A/N: See, I told ya I wouldn't abandon this story. More notes at the end.

Chapter 19 – Home, sweet Home

Hermione missed Ginny. She missed her so much, she could actually feel her heart clenching in her chest whenever the thought of the redhead took over her thoughts. She slowly started to understand all those cheesy sad love song lyrics she had used to consider exaggerated and whiny.

Another two days had passed since Hermione had talked to Mr. Weasley, which meant she had not been able to see Ginny for another two days. Two days that felt like an eternity.

Hermione leaned against the window of her flat, that was only illuminated by a single flickering candle and stared into the dark night without moving, without blinking even. She had brought a few documents from the office she needed to work on for tomorrow. A pile of books on her desk waited to be read. A few cups and a plate in her sink had to be cleaned. Yet, Hermione didn't care. All she did was staring into space while thinking about Ginny.

Oh, my love, my darling I've hungered, hungered for your touch, A long, lonely time, a random line from a song she didn't even remember the title popped up in her head. And then another one. Is anybody here I know, Cause' nothin's goin right, And everything's a mess, And no one likes to be alone. Hermione used to cherish her alone-time above everything, but now all she wanted was to be with Ginny, her girlfriend, her love. Her everything. You're the closest to heaven, that I'll ever be. Right, Ginny was like that to her. In her imperfect way she was the most perfect person Hermione knew.

Random lyrics of sad love songs continued to pop up in Hermione's head, adding to her self-pity, until she finally stepped back from the window and decided to handle the situation like a muggle.

She walked over to the CD-Player that sat on her shelf and that she almost never used and put in the only CD she possessed. It was a present she had gotten from her parents a while ago, so she could remember her Muggle heritage through music. However, Hermione never really enjoyed listening to music, because her mind was always somewhere else – usually at work – so she wasn't able to really enjoy the music. But today was different.

When Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U started playing, she turned up the volume as much as possible, took a quill from her desk and slowly walked around the room, taking in the melancholic mood of the song. When the lyrics stated, Hermione brought her microphone – the quill – in front of her mouth and started singing like she was the only person living in the house. She didn't realize that she had forgotten to cast a reversed muffliato spell.

But nothing

I said nothing can take away these blues

'Cause nothing compares

Nothing compares to you

Hermione sag as if her life depended on it, every word, every note felt as if it was coming from the deepest depths of her heart and soul. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she more sobbed than sung her misery into the quill.

Hermione was fully aware of her awful singing. Still, she didn't care, because she was doing it for herself only.

It's been so lonely without you here

Like a bird without a song

Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling

Tell me baby where did I go wrong?

As she neared the end of the sing, Hermione wished her singing would reach someone, anyone, so she wouldn't bear this pain alone anymore.

She belted out another note before she turned around towards the window and almost fainted from surprise.

Two light brown eyes were staring at her from behind the glass. Hermione stopped singing immediately and for a couple of seconds the song's outro were the only sounds filling the room.

But then Ginny's mouth curved and a faint snickering slowly turned into a loud laughter. Hermione's disbelief turned into excitement and she hurried towards the window and opened it as fast as she could. Ginny was still laughing, holding her stomach with one hand and her broomstick with the other.

"G-ginny?!", Hermione stuttered. "How, what, I mean-?"

"Now I know why I never heard you sing before", Ginny laughed as she wiped a tear out of her eye. "I'm sorry, but you sound horrible!"

Hermione just stared at the laughing witch on a broomstick in front of her window, still not realizing anything.

"Were you aware people can hear you even down there?", Ginny asked, pointing downwards. "Why didn't you use a spell?"

"I-", Hermione stuttered, finally realizing what Ginny had just witnessed. "Forget what you saw right now! And what you heard!", Hermione demanded as her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. "And my singing isn't always that bad…it's just uhm", she tried to explain herself, but she could not come up with any decent excuse.

"Can I come in now?", Ginny asked with a smirk.

"Sure, come in", Hermione replied and hastily stepped back from the window, so the redhead could fly inside.

"But why are you here? I mean how? Did you get permission, or-?"

"I'm also happy to see you, darling", Ginny cut her off as she pulled Hermione into a hug.

Wow. Had hugging Ginny always felt that good?, Hermione wondered. Or was it because they saw each other after a long time? It felt as if their bodies were clicking into place like two matching parts in a puzzle. Ginny's arms around her neck. Hermione's chin on Ginny's shoulder whose pit seemed to have been created for that purpose. Hermione pulled Ginny closer, but it still felt not close enough. Ginny mirrored the action and Hermione could feel the redhead breathing against her hair.

