It was August 21st when Ginny decided if she didn't tell Hermione now she never would. If she did not tell Hermione this summer while she was staying at the Burrow how she felt then the time would pass. Hermione was dating Ron now and their relationship would only grow closer as time went on. If Ginny did not try now it would be too late to make any difference.

Then again, Ginny wasn't sure if she even wanted to tell Hermione. Did she want to break the two of them up? Did she want to put herself on the line and risk her friendship with Hermione? Did she think it would make a difference if she did?

Days passed and Ginny felt tenser and tenser, chances passed by like leaves Ginny failed to catch because she didn't reach out far enough.

Once when they were in the kitchen while they had been cleaning up dinner Hermione started talking about Harry.

"I worry about him." She said. "He thinks he needs to take the whole weight of this on himself, like we can't help him at all."

"It's his hero complex." Ginny said.

Hermione had given one of her 'you know it's not that simple' looks.

"Well, he wants to save people. It's in his nature." Ginny insisted, scrubbing at the plate in her hands harder.

Hermione sighed. "Well, he needs to lean on the people who love him. Like you, you love him."

Right then Ginny had looked up. Hermione's hair looked so dark in the evening light, the setting sun glowing in her hair. Ginny had wanted to tell Hermione that she loved her more, that she liked Harry a lot but Hermione was the one that she really loved.

"Ron is his best friend, and so am I but he's afraid we'll get hurt."

The moment passed and Ginny felt herself looking back at it wishing she had jumped in while it had been there. But it was gone.

"Yes, we got hurt before but so did he." Hermione went on.

Looking down at the plate in her hands, Ginny grit her teeth.

As the days slowly passed Ginny wondered just how long she could last. How long in her life would she be able to go on looking at Hermione? How long would she last as the girl Harry would date if he wasn't the wizarding world's savior? She began to think crazy things like throwing herself at Hermione's feet or just flat out kissing her. She also thought depressing things about being alone all her life or never being able to get over Hermione.

Another time Hermione had flopped down beside Ginny on the couch and rested her head on Ginny's shoulder.

"I can't wait for school to start!"

Feeling the heat of Hermione's face on her skin Ginny couldn't speak. Somehow she managed to control her breathing at least.

"I've finished reading the charms book for next year and it's so fascinating!"

"Uh huh…" was all Ginny could manage.

"It'll also be nice to get away from so much testosterone!" She laughed. "I can't believe you've lived with this many brothers all your life!"

Ginny managed a shaky grin as Hermione started playing with the fabric of Ginny's skirt in an absent manner. She might not have even been aware she was doing it but Ginny was very much aware.

"Still, I'm glad you're here Ginny. I don't know what I would have done this summer without you."

'NOW!' a voice in Ginny's head screamed. "Do it now!'

A shiver ran through her body and Ginny opened her mouth, one second behind Hermione.

"But I am really glad I got to spend the whole summer with Ron too. It's nice to be with him outside of Hogwarts. As much as I like classes its good to focus on just us."

She sighed happily and Ginny shut her mouth. Tears threatened to fill her eyes and she gently pushed Hermione off her shoulder saying she had something to do. Walking out side she leaned against the side of the house and cried. She couldn't believe she was breaking down like this.

On August 28th Ginny finally did it.

They were both alone in the kitchen. Everyone else had gone to bed but the two of them had stayed up trying to make Crookshanks come inside for the night. Hermione was at the back door yelling at the cat which could be seen at the edge of their yard.

"Come on back! I don't want to stand here all night." She called.

Blood was rushing in Ginny's ears as she stood behind Hermione. She had to tell her now. She would have no other chance. Placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder Ginny slowly turned her around. Hermione looked at her with beautiful, questioning eyes.

"Um… Her… Hermione?" Ginny started. "I have something to tell you."

"Ok." Hermione said, looking straight at her.

There was no suspicion or worry in her look at all. Ginny realized then that Hermione really trusted her. Looking at her long face framed by bushy hair the fear melted out of Ginny. This was Hermione and what ever happened would happen.

"I should have told you this a long time ago, maybe it would have been easier then but I have to tell you. It's not fair for me not to tell you. I know you are dating my brother and I think you probably love him. I'm not trying to take you away from him I'm just telling you. I have to tell you because you deserve to know and I have to get it out." She took a breath. "I like you, Hermione and not in a friend way. I like the way you walk, how you look in your sun dresses, the way your hair tries to take over your face sometimes, your lips, how you can be so critical and rigid to decorum but also so rash and daring. I don't just like you, no, I love you Hermione. And that's it."

Ginny couldn't believe she said it all but she had. The two girls stared at each other now in silence. Somehow Ginny managed to hold Hermione's gaze. At first she just stared in the way she did when she was thinking very hard. When Ginny had first started talking Hermione's eyes had widened in surprise then they became thoughtful.

"Ginny…" she said. "I… I didn't know."

"I know." Ginny replied. "I'm sorry if this makes things awkward now, but… I had to."

The other girl nodded and put her had on the door frame. Ginny didn't know if it was to steady herself or not.

"Maybe telling you will help me get over it." Ginny forced out even though she didn't believe it.

Hermione looked away at the dark room then back to Ginny.

"Ginny, I'm sorry. I love Ron."

Ginny hadn't been expecting a proclamation of love or a passionate kiss but hearing those words made the world swim before her eyes. She wanted to fall over, lie on the floor and disappear into it. She wanted to run away and cry and never see either of them again. She hadn't been expecting to win Hermione but perhaps she had hoped for it. Swallowing hard Ginny nodded realizing that the tears were trying to escape.

"I really am sorry Ginny." Hermione said. "I do care for you, you're a great friend and you know that, but… I like Ron, I want to date Ron."

"I know…" Ginny somehow said, a slight quiver to her words. "I didn't expect you to change because I said that."

"I'm sorry." Hermione said again.

"You can stop saying that." Ginny said with a bit of a laugh.

The elder girl smiled and nodded. She glanced down as Crookshanks came in the door. The cat looked up at them briefly then bounded into the house with his tail in the air. They both watched him go then looked back to each other.

"Well," said Hermione. "I guess I'll just go up to bed then."

Ginny nodded and Hermione walked past her through the kitchen.

"Are you coming?" She asked as she reached the foot of the stairs.

Without turning around Ginny answered, "I'll be up later."

She listened to Hermione's feet retreat up the stairs. As soon as she heard the door click upstairs Ginny's legs gave way and she slumped to the floor. She let herself fall all the way so she was lying on her back on the cool floor.

She'd done it. She'd told Hermione that she loved her. Now Ginny was alone on the floor. Tears leaked silently out of her eyes into paths down the edge of her face and to the floor. The ceiling was dark with a few cracks for Ginny to stare at. Things were going to be different now.

Ginny didn't know if she had done the right thing but it was too late now.

The End