A/N Here's chapter 5!

Chapter 5

Lions Courage

The bartender noticed a new customer wave him down. He was a bit surprised to see the new customer with the redhead. He couldn't help but ask as he set their drinks in front of them, "You with her?" Hermione nervously nodded to the man. He scoffed, "Didn't think she had any friends…," the bartender rudely trailed off as he walked away to help another customer.

Hermione frowned, "Well, he's charming isn't he," she said, then jokingly raised her glass.

"Not really," Ginny said with a flirty smile as she raised her glass and gently clinked it against Hermione's. The brunette took a drink of her strong but fruity beverage and grimaced a bit, Ginny smiled at her reaction and took a short drink from her fresh beverage. She watched the brunette as she said, "Prince Charming over there doesn't ask questions and he makes good enough drinks. That's all I really need in a man," Ginny joked with a flirtatious smile and a wink.

Hermione laughed louder than she should have and instantly knew it, she shrunk into her seat a bit. It had been so long since she had fun. The redhead paused with slightly widened eyes; she wondered if Hermione was already drunk somehow. Only other drunk people found her jokes that funny. Hermione felt stuck under her inquisitive gaze, speechless. Ginny, being more socially practiced, quickly gave Hermione an understanding smile.

"Cheers," Ginny said as she quickly lifted her drink and then took a sip. Hermione looked to the redhead and a smile grew on her face, she raised her glass and took a drink. Hermione cleared her throat and tried to change the subject, "So you come here often, then?" Hermione asked with a polite smile.

Ginny shrugged and evaded the question, "Sometimes, I usually don't enjoy being alone," the redhead smiled, "But I'm picky about who I spend my time with. I like this muggle bar because it's off the beaten path. Best of all, no one ever finds me here. Ron, especially, doesn't want me going anywhere he hasn't already approved," Ginny continued with a bit of frustration, "If he knew I was going out he might try to get me kicked off the force."

Hermione took another sip of her drink as she listened intently, the music was loud, and it was hard to hear Ginny speak.

Ginny gestured mockingly, "'Too dangerous, you should be setting an example, blah blah blah.' You would think he never broke a rule in his life the way he blathers on." Hermione laughed at Ginny's impression of her brother; the brunette was already glad she chose to come out. She was amazed by what Ginny said, she couldn't believe that she wasn't alone in feeling so alone.

"I'm afraid I do know what you mean," Hermione said with a sheepish smile.

Ginny smiled back, she was enjoying her old friend as her new companion, "Of course, it's easier for Ron. He's not stuck in an empty flat like the rest of us, ya know. He pulled some strings and has Daphne living with him now," Hermione's jaw dropped slightly.

"What?" she asked incredulously.

"Oh yes," Ginny said, "It's some kind of ruse he's got going on," Ginny felt a repressed anger deep within her that made her smile strain as she said, "His whole team is doubling up to 'make it easier on the housing department.' He's only making it easier on himself, if you ask me!" Ginny fumed as she drank more.

Hermione was shocked at the news of Ron's housing "benefits." She didn't know how to begin being angry at him now. Hermione looked to Ginny; the redhead was taking a long drink. Hermione knew Ginny was just as upset as she was, maybe more.

"Codswallop, if you ask me," Hermione said softly with a smile. Ginny stopped to look at the brunette, who was clearly looking at her with concern. She smiled back and lowered her drink, suddenly realizing how much she had already finished. She knew that she needed to drink slower; the redhead had a drinking companion tonight.

Trying to settle Hermione's unease, Ginny lowered her voice and tried to push on in the conversation, "Well, the rest of his team isn't very happy to be forced to live with another teammate. They're stumbling over each other's broomsticks while Ron is 'stumbling' into Daphne Greengrass."

Hermione let out a laugh as her eyes went wide, "Daphne?!… Ron and Daphne Greengrass? What happened to the old 'I'm never going to trust a Slytherin even if they say they are on our side' bit?" the brunette smiled, "I thought he would never get over that!" Ginny joined in and the two laughed.

