Chapter 17 – Spill the beans
The weeks passed and not much changed in Hermione's life. She still worked for the ministry, she still hated Pansy and she still had not talked to Ron. The only good thing was that Ginny was still her girlfriend and they were doing well.
Unfortunately, however, the busiest part of the Quidditch season had arrived, which meant that they had less time to go on dates, but somehow, they managed to meet regularly. Hermione felt happy when she was with Ginny. They held hands, they kissed, they cuddled and they exchanged words of affection. Only in private of course. Neither of them felt ready to announce their love to the world yet.
Hermione loved it when they took walks together, just talking and observing their surroundings. She looked forward to spring when it would become easier to take walks and they could see cherry blossoms and tulips together. Ginny had told her that she loved it to just hold Hermione's hand, because it made her feel calm and safe. Hermione hoped that they would be able to combine holding hands and talking walks soon. But first they had to come out to everybody, which had turned out to be easier said than done.
Harry had been disappointed when Hermione told him that she still had not talked to Ron. He had assured her that he would not tell Ron, but he had also made it clear that Ron had a right to know about them, not only because his sister was concerned but for the fact that Hermione was his best friend. He was of the opinion that she should not keep such a big secret from him and Hermione knew that he was right.
Hermione had tried to find the right time to tell Ron. But every time she was about to do it, her courage left her. Ginny was not thriving any better. They had not decided who would be the one to tell him, but reckoned that it would be best if they just went with the flow. Unfortunately, this had turned out quite contrary. Suddenly neither of them felt fully responsible to tell him. What made it even harder was that Ginny still had not talked to Mrs. Weasley, which was another major obstacle they had to overcome if they ever wanted to show themselves in public.
One thing she had achieved was arranging Sera's and Neville's first meeting, but contrary to Hermione's hope they did not fall for each other. Theoretically, they were a perfect couple. They were both young, independent wizards, both single and both had signaled interest after seeing each other's picture, but in the end, they did not feel any 'spark' as Sera had called it.
Once more, Hermione had had to realize that love was not something she could calculate or plan. It just happened or it didn't.
Despite Neville and Sera not working out as a couple, they had decided to remain friends and Neville had told Hermione a while ago that Sear was helping him to get over his unrequited love for Harry, because the slightly older wizard had experienced similar when he was younger.
When she had talked to Neville, he too urged her to tell Ron about her secret soon. Hermione wished she could just stop thinking about the matter, because it drove her nuts. She would tell him. They would tell him. Just not today. Especially not today, because it was the first day of March, which meant that it was Ron's birthday, the worst of all possible days to tell him.
Hermione had just apparated to the Burrow, carrying Ron's present under her arm. Ron had invited his friends and his family over to have cake and dinner.
She shrieked when someone apparated right next to her.
"'ermione, 'ow are you?", Fleur said as she hugged Hermione.
"Great", Hermione replied, happy that her relationship with Fleur had bloomed into a close friendship over time. "Where is Bill?"
"Unfortunately, 'e 'as to work today", Fleur said and pouted dramatically. Hermione laughed. She was glad to see that Bill and Fleur seemed to have a happy marriage life.
They knocked on the door and Ron opened, his eyes glowing as he spotted the presents they were carrying.
"Happy Birthday!", Hermione beamed and pulled her best friend into a hug.
"Thanks", Ron said sheepishly before he was hugged by Fleur as well. He invited them to come in and Hermione felt immediately thrown back to Christmas. People everywhere, noise, smells and so on. But there was one important difference. The beautiful witch grinning at her from across the kitchen was her girlfriend now.
Hermione placed the present on the kitchen table and walked around the room to say hello to everyone. Most of the Weasley's had made it, only Bill and Charlie were missing. Ron's girlfriend was there as well, so were Harry, Luna and Neville.
Hermione wanted to talk with Ginny, because they had not seen each other for a few days now, but her girlfriend was talking to Mrs. Weasley. Hermione walked over to Luna and talked with her about the blonde's newest adventures, but not without glancing in Ginny's direction from time to time.
After a few minutes, Ron joined them to let them know that Mrs. Weasley had miscalculated the cake's baking time, so they would have to wait for another thirty minutes. He invited them to play card games with him and Sophie in the living room, but just as Hermione was about to agree, Ginny walked up on them from behind.
