Chapter 14 – More by Accident than Design
The new year's first Monday had arrived. It had been harder than ever for Hermione to get out of bed and step outside the house to go to work. Her usual morning routine – washing up, a quick breakfast, preparing her lunchbox, walking to the Ministry – was slowly changing into torture.
After she had realized that her job was not making her as happy as she had hoped and that she probably would never reach her goals by constantly ducking her head and filing the same reports over and over again, she seriously considered quitting. The more she thought about the option, the more she had to acknowledge that it was the only right thing to do at the moment. There was nothing about the position that meant something to her at the moment. She wasn't close to her colleagues at all and even Sera could not be considered a friend; her boss preferred to work with Pansy Parkinson, the girl Hermione hated the most, the work was boring as hell, and no one really appreciated her efforts.
Still, there was one problem. Hermione had no idea what she should do instead. If she really was to quit, what would she do afterwards? Where should she go? Having no direction and no tangible options scared her. She reasoned that until she did not have a master plan, it would be best to just bear with the current situation and try to make the best out of it. Money was also an issue. She had some savings but they would allow her to keep her current lifestyle for around five months at best. And she did not want to move back in with her parents, since she had learned to appreciate the independence. Therefore, she would not quit for now. First, she had to find out what to do instead. What she wanted to do instead.
The thought haunted her all the way to work and Hermione wished she could talk to Ginny about it. Talking with her usually calmed her down and let her see things in a more objective way. Unfortunately, she had not been able to see Ginny since their first date. A few days ago, Ginny had sent and owl and explained that she could not meet Hermione until the game against the Montrose Magpies because the captain had them fly a ridiculous amount of extra and individual training sessions.
The thought about her future made Hermione's stomach ache, so she tried to focus on something, or someone else.
She closed her eyes and conjured the image of Ginny in her head. Her girlfriend. It still felt weird to call her that. "Ginny is my girlfriend", Hermione whispered into the cold January air. She couldn't help but smile as she said those words. Just thinking about Ginny chased her concerns away and substituted them with a warm and fuzzy feeling of tentative happiness.
Hermione felt like she slowly began to understand what love was supposed to mean. Thinking about Ron had usually just added to her existing worries, but thinking about Ginny was different in every way. When she was in a relationship with Ron or even with Victor, everything seemed to have happened too fast. She had never really felt ready for things like holding hands or kissing, let alone becoming intimate. But now she longed for the day she could hold Ginny's hand again and every night after their date she had dreamt about what their first kiss would be like.
She had thought of every possible scenario. Kissing Ginny after a quiet dinner, kissing her in the changing rooms at the Quidditch pitch, kissing her in an empty library, kissing her after dancing in the rain, kissing her on a field of flowers and so on. If these imaginations had something in common, it was that they all were incredibly romantic and perfect.
An especially cold breeze hitting her face brought Hermione back into reality. She shivered and crossed her arms over her chest before she increased her pace.
As usual she apparated into the Ministry's atrium where she met Sera. Together they walked towards the elevator as they did every day.
Hermione mustered him carefully as they talked about what they did over the holidays. She now understood why she never found a liking in him. He was good looking, smart and well dressed, but he was a man. He wasn't Ginny.
Then something strange happened. While they were talking, Sera's eyes were trained on the floor, but suddenly, they started to wander. Hermione followed his gaze and her eyes landed on a young wizard's…butt?!
Hold on! Hermione's eyes darted to Sera's face and she could recognize the faintest expression of excitement in his composed features. Was it what she thought it was? Was that the reason he never went out with one of the countless witches who tried to constantly seduce him? Interesting, Hermione thought.
Hermione decided to keep an eye on Sera from now on. Maybe they had more in common than she had assumed.
They entered the elevator with a group of officials and Hermione tried to catch Sera in the act again, but nothing suspicious happened.
"Is there something on my face, Miss Granger?", he suddenly asked.
Hermione startled. She had not noticed that he was staring at her as well.
"No, no", she stuttered. "I was just lost in thought, I didn't realize I was staring at you. Sorry."
