright alone?"
Ron nodded. "I didn't mean anything by it I swear. I was just worried about her." Harry patted Ron on the back consolingly the n jogged after Hermione.
When he caught up to her she was slumped against a tree bawling. He knelt next to her draping his arm over her shoulder. She pulled him closer and sobbed into his chest. When the tears waned Harry finally spoke. "Care to tell me what's wrong?"
"Ron is such a prat..." Hermione started.
Harry rubbed her back soothingly as he spoke into her ear softly. "As true as that is, you've been my best friend for nearly six years, I know it's not what Ron just said that's got you so worked up."
Hermione let out a deep sigh. "It's Ginny." She said weakly. "Something happened this morning... well last night..." She began to sob again. He shushed her lightly, resting his cheek on her head. "We, Ginny and I, we..."
"It's ok, you'll get it out. Try not to get ahead of yourself."
"Last night, Ginny never made it out of my dorm." Hermione lifted her head to see if he understood, then added. "It wasn't like one of our usual sleep overs."
Harry's eyes lit with understanding as he nodded gravely. "Do you regret it?"
Hermione looked momentarily frantic. "No no, nothing like that. It was this morning that was the problem. "Some one opened my curtain and found us together. I'm sure it was a very indecent sight."
"Well who was it?" Harry asked.
"I couldn't see her face. I just know she had long hair and she said she hadn't seen me that morning so she came to check on me. Most likely it was Lavender or Parvati, because it's their room too, but why would either of them check on me? For all I know it could have been Katie Bell, or any of the younger girls I talk to fairly regularly."
"That is a problem isn't it?"
------------After Harry ran off Ron made his way to the Astronomy tower to sulk. He walked passed several couples engaged in questionable activities only to find his favorite spot occupied by another redhead. He plopped himself down next to his sister. "I'm up here because I'm in the dog house, what's your excuse?" Ginny jumped slightly at the intrusion and turned her tear streaked face towards her brother. "You're crying? Why What's wrong? I already made one girl cry today, please tell me I didn't do this." Ron rambled, embracing his sister.
She chuckled lightly and hugged him back. "No it's not you Ron, you narcissist." she mocked.
"Well when you're as handsome and suave as yours truly..." He joked. ginny swatted at him and put his hands up in surrender.
"So what did you do to get yourself in the dog house?"
"I noticed Hermione was acting a little buggy in class so I asked her about it in the incredibly tactful, sensitive way I have."
"Ouch." Ginny winced to emphasize.
"You're telling me. So what did you do?"
Ginny laughed bitterly to herself before answering, "Hermione."
"Excuse me?"
"Hermione and I had a pajama party last night, without the pajamas..." she said fidgeting nervously.
"OH..." Ron looked off into the distance for a long moment. "So shouldn't you be happy and with her instead of up here with only your git of a brother for company?"
"Yes, but there's a catch. Someone found us together this morning. We don't know who and you saw how she was this morning. It was pretty clear she didn't want to see me."
----------"I'm scarred Harry. There's too much I don't know, I feel out of my depth, I've never felt like that before." Hermione admitted. "I don't want this to hurt us, I don't know if I can live with the rumors. I care about Ginny so much. More than Viktor..." Hermione's voice trailed off.
"Or Ron?" Harry offered.
"No." She looked him directly in the eyes. "I love Ron. I definitely do not care about him or you any less than I care about Ginny, it's just differently. You, Ron, Ginny, all the Weasleys really, you mean the world to me."
"I know what you mean. The Weasleys have been nothing but caring since we met them. We wouldn't be as connected to the wizarding world without them."
Hermione nodded her agreement.
"Do you reckon she chose the wrong Weasley?" Ginny asked.
"Yes." Ron answered plainly. "I think a few years ago her and Percy would have made a great couple."
Ginny elbowed him. "Ew! Not only is Percy a terrible ungrateful prat, but that's almost a five year age difference between them!"
Ron laughed at the faces his little sister was making. "I'm not going to lie to you Gin. Life would be a lot easier if it were me and Hermione, but I've seen the two of you together. She's happy. That's something I could never do. You 're the right Weasley, and this is Hermione, do you honestly think she'd make the 'wrong' choice?"
"You do have a point big brother." She sighed deeply then offered her lunch to Ron which he gladly shared with her.
----------"So do you have a plan Miss Granger?" Harry asked as he ate his lunch.
"Not so much, but I do have options." She said finishing her own lunch. "First I should apologize to Ron, he really didn't deserve that. Then I'll have to talk with Ginny."