"Sorry, smallest big bro, but I have to talk to Hermione about something", she said and linked arms with Hermione.
Ron eyed his sister in suspicion. "What do you two have to talk about?", he asked, his eyes narrowed. Hermione gulped nervously. Was he already suspecting something?
"Actually, it's none of your business", Ginny sneered, "But if you really need to know, I need her to explain a spell for me. You know, the wind-reduction spell, I told you about."
"Yeah, I remember", Ron grunted. "But do you really have to talk about this now? It's my birthday after all!"
"Oh Ronnie, don't be a baby!" Ginny rolled her eyes at him. "We'll be back when the cake is ready, don't worry." That said she pulled Hermione by the arm and out of the kitchen.
The two witches went upstairs and as soon as they had entered the room, Ginny threw the door shut and cast a muffliato spell at it.
"I've missed you", the redhead murmured into Hermione's ear. A shudder run down Hermione's spine as she felt her girlfriend's breath brushing over her ear.
"I've missed you too", she said throatily.
Ginny placed a peck on Hermione's lips, before she pulled back and sat down on her bed, which had Holyhead Harpies sheets on it this time. The young witch patted the space next to her. "Sit down."
Hermione followed Ginny's order and sat down next to her. Ginny immediately scooted closer until there was no space left between them.
"So, what do you want to know about the spell?", Hermione asked with false seriousness. Of course, she was well aware that Ginny would not want to talk about spells. At least not the Quidditch-kind of spells.
"Let's see", Ginny replied and assumed a pensive expression. "There is one thing I need to ask", she finally said as she brought her face incredibly close to Hermione's.
Instinctively, Hermione licked her lips as her gaze dropped on Ginny's mouth hovering in front of hers. "What would that be?", she whispered.
"Which spell do you use on your lips?", Ginny asked while she slowly started leaning forward. It seemed as if she was moving in slow motion. "Why do I want to kiss you every time I see you?"
Hermione gulped when she noticed the sudden darkness that was forming in Ginny's eyes. She wanted to give her girlfriend a witty reply, but she could not take the tension anymore, so she pulled the redhead towards her and met her lips with her own.
This time, they skipped the chaste part. Hermione let her tongue slide against Ginny's lips who let her in immediately. Hermione smiled into the kiss as the taste of chocolate welcomed her. Ginny had told her only yesterday that she would cut out chocolate from her diet. So much for that.
"What?", Ginny mumbled while she began to let her hands roam all over Hermione's back.
"Nice taste", Hermione replied without pulling back from the kiss. However, the fact that her tongue was sticking in Ginny's mouth did not do much to improve her pronunciation.
"You've got a nice waist too", Ginny mumbled, apparently happy about the compliment. Hermione grinned and wanted to correct the misunderstanding, but Ginny had started to suck on her tongue lightly, which drove out all other thoughts out of her mind.
Hermione's breath hitched as Ginny kissed her like that. Hermione pulled the redhead even closer trying to get as much contact as possible. Ginny threw her legs over Hermione's lap and curled her arms around her neck. Soon, the younger witch was sitting on Hermione's lap.
As it became more difficult for Hermione to breathe, Ginny pulled back and regarded her with such loving eyes, it made Hermione feel weak in the knees. Thank Merlin, she was sitting down right now.
"I love you, 'mione", Ginny whispered as she tugged a strand of hair behind Hermione's hair.
"I love you too, Gin", Hermione replied and closed her eyes as she felt Ginny's hands on her neck. The redhead was pushing Hermione's hair behind her shoulder. Too late, Hermione realized what she was up to. She could not hold back a quiet moan as Ginny started kissing her exposed neck.
The younger witch placed a row of kisses along the crook of her neck, slowly proceeding upwards. Hermione's eyes went shut and she dug her fingers deep into the fabric of Ginny's sweatshirt. The redhead's lips soon reached the upper half of her neck and she could already feel the tip of her nose brushing against her earlobe. Hermione could fell Ginny hesitating for a bit, then the redhead suddenly nibbled on her earlobe. Surprised, Hermione let out another moan, louder than the first one.
Emboldened by her girlfriend's reaction, Ginny let her tongue slip out and brush over Hermione's ear. Hermione drew a sharp breath at the sensation. Without Hermione knowing, her own hands started roaming over Ginny's back and hips, stopping only one or two inches before she would have touched the redhead's ass.