Sera nodded and his lips twitched slightly in what could be interpreted as a smile.
They entered the office and Hermione walked to her desk. A quick glance at the over-time meter told her that Mrs. Woodstock had overtaken her again. Strangely, Hermione did not care at all. Whether she was in first or in last place, it did not matter to her anymore.
She sat down on her chair and started to skim over the pile of files that was waiting to be organized. Then she registered a movement in the corner of her eye and looked up. Hermione sighed as she recognized Pansy making her way towards her.
"Happy New Year, Granger", the pug-faced girl said.
"What do you want?", Hermione said dismissively.
"What's your deal, Granger? I simply whished you a happy new year", Pansy replied aggressively.
"Well, I don't need any good wishes from you. Especially after you just wasted my time with that useless book recommendation", Hermione retorted.
"Listen Granger, I don't know why you talk to me like this, but I really tried to help you", Pansy replied angrily as she crossed her arms over her chest. "It's unfortunate the book didn't help you, but I never said I was sure it would. It was simply an idea of mine. Figuring out the meaning of a prediction can be difficult, so-"
"I don't believe in that damned prediction anymore!", Hermione hissed with narrowed eyes. "And I never asked for your help", she added.
"Well you better believe in it or you'll ruin your life", Pansy said. "This kind of prediction is nothing to joke about. But almighty Hermione Granger is obviously not concerned by such banalities", she scoffed.
"Mind your own business and let me work in peace", Hermione said angrily and demonstratively scribbled something on a report file. She noticed Pansy walking away from the corner of her eye. Exhausted, she let the quill sink and exhaled a shaky breath. She had expected to feel empowered after standing up to Pansy, but she just felt empty. She wondered if Pansy was right and whether she should believe in the prediction again.
She had not thought about it for a while now, because it had brought more trouble than good and she still had no clue how to figure out its exact meaning. She had not noticed something that could be 'the sign' yet, nor had she met someone who might be the 'special person'. For a few days she had played with the thought that Ginny might be that person, but if she were something would have happened. Something that would have left her with no doubt that Ginny was this person.
Hermione tried to shrug off the thought and focus on the report in front of her. She didn't need any prediction to live her life properly she figured. Believing in it would only complicate things.
After a few hours of working Hermione was interrupted by a group of wizards and witches entering their office. She looked up and saw Mrs. Woodstock and Pansy coming out of the former's office.
"Hudson, Goblin Liaison Office", a middle-aged wizard who seemed to be the highest rank among the group said. He reached out and shook Pansy's hand. "You must be Miss Parkinson, I heard a lot."
"Nice to meet you", Pansy replied and grinned evilly. Or was it sheepishly? Hermione suddenly was not sure anymore.
She watched the group exchange a few more sentences before they left the office. She overheard Mrs. Woodstock talking about some kind of 'business' they had to attend to and couldn't help but wonder what this was all about. Since when had Pansy become that important? What were they up to? Hermione was becoming increasingly suspicious and the fact that she had no information at all was driving her crazy. She buried her face in her hands and wondered how she was going to endure the rest of the week. The upcoming Quidditch game where she would see Ginny was the only silver lining at the moment. But she had to wait until Saturday, which suddenly seemed like an eternity.
"Ron, stop it already!", Hermione hissed and snapped the green and golden harmonica from him. He had played it for almost an hour now, never taking a break for more than a minute. Her ears were hurting from the deafening 'Goooooo Harpieeeees!'- cheer that came out of it. "The game hasn't even started yet!"
"But Hermione!", Ron protested.
"You'll get it back when the game begins, honey", Sophie Abbott, who was sitting next to her boyfriend, said soothingly.
"Alright", Ron grunted but sheepishly so. They were a good couple, Hermione thought.
"Are you a Quidditch fan also?", Sophia asked Hermione.
"Not really, actually", Hermione replied.
Sophia eyed her suspiciously as her eyes flitted over Hermione's attire. "Ooookaaay", she said slowly.