The two women enjoyed the conversation. Soon they finished their drinks at the same time and Hermione motioned for the bartender to fix them both another round.

After taking a sip from her newest drink, Ginny sighed and shrugged, "I don't know. Daphne joined the Auror's Department a few months ago with Draco, she had Harry's permission. Draco was going to be on my team, but Ron didn't trust him or didn't think I could handle it, maybe. So, Ron re-assigned him to the 'Firecrackers,' George's team. Daphne went to the 'Knights,' Ron's team." Ginny rolled her eyes a bit, "Ron said he 'wanted to keep an eye on her.' I'm sure he does more than eye her," Ginny finished with a sultry wink.

Hermione started to laugh but noticed a strange feeling throughout her body. She steadied herself, she couldn't remember the last time she felt so aroused. Hermione was not used to such a small thing getting such a large reaction from her body. Not really used to her body reacting at all, actually.

'Good thing it's dark in here,' the brunette thought to herself as she took another drink, trying to hide the blush that accompanied Ginny's wink. The red-haired woman watched the brunette slowly pull the drink from her lips, Hermione was deep in thought. Ginny couldn't seem to take her eyes off of the daydreaming book worm.

Suddenly quite thrilled, Ginny put a cigarette between her lips, readied her lighter and loudly began, "So.…,"

Hermione pulled herself from her thoughts as the redhead suddenly leaned in closer than she had been all night. Ginny lit up the cigarette and Hermione saw the flame reflect in Ginny's amber brown eyes. The redhead took a quick drag without breaking the piercing eye contact, "What brings you to this lovely muggle bar tonight, Hermione?"

Hermione's breath caught in her throat, she could only stare back. The way Ginny was sitting accentuated her body, lean and muscular from years of quidditch and physical Auror training. Ginny's amber brown eyes were fixed as she grinned, "You said it's not for the same reason as me, so… what's your story?" Ginny continued with a sexy lift of her eyebrow. Hermione's jaw dropped slightly; she cleared her throat then grabbed a big gulp of her drink.

Unfortunately, she began to choke as her beverage went down the wrong tube. Hermione coughed and Ginny began to lightly thump Hermione on the back. Hermione felt embarrassed but tried to push through, "Just taking a stroll," she said still coughing.

Ginny gave her a slightly suspicious look and waited for Hermione to continue. Hermione took a deep breath and started explaining, "Harry has me so busy, I couldn't handle the isolation anymore. I just left my flat and walked here," Hermione concluded.

"Ah, there it is," Ginny smiled, "You're being overworked, as well. What do they have you doing?"

"I've been working for Kingsley as Assistant Minister, helping run the Department of Experimentation and Development of Magic, kind of, creating new spells and charms every day and I've been assisting every other department with practically anything they come up with. Then, today Harry told me to write a curriculum to train children for war!" Hermione said, exasperated.

Ginny was shocked, "Wait, train children for war? What does that mean?" Hermione took a deep breath to steady herself before continuing.

"Harry asked me to work with Headmistress McGonagall to create an elective class to prepare children to become Aurors almost right out of school," Hermione said.

The redhead stared at the brunette, unable to hide her disappointment. She silently shook her head a bit before taking a slow drink. Hermione watched her and hoped she hadn't made a mistake in telling her about the new class or her role in it.

Ginny let out a sigh and looked up to Hermione before saying, "I miss school."

Hermione frowned, "I do too. This war is preposterous. I mean, look at us. We were best friends. Always together, and I haven't seen you in years. I almost didn't recognize you, the cute little girl from Hogwarts," Hermione said with a smile.

Ginny smiled back quickly before she took another drag from her cigarette. "I'm not the cute little girl I was after Hogwarts anymore, Hermione. We've all been changed by this war," Ginny said with a hollow smile.

Hermione watched the redhead sip her drink, she knew what Ginny had gone through, all the people Ginny had lost. Harry had Hermione analyzing all the captains mission reports for spell development and training improvement, it was one of Hermione's many jobs. She remembered the day she got the report from the FireBreathers mission.