Ginny let go of her ear and painted circles and other patterns on Hermione's neck with her tongue making her way downwards. The redhead sucked lightly here and there, which made Hermione moan once more. Then she suddenly felt a pulling sensation in her lower abdomen, something she had never felt before, though she knew what it meant. She had read about it in muggle books as well as in the witch dating book.
For the fraction of a second Hermione considered to pull back and bring them back into safe waters, but Ginny's light sucking on the sensitive skin above her collar bone made her throw the thought over board. This was feeling way too good.
But Ginny had already noticed Hermione's short hesitation. She pulled back and was panting as she looked at Hermione inquiringly. "Is it too much?", she asked in concern. Her eyes were dark and her lips looked redder than usual because of all the kissing. Hermione was mesmerized by her girlfriend's beauty which made it difficult for her to compose a straight thought. Instead she just pulled Ginny back into the kiss.
Ginny leaned forward, increasing the weight on Hermione's chest until Hermione gave in and let herself fall on the bed. Ginny's hair fell over her face and it tingled, but it only increased her body's newfound receptiveness to Ginny's caressing.
Hermione could not deny her arousal anymore, judging by the wetness that was spreading in her panties. It was scary somehow, but exciting at the same time.
Without much thinking she let her hands slid under Ginny's sweatshirt. This time it was the redhead's turn to moan as she felt Hermione's hands on the bare flash of her hips.
Hermione had never touched her girlfriend like this before. At least not under the clothes. She let her fingers travel over every inch of Ginny's hips and waist she could reach without getting too intimate. She had expected Ginny's body to feel somewhat hard, because of all the training she had to do, but to Hermione's astonishment, she felt softer than she had ever imagined.
Ginny's lips and tongue were back on Hermione's ear driving her almost crazy. Hermione wanted to feel her girlfriend everywhere.
A loud knock on the door suddenly interrupted them. Ginny froze immediately, her mouth hovering above Hermione's ear, her rapid breathing still brushing over it. The redhead felt for her wand on the sheets and mumbled a few words to lift the muffliato spell.
"Just one moment!", she called toward the door while she got into a vertical position again and started straitening her hair and tugging on her sweatshirt.
"Cake is ready", Harry's voice said from behind the closed door.
"O-okay", Ginny replied nervously. "We'll be down in a minute."
Harry gave off a grunting noise and the two witches held their breath until they heard him going down the stairs.
"I know he knows about us, but why do I feel so nervous?", Ginny wondered aloud.
Why do I feel like we're doing something forbidden?", Hermione asked, suddenly serious and strangely sad. "We really have to tell your family soon, Gin." She took her girlfriends hand in her own. "I don't want to hide what we have."
Ginny looked scared, but nodded. "You're right. Let's do it as soon as possible. Just not today."
"Let's make this birthday a happy one for Ron", Hermione said as she got up from the bad. "Who knows if he'll want us here next year", she added with a frown.
The two witches made their way back to the first floor where all the guests were already roaming around the living room, trying to get a seat close to the cake. Hermione sat down next to Ginny. When everyone was seated, Mrs. Weasley started to distribute big slices of cake while pots filled with tea and coffee were hovering around the table, pouring the hot liquid in the guests' cups.
Before eating, they sung Happy Birthday and Ron looked happy but a little overwhelmed by all the attention. Seeking help, he turned his head to Sophie who squeezed his hand encouragingly. They really made a lovely couple.
Happy chattering and laughter filled the Burrow's living room and the cake was excellent. Even though she knew that there would be dinner, Hermione could not resist to get a second slice.
After everyone finished their cake, Mrs. Weasley vanished the plates from the table and replaced them with a pile of presents, which was fortunately smaller than the one on Christmas.
One by one, Ron opened his presents. Hermione had gotten him a lamp she had enchanted herself. It would change the color of its light according to his girlfriend's mood, which she figured would help him to avoid getting into fights with her.
"Wow, that's great", Ron said after she had explained it to him. Sophie nodded approvingly as well and smiled. "Thanks."
After he had unpacked all the presents, he glanced at Harry and made a strange movement with his head. Harry obviously understood what his best friend was getting at and cleared his throat.
"I want to tell you something", he said. Everyone eyed him curiously, but Hermione already had an idea what he would tell them.