"Oh you mean this?", Hermione pointed at her hat, which was a green and golden baseball cap with the Holy Harpies emblem on it. She also wore the matching scarf and over her coat she wore the Harpies fan cape that Luna had lent her for the occasion.
"Lately I've found myself more interested in the sport", she admitted. "But mostly I am supporting Ginny today, so that'd explain the outfit". She smiled at Sophie.
"That's nice of you", Sophie replied and smiled back at her.
"You never wore anything but a scarf to our matches!", Ron complained. "Even Luna, who was in Ravenclaw wore that weird lion hat all the time to support us."
"It wasn't weird!", Luna chimed in from behind of them.
"I liked it", Harry, who was sitting next to Luna, said. They smiled at each other for a moment and Hermione could almost see the sparks emitting from their eyes. This was going in a good direction, she thought happily.
"Yeah but the point is that Hermione never showed any interest in Quidditch and suddenly you're wearing all this stuff", Ron intervened and pointed his finger at Hermione's cap accusingly.
"Oh just stop it already Ron", Hermione reprimanded an rolled her eyes at his childishness.
"It's starting!", Neville, who was sitting to Hermione's right, said and suddenly an earsplitting noise rolled through the ranks that were bursting at the seams. It was the first league match of the year, so there were even more fans than usual. Black and white crowds on one side faced the green and yellow mass Hermione and her friends were stuck in.
Ron snapped his harmonica from Hermione's hand and started blowing and cheering right away. Apparently he had forgotten that he was fighting with Hermione just a second ago.
"Now they'll announce the players", Neville explained to Hermione. "Magpies are first, since they're guests."
Hermione nodded, thankful for the explanations.
"And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you the Montrose Magpies!", a familiar voice shot through the stadium and the black and white crowd roared.
"It's Lee Jordan commenting", Neville said.
One by one, Lee introduced the players and their positions and each of them flew a round around the pitch.
"And now, up for Seeker, let me introduce Cho Chang!", Lee shouted and half of the crowd went wild.
Hermione turned around to Harry who seemed as shocked by the news as she was. She looked around but the others did not seem surprised at all. She had heard from Ginny that especially Luna and Neville came to see almost every game, so they would now most of the players. Harry, who didn't have much spare time and Hermione, who had lacked interest, apparently were the only ones who hadn't heard of Cho Chang being Ginny's rival.
Ginny's worries made so much more sense now. Cho was an excellent seeker who played for an excellent team. If she really caught the snitch first, Ginny's position on the team could be seriously threatened, Hermione realized.
She snapped the harmonica from Ron again and blew it with all the strength she could summon just as Cho was passing them by. "Goooooo Haaaaarpiiieees" resonated from the harmonica even louder than before. Cho slightly turned her head as she flew by and the quick glance Hermione could get at her face revealed that Cho was even prettier than she had been a few years ago.
"And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you our beloved Holyhead Harpiiiiieeeees!", Lee's enthusiastic voice roared through the stadium. He was still not able to comment in an unbiased way, which made Hermione grin. This was an advantage for Ginny.
He introduced the Harpies one by one, starting with the captain Marina Bishop and Hermione also spotted the Korean beater they had met a few days ago. Finally, it was Ginny's turn.
"And now, I present you our Harpies' seeker, the best in the league - stunningly beautiful by the way - currently holding the record for the most snitch-catches this season, Ginnyyyyyy Weasleyyyyyy!"
Hermione frowned at Lee's remark but when Ginny emerged onto the field she had already forgotten about it and joined her friends in cheering and waving.
Accompanied by the fan's cheers, Ginny flew her round through the stadium and even performed a couple of tricks on her broom which had the crowd exploding in applause.
Hermione's heart started pounding wildly when she saw Ginny getting closer to where they were standing. It was the first time she saw her girlfriend since their first date, which was more than one week ago, which made her feel even more excited.
Ginny reached their ranks and performed a looping on her broom, which had the crowd roar once more. She stopped in the air for one second, smiled and winked at Hermione before she dashed away. Hermione sensed heat rising in her cheeks as she watched the redhead's quickly shrinking silhouette.