On their way to their first afternoon class they saw Ron come out of an adjacent hallway, look a them, then walk briskly in the opposite direction. "Oy Ron!" Harry called. Ron stopped and turned sheepishly. Harry and Hermione caught up with him quickly.
"Would you mind giving us a moment?" Hermione asked Harry.
He nodded. "Sure, I'll just see you two in class." Harry gave Ron a reassuring look then walked off.
They stood staring at each other awkwardly for a bit, then Ron spoke. "I know I was out of line--"
"No. You weren't I was. I was under a bit of distress this morning and I took it out on you. You were just trying to be a good friend." Hermione pulled him into a hug.
Ron let his head fall next to her neck as he hugged her back tightly. "I already know all about it."
"How?" Hermione asked, trying to pull away, but he wouldn't let her.
"I ran into Ginny. We had a good chat. I'm still sorry for what I said. I was being a git, I should learn to think before I speak."
"You speak beautifully Ron. It's what makes you who you are. We all know your heart's in the right place, that's what counts." Finally their embrace ended. Hermione took his hand and began pulling him in the direction of their class. Harry was over attentive throughout the rest of their lessons, while Hermione became her usual self, and Ron continued to act slightly sheepish.
When they were done with their classes for the day they retired to the Gryfindor Common Room before dinner. Upon arrival at the fat lady they found Ginny pacing about. "Hey Ginny." Harry said.
Ginny bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment before advancing on Hermione. "I'm sorry, I couldn't wait inside, I didn't want anybody to see me pacing, I just missed you and I got out of class early and I just couldn't wait inside." Ginny said all in one breath.
"That's alright Gin." She said giving Ginny a kiss on the cheek. Ginny beamed.
Ron stood back watching the two girls and had to smile too. "What do you say we go inside and relax for a bit?" He said placing his arms around Hermione and Ginny.
As the four of them stepped through the portrait hole the common room became eerily quiet. This was actually a common occurrence when Harry Potter entered a room, but that all had the distinct feeling this was not about him. They all continued to smile as if they hadn't noticed and found themselves a place to relax.
After Harry and Ron sat Hermione announced, "I'm going to drop some things off in my room, i'll be back down in a bit." Her eyes lingered on Ginny before she left. They all understood that she wanted Ginny to follow her, they just needed to provide a reason for her to.
"Play a quick game of chess Ron?"Harry asked.
"Sounds great, be right back." Ron ran up to their dorm to get their chess pieces and on the way back handed a quill to Ginny. "I almost forgot that I borrowed Hermione's quill earlier. You mind running it up to her while I beat Harry for the third time this week?"
Ginny gave Ron an annoyed look. "You're lucky you have such a kind sister you louse." she said then mouthed a thank you and headed towards the girl's dorm.
As they set us their pieces Harry whispered, "That was brilliant mate."
"Thanks Harry, couldn't have done it without you." Ron replied. They grinned at each other devilishly. It was amazing how well all four of their minds worked together sometimes.
----------Ginny knocked lightly on the door to the sixth year dorms before entering. She went directly to Hermione's bed but it was empty. Behind her the door closed and locked. She turned to see Hermione leaning against it. Both girls started across the room meeting halfway, lips and bodies collided. They moved as one slowly making it to Hermione's bed collapsing onto it before parting. "Does this mean you don't want to stop seeing me?" Ginny said, a slightly cocky tone mixed with her sad questioning one.
"No ginny, I wouldn't dream of breaking up with you." Hermione said kissing her gently. "Last night we took a big step. That was the point of no return for me. Things will never be the same again."
"They never are dear." Ginny said almost longingly.
"From here on out I'm with you, in this relationship, we can't just write it off and go back to being friends." Hermione paused for a moment of reflection before continuing. "The way I see it we have two real options; we could lay low as usual and hope who ever saw will keep it to herself, or we could meet this thing head on. If we don't the rumors will follow us around forever, if we do, it'll be hell but it'll pass."
ginny nodded slowly not yet meeting Hermione's gaze. Then their eyes locked and Ginny looked deep into the older witch and was over come. Tears began to well.
"What's wrong?" Hermione whispered.
"You're right. It will be hell." She reached up and brushed Hermione's hair away from her face. "But I'd go through hell for you."
---------- Author's note: I originally wrote more, but decided to end this chapter here and use the rest for the begining of the next chapter. I also realized that they had lunch outside when logically it should be december already. Sorry. I hope it's not getting too sappy, I wanted to capture the uncertainty in the relationship then show how it disappears. Please read and review.