"Come on, just spill it", Ron said impatiently. Harry shot him an annoyed look and raised one eyebrow.
He took a deep breath, but it was Luna who spoke first.
"Me and Harry are together", she stated as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "The cake was delicious, by the way", she added.
After a moment of complete silence, the whole table erupted in chatter as suddenly everyone congratulated the couple. Only Mrs. Weasley did not say anything. She seemed shocked at the news, but when she met Harry's eyes, a tentative smile played around her lips. "Congratulations", she mouthed. Hermione watched the scene in relief, since it meant that Mrs. Weasley was finally accepting that Harry and Ginny had broken up for good.
Hermione placed her hand on Ginny's thigh and caressed it lightly, careful not to let anyone notice it. Ginny's hand brushed over Hermione's and she smiled at the touch. It felt good to be next to her girlfriend in times like this. A sudden wave of optimism broke over Hermione. She was positive that everything would be fine in the end. Eventually everyone in this room would accept them and they could be open about their love as Ron and Sophie or Harry and Luna were.
The next few hours passed by quickly. They talked, told jokes and played a few wizarding games. Hermione also tried to teach Monopoly to some of her friends, but they would not understand why you needed dices to move the figures when they could just use the floo network to get to the desired street. As usual, Ron was the first to give up on the game and he went to join his mother in the kitchen, probably to sneak some food in advance.
A rattle and the sound of something falling suddenly sounded from the kitchen followed by a row of curses.
"Ronald Weasley! I told you to be careful!", Mrs. Weasley shouted at her son. "Look what you've done, you spilled the whole pot of beans!"
Ron mumbled something inaudible before he was thrown out of the kitchen. He walked over to Hermione and told her about a game he wanted to play until dinner was served.
"I'll go and fetch it, you're going to love it", he said. Hermione heard him talk about the game being somewhere in Ginny's room, but she did not pay much attention, because she was thinking whether to buy a street or not.
Around two minutes later Ron came back into the living room. However, he did not walk to Hermione and his friends, but stopped in the middle of the room where he stared back and forth between Hermione and his sister.
"What's wrong, Ron?", Sophie asked but he ignored her.
"Tell me", Ron said coldly, his eyes darting from Hermione to Ginny and back. "Is it true?" He clenched his fists until the knuckles stood white against the flesh. His eyes were narrowed and every trace of joyfulness had vanished from his expression.
Hermione glanced at Ginny who met her gaze with terrified eyes. She was obviously fearing the same as Hermione.
Puzzled by his strange behavior, the other Weasley's and their friends had all fallen silent. They stared at Ron, Hermione and Ginny, who seemed to be the only ones who knew what was going on.
Slowly, Hermione got up from her chair and took a step towards Ron. A dreadful thought crossed her mind, but she did not want to believe it. Maybe it was all just a big misunderstanding. Maybe it could be sorted out in a matter of seconds.
"W-what do you mean?", Hermione stuttered trying to sound as calm as possible, which was harder than she had thought.
"Don't play dumb!", Ron shouted and Hermione winced.
"Ronald Weasley, what is going on!?", Mrs. Weasley demanded to know, clearly not amused by the fact that her son was ruining his own birthday party.
Ron scoffed and faced his mother. "Don't ask me, ask them", he said and spit out the last word as if it was venom.
"I don't understand", Mrs. Weasley said helplessly and turned to her daughter. "Ginny, what's wrong?", she asked, but the redhead was only staring at her brother, clearly terrified.
"Everything's wrong!", Ron shouted and Ginny winced at his loud voice. Hermione was torn between her own fear and the need to protect her girlfriend. Finally, the latter won over the former and she walked the few steps towards Ginny, placing a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder. She squeezed it slightly in hopes of letting Ginny know that she was there for her, but she had no clue whether Ginny was noticing any of it, since she still stared at Ron with wide eyes.
When he registered Hermione's gesture towards Ginny, Ron let out a cold laugh. "Really, Hermione?", he scoffed. "You want to rub it in my face, do you? Be like 'Look, I'm Hermione Granger, your lesbian ex-girlfriend and I'm fucking your little sister!'"
"Ronald!", Mr. Weasley roared in an attempt to stop his son's outburst, but the damage was already done. Everyone stared to Hermione and Ginny in confusion, except Harry, Luna and Neville, who appeared to be deeply concerned.