"Did she just wink at me? I told you she likes me!", a voice from behind caught her attention.
Hermione turned around and saw a young wizard, dressed in Harpies merch from head to toe. He was holding a banner with Ginny's face and her name on it.
"Stop talking nonsense, she winked at me!", a similarly dressed wizard said before he smacked his friend on the head.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and instantly a range of spells to make them shut up shot through her head. "She winked at me, you morons!", is what she wanted to scream at them. Instead she just glared at them for a few moments until Neville tapped her shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing", she replied brusquely and turned her attention to the pitch again.
"You have to get used to it", Neville hissed into her ear. "Ginny has a bunch of ultra-fans who come to see her for every game."
How the hell could she ever get used to such idiots fanning over her girlfriend like this? Hermione pressed her lips together and stared at the players below them taking their positions.
"It's not easy to control one's jealousy, but you have to try", Neville said and his eyes wandered over to Harry and Luna who were clearly invading each other's personal space by now.
"I'm not jealous!", Hermione protested.
"Don't fool yourself", Neville said, sadness in his eyes. "And Ginny told me about – you know? Congrats." Neville smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.
"You too will find someone", Hermione replied and patted his back lightly. "Neville?"
"Yes?"
"Please don't tell anyone about me and Ginny okay?"
"Sure."
They both fell silent, each dwelling on their own thoughts while they did not notice the roaring crowd around them anymore.
Then a shrill whistle was blown and the game started. Hermione's eyes were on Ginny all the time. Only now she realized how beautiful Quidditch could be. Her girlfriend flew, swirled and twisted through the air so naturally as if she had been born to do just that. Her robe was tight fitted and her hair tied up in a loose ponytail. One moment she was on the bottom of the pitch, the next she suddenly hovered hundred feet over the ground. Sometimes she chased Cho, sometimes Cho chased her.
Hermione could not believe that she had used to think of Quidditch as boring. Now, she rose for every goal, shouted at the Magpies, cheered for the Harpies and every once in a while, stole Ron's harmonica.
She was especially fascinated by the bludgers and if she was not watching Ginny, her eyes followed one of them dashing toward the players. Somehow, Hermione envied their determination and sense of direction. They knew where to go and they took the fastest route possible to reach their aim. Hopefully, Hermione too would be like this someday.
The game was going on for over an hour now and both teams were evenly matched. The current score was 100:90 for the Magpies, but Hermione could already see a Harpies chaser getting ready to score again.
"Fabray scores!", Lee's voice roared through the stadium and once again Hermione found herself cheering and clapping enthusiastically.
From the corner of her eye she suddenly saw Ginny leaning in for a nose-dive. Cho Chang had obviously realized it too and followed the redhead at a three feet distance. But Ginny was faster. She stretched out her arm and pulled her broomstick upwards the exact same moment. She held up her arm and Hermione noticed the faint glim of gold. Ginny had caught the snitch!
She screamed and jumped up from her chair. The whole green and golden crowd did the same and soon she hugged Neville and then Ron and couldn't stop jumping up and down. Her girlfriend had caught the snitch and led the Holyhead Harpies to a win! Her girlfriend! Now Ginny wouldn't have to worry about her position in the team anymore!
"Ginny Weasley caught the snitch!", Lee Jordan shouted in a deafening volume. "The Harpies wiiiiiiin!"
The game was over and Hermione and her friends had walked down from the ranks to wait for Ginny outside the changing rooms. Only friends and family were allowed here, so luckily there were no weird fan-boys around anymore.
One by one, the players came outside and welcomed their families or friends. Impatiently, Hermione waited for Ginny to come out. She knew they should not act carelessly in front of Ron and Harry, but she just wanted to see her girlfriend so badly, even though it meant that they had to keep their distance.
Suddenly she felt something pull on her sleeve. She looked down and saw Mingki, the House Elf. "Miss Granger, Miss Weasley wants to see you", the elf whispered.