No one told Hermione about Charlie's death, she had to read about it. She was alone in her office when she read, in Ginny's own handwriting, a blow-by-blow description of her brother being murdered before her very eyes. Hermione spent the entire day at her desk, crying at the loss of a valued friend; A man who was almost a brother to her.

Hermione shook herself from the painful memory, it took a moment to remember where she was and what she was doing. She quickly looked up to see Ginny staring into her drink, not moving. Hermione could tell Ginny was stuck in a bad memory as well.

Hermione loudly cleared her throat in an attempt to pull the redhead from her thoughts. Hermione looked into Ginny's eyes and said the first thing that popped into her head, "Well, you may not be little anymore, but you are still cute," Hermione smiled quickly before realizing what she had just said. She picked up her drink and tried to hide behind it, she was definitely getting tipsy.

Ginny was a little stunned but slowly smiled, she chuckled and with a flirtatious tone said, "Well, cute wasn't really what I was going for, but if it got your attention I will take it."

Hermione drunkenly giggled and smiled back, "It would take more than a sexy outfit to get my attention, Ms. Weasley"

Ginny watched the brunette as she smiled and looked away to the flashing jukebox. Ginny quickly leaned closer towards the brunette, Hermione noticed the proximity and looked up to Ginny's face she noticed the sultry look with a blush.

"Ah," Ginny smiled, "You think my outfit is sexy?" Ginny fingered the hem of her jeans which pulled Hermione's attention to the bit of skin between the jeans and tank top. Hermione had a sudden and almost violent urge to touch that skin. She imagined running her tongue over the sensitive flesh as Ginny moaned her name.

Hermione took a few breaths at the uncharacteristic reaction to her old friend. "Yes, if I had to describe your outfit, I do suppose 'sexy' would be among my chosen words," Hermione tried to settle herself, Ginny interrupted,

"Hmm, I wonder how I could get your attention then, if these clothes don't work for you," Ginny continued as she returned to her drink, the redhead tilted the glass up to finish it off with a slight smirk on her face.

Hermione was having trouble breathing at this point and searched for the quickest distraction; She decided on the blaring music from the flashing jukebox.

"How can you handle this music, Ginny? It's so loud and rough! You can't even dance to it!" Hermione pointed out as she slurred her words just a bit, "I was so hoping to dance, a bit," the brunette said with disappointment. Ginny raised an eyebrow in interest and made a drunken decision.

"You want to dance? I know a place we could go to with better music and an actual dance floor."

Hermione only thought about it for a second before deciding that a night hanging out with Ginny sounded more fun than just drinking. "Alright! Lead the way!" Hermione slurred as she downed her drink. Ginny grinned and stood from the barstool, she put out her cigarette and dropped some muggle cash onto the bar then she grasped Hermione's hand.

Hermione soaked in the warmth of Ginny's touch as Ginny led her out the back door of the bar. Hermione looked around at the vacant alley that Ginny had just led her to, noticing how empty it was. Ginny pulled her to the side and put her arms around Hermione's waist.

Hermione froze. She didn't know what to expect, she was in a place she had never been, she was drunk, and she thought her whole body seemed to be coming alive. In a low, quiet voice Ginny said, "Put your arms around my neck. We are going to apparate."

Hermione was stuck in Ginny's gaze. Without thinking, Hermione's arms did what Ginny told her. Hermione felt her heartbeat fast as their bodies were flush against each other. Ginny smiled; Hermione blushed. "Hold on tight," Ginny grinned.

"Wait, wait..," Hermione paused, "Is…. Is it hazardous to apparate in an intoxicated condition?" Hermione asked.

Ginny flashed a rogue smile, "I have a lot of practice, Madam Bookworm. Just hold tight and don't move!"

Hermione silently agreed with a nod and put her head down on Ginny's shoulder. Hermione closed her eyes, held Ginny tight and prayed not to be splinched.

Ginny hugged Hermione's waist tighter and turned on the spot, she immediately felt the tug inside her and the blackness that came with it. In the back of Ginny's mind, she felt Hermione's body against her, joining her in the movement and coming with her.

Ginny couldn't help but enjoy it.

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