"It's the truth dad! Your sweet little daughter is a freaking lesbian!", Ron shouted. Hermione could feel Ginny wince under her touch and though numbed by her own shock, the hurt she felt by imagining how scared her girlfriend would be at this moment, was outweighing everything else she felt.
"Ron", Hermione said. It cost her so much to speak calmly, but if she let her anger get the better of her, this situation would get even dirtier than it already was.
"Don't you dare talk to me." It was scary how cold Ron's voice suddenly sounded.
Everyone in the room fell silent, paralyzed by shock, shame or fear. Ron shook his head in disbelief. "If I've known you were a bloody lesbian, I would never have dated you", he spit out. "You played me, didn't you? Was it fun making me fall in love with you only to break my heart?" His voice slightly cracked, the signal for Hermione to try calming him down again.
"Ron-", she uttered, but it was too late already, his features had hardened, the faintest trace of insecurity gone.
"And you", he hissed as he pointed a finger at his sister accusingly. "You're my sister! How could you betray me like this?" He stepped backwards, pointing on Hermione and again, on Ginny. "How could you do this to me!?"
"Ginevra, i-is it true?" Mrs. Weasley had fallen back into a chair, looking shocked and pale. Now, all eyes were on Ginny. The redhead still had not blinked even once, she was staring at the scene as if she was not a part of it, as if she had left her body to watch it from a safe distance. But when tears started forming in her eyes, Hermione knew that she had come back. She had to face this.
Ginny ignored her mother and looked at her brother, whose face had now assumed the same color as his hair. "How did you find out?", she whispered barely audible.
Ron did not reply. Instead he unclenched his fist and tossed something that looked like a piece of parchment on the floor.
I really am your girlfriend – Hermione
The letters on the note seemed to burn themselves into Hermione's brain and the heart she had drawn above the letter i in her name seemed to be screaming at her.
"I never want to see you again", Ron said as his cold eyes met Hermione's. Then he turned around and walked out of the room. The fact that he did not even slam the door behind him let Hermione know how bad the situation really was.
For a few moments there was silence. Hermione felt numb. There was a noise of a chair being pushed back, then steps walking to the door. Someone was going after Ron. Sophie. Silence again. Another chair being pushed back, the fabric of Ginny's shirt being withdrawn from under Hermione's palm. All eyes on Ginny. Everyone's eyes followed the young witch, who bend forward and carefully picked up the piece of parchment Ron had tossed to the floor.
Slowly, she clutched it to her chest, then she ran from the room and disappeared. Awoken from her stupor, Hermione attempted to go after her, but Mrs. Weasley had other plans.
"I'll do it", she sid sternly. "Go home, Hermione, the party is over."
"But-", Hermione protested.
"I said, go home!", Mrs. Weasley repeated forcefully, nothing but coldness in her expression as she looked at Hermione.
Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes. How could something like this have happened? She had meant to tell Ron! They were not supposed to find out like this… She felt horrible when she realized that she was partly to blame as well. If she had had the guts to tell him, to be confident and proud about her and Ginny, it would not have been like this. Not in front of everyone. Not on her best friend's birthday. Would there be any best friend now? And what would happen to Ginny? Oh god, Ginny!
A sob left Hermione's lips as thoughts were circuiting in her head. She felt numb and dizzy and white noise filled her ears. She could not take it anymore. As fast as she could she ran out of the house.
She ran and ran, not caring that she had left her warm cloak behind, not caring about the pain in her sides that was worse than when she had to run from death eaters during the battle of Hogwarts, not caring that she had no idea where she was going. Eventually she tripped over her own feet and fell to the hard ground.
She just lay there motionlessly, her eyes closed. She did not want to move since it required thinking. She did not want to think. About the hate in Ron's eyes. About the coldness in Mrs. Weasley's eyes. About what kind of words Ginny had to endure now. Or would she deny everything?
No, the redhead would never do this. She had been afraid, but unlike Hermione, she never run from her problems. And then Hermione cried. She let all those thoughts in and if felt as if they were devouring her, taking all the happiness that had grown inside her with it. But after a while one thought started to grow bigger than all the others.
Ginny never ran away. She would have faced the obstacle.
Hermione got back on her feet and turned around. The Burrow was still visible in the distance.
Slowly, Hermione began walking back towards the building. She would not run. She had to be there for Ginny. No matter what.