"Why would she want to see Hermione?", Ron, who had been overhearing them, asked curiously.
"Miss Weasley wants to know about a spell from the book Miss Granger made for her", Mingki replied. "She will come outside after hearing Miss Granger's explanation."
"Tell her to hurry up", Ron growled before he turned around to chat with his girlfriend.
Hermione only scowled at him and followed Mingki towards the changing rooms. Her heartbeat had increased at least tenfold, or so it felt. She was about to see Ginny. Alone. In the changing rooms. It was like one of the scenes she had fantasized about.
Hermione entered the changing rooms and Mingki scooted off in another direction. Green benches and lockers were scattered around the room and steam was coming from a door that must lead to the showers.
Hermione nervously cleared her throat. "Ginny?", she rasped.
"Hello girlfriend." Ginny emerged from behind a set of lockers and grinned at Hermione widely. She had changed into a pair of jeans and a white sweatshirt that had Snoopy on it. Her hair was now falling over her shoulders in beautiful long waves.
Hermione gulped nervously as Ginny slowly approached her. "H-hi Ginny", she uttered and clasped her hands into the fabric of her coat in order to get rid of the sweat that was forming in her palms. "You were amazing today."
Ginny halted her steps only inches away from Hermione and took her hands in her own. Hermione looked up right into warm brown eyes that were watching her affectionately. Her nervousness increased even more and she felt more jittery than the day she first entered Hogwarts.
"Did you watch me?", Ginny asked quietly, her eyes glued to Hermione's.
"I did", Hermione whispered. "You were incredible."
"The thought of you cheering for me gave me that little extra strength…and the spells you taught me", Ginny breathed. "Oh my, that was cheesy", she added with a grin.
When had Ginny's face come so close to hers? Hermione's eyes dropped to Ginny's lips and her mouth twitched nervously. She had been kissed before, but why did she feel so nervous? Probably because she actually wanted to be kissed this time.
Ginny, who had noticed Hermione's staring, blushed under her freckles. She shortened the distance between their faces until Hermione could feel her girlfriend's breath brushing over her lips and nose. It was a warm and pleasant feeling which sent goosebumps all over her back.
"I'm going to collect my trophy now", Ginny whispered barely audible. She let go of one of Hermione's hands and cupped her cheek. Slowly, Ginny pulled Hermione's head towards her to close the remaining distance between them. Hermione's eyes fluttered and went shut as she waited for the new sensation that would await her.
"I'll be right back!", someone suddenly called from near the doors.
Hermione and Ginny flinched and jumped apart in the fraction of a second.
"Oh you're still here, I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" It was Mina Lee, the beater they had met on their first date. She looked from Ginny to Hermione and a knowing grin spread on her face.
"No, no, you're not interrupting anything", Ginny stuttered. "We were just…just…"
"Talking", Hermione finished for her. It was the first thing that came to her mind. However, Mina's grin just widened.
"So, so", she said. "Anyways, I left something in my locker."
She strode to one of the lockers, opened it and pulled out a small bag. Hermione and Ginny watched her silently not able to come up with natural conversation that would've rendered the situation less suspicious.
"See you! And have fun!", Mina piped, shooting them one last knowing grin.
"We should get going too. The others are waiting for us", Hermione finally said.
"Okay", Ginny replied sheepishly. She grabbed her bag and coat from her locker and together they left the changing rooms.
"Finally!", Ron said dramatically as if they had been gone for hours. Hermione watched her friends congratulating Ginny, but she wasn't listening to what they were saying. Her thoughts traveled back to the moment they had almost kissed. She clenched her fists and wanted nothing more than to stamp her feet in frustration. Just one more second and they would have kissed. One second! She should've just grabbed Ginny by the shoulders and kissed her before they went outside. She mentally kicked her butt for being such a coward earlier.
The perfect chance to have their first kiss – ruined! They would spend the remainder of the day with their friends, which meant she had missed the only chance to kiss Ginny today.
Hermione wallowed in her self-pity some more until she suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?", Luna asked worriedly. "You seem really out of it."
Hermione nodded and forced a smile on her face. "Yeah, I'm fine", she assured.
Luna's expression changed from concern to curiosity as a thought seemed to occur to her. "Did you do it?", she whispered with wide eyes.
"Do what?", Hermione asked perplexedly.
"Kissing, of course", Luna replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Not yet", Hermione replied embarrassedly. "But it's no big deal, right? I mean, it's just kissing. It's not as if we have never tried it before." She tried to sound nonchalantly, but Luna didn't seem convinced.
"You're nervous." It was a statement rather than a question. Knowing Luna, Hermione stopped acting and just nodded.
"I never kissed a woman… And I never kissed someone I was actually in love with", she whispered. Her eyes wandered over to Ginny, who was currently chatting with Ron, Neville, Harry and Sophia.
Luna snickered quietly. "Ginny is as nervous as you are", she said.
"Really? How do you know?", Hermione asked in surprise.
"She didn't tell me directly, but I can see it", Luna explained. "Oh and she never kissed a girl before either."
Hermione didn't reply anything while she thought about that new piece of information. She had assumed that Ginny would handle their new situation more coolly than herself, but the redhead seemed as inexperienced as she was.
"How is it going with you and Harry?", she asked in an attempt to change the topic.
"W-what do you mean?", Luna stuttered, suddenly looking as nervous as Hermione had a few moments before.
Hermione grinned in amusement. "Come one, don't tell me the looks you two are exchanging all the time don't mean anything."
"We agreed to uhm meet more often from now on", Luna said and actually blushed a little, which was a rare occurrence for the usually pale witch.
"Great! I'm glad to hear you're doing well", Hermione said happily.
"I'm concerned about Neville, though", Luna sighed. "He's one of my best friends and I feel like I'm betraying him."
"Don't worry too much", Hermione said as a sudden idea crossed her mind. She would have to talk to Sera on Monday.
"I think we should leave. They're starting to clean the pitch", Luna stated.
"Right, I'll tell the others", Hermione agreed. She quickly strode over to the group of friends who were standing a few feet away from Hermione and Luna.
She walked up on Ginny, who had her back to Hermione, and tapped her shoulder.
Surprised at the touch, Ginny winced and turned her head in a sudden movement the same second Hermione was leaning forward to say something to her. But Hermione couldn't say anything, because her lips were locked by…Ginny's mouth?!
Both girls' eyes went wide before they jumped apart as if the other's lips were burning hot.
Hermione's hand shot to her lips and touched them in shock. She looked around and found all eyes on them. Neville and Luna looked as shocked as she was, but Ron, Sophia and Harry were laughing.
"Did you just kiss accidentally?", Ron laughed. "I thought this only happens in those weird Muggle movies dad told me about."
Hermione looked over to Ginny who also had her mouth covered with one hand. She started laughing nervously and Luna and Neville joined in.
Harry however, started to eye Ginny suspiciously. Oh no, he mustn't know!, Hermione thought trying to think of something smart to say.
"It's not as if we have never kissed someone before, so let's just forget about it", she beamed nonchalantly, even though her knees were shaking from nervousness. "Where should we celebrate? Giant's Belly? Leaky Cauldron?"
With this, the matter was forgotten and a lively discussion started.
Somehow Ginny found her way to stand right next to Hermione as the discussion went on. Ginny's cheeks had reddened significantly. "Your lips feel nice", Ginny mumbled without looking at Hermione.
"Yours too", Hermione whispered.
Both women grinned sheepishly while they watched their friends discussing.
Hermione sighed and shook her head, but smiled at the same time. There was no perfect place nor a perfect time for their first kiss. It happened when it happened. And it had been great. With this realization, Hermione stepped forward, cut off Ron's speech and said:
"Let's go to the Leaky Cauldron! Today, everything's on me!"
A/N: In case you consider the kiss scene unrealistic, check 'Jennifer Lawrence kisses Natalie Dormer', it was the inspiration for this chapter. Please leave a review and tell me what you think of this chapter. It's highly appreciated!