"I missed you so much", the younger witch whispered.

Hermione gulped as she fought back the tears her girlfriend's words were evoking.

"I missed you too", Hermione said and gently kissed the crook of Ginny's neck. "I love you so much."

Ginny did not respond but pulled back from the hug and cupped both of Hermione's cheeks. She looked into Hermione's eyes with an expression that said nothing and everything at the same time. Before Hermione could say some of all the things she had wanted to say, the younger witch leaned forward and sealed Hermione's lips with her own. The touch was light, but it sent shivers all over Hermione's body and her legs suddenly felt as if she had just completed a marathon.

"Thank you for loving me", Ginny whispered into the kiss, before she brought their lips together once more. After two seconds that felt way too short, she pulled back and smiled at her girlfriend. Hermione's eyes flitted over Ginny's face as she still had a hard time believing that she wasn't imagining her presence. Then her eyes fell on Ginny's ears and the earrings she was wearing. White camellias.

"I always wondered about this earrings", Hermione said more to herself than to Ginny. Her eyes stayed glued to the jewelry as if it had hypnotizing powers. "White camellias… Who gave them to you?"

"I bought them myself", Ginny replied. "You probably don't remember, but a couple of years ago you told me that earrings would look pretty on me."

Hermione detached her eyes from the earrings and looked at Ginny in disbelief. "You remembered that?! But I told you when we were fifteen!"

"You remember better than me then", Ginny said and smiled.

"Oh", Hermione said sheepishly.

"But why do you always were only these?", Hermione asked curiously.

"Don't you like them?", Ginny asked.

"No, that's not what I mean", Hermione tried to explain. "I just wondered…"

"I like their meaning", Ginny replied vaguely.

"They have a special meaning to you?", Hermione inquired.

"Not the earrings itself, the flowers do", Ginny replied calmly.

"Oh really? What do white camellias symbolize?", Hermione asked, intrigued that her assumption about the earrings carrying some special meaning had been true after all.

"I really overrated your cleverness, Hermione Granger", Ginny replied teasingly. "I had expected you'd find it out by yourself, but I forgot you're not interested in flowers."

Hermione ducked her head in embarrassment. She hadn't even considered to look it up. How stupid of her.

"Anyways", Ginny continued. "First of all, I don't call them camellias but Tsubaki, which is their Japanese name, because they have a different meaning in Japan."

"Which is?", Hermione asked.

Ginny hesitated for a moment, while the playfulness disappeared from her face. She looked Hermione right into the eyes, displaying a seriousness she had not seen often in the redhead.

"Waiting", she said finally. "I wanted to show you, that I'd always wait for you. No matter how long it would take."

Hermione stared at her girlfriend in awe as she was trying to find the right words to express how moved she was in that exact moment, but words had left her. There were no expressions, no idioms and no spells which could have said the things she wanted Ginny to understand – which she wanted her to feel. So she did the one and only reasonable thing to do. Well, she did not know that it was the most reasonable thing, nor did she care at all. She was finally ready to throw reason and logic overboard and just follow her heart.

She cupped Ginny's face tenderly but with determination and kissed her as if her life depended on it. Well it did, kind of. She had come to the realization that she could not live without Ginny anymore, which meant that without her, she would die. Maybe not literally, but she was sure that if Ginny would not be a part of her life anymore, she would never be happy again. She had to do everything in her might to remove all the obstacles that were preventing them from being who they wanted to be. But not now. Not in this moment.

Hermione tried to convey all these thoughts and all the feelings that were inside her through this kiss. She wasn't sure whether Ginny understood it, but the way the redhead leaned into her told her that she at least knew what Hermione was trying to do.

Hermione pulled Ginny even closer towards her as they were standing in the dark room, the slim silhouette of the moon being the only source of light, after the candle flame had long drowned in its own wax.

Their lips' movements were the same as before, but everything felt different and so much deeper. Hermione registered tears on her face, but couldn't determine whether it were her own or Ginny's. But didn't matter anyways. In that moment they were one.

The sadness that had encompassed Hermione only minutes before had dissolved and now all she felt was the love she had for Ginny and the love Ginny was giving her in return. Only know she became aware that the music was still playing in the background, but much quieter. The song had changed to another ballad from the eighties, but it could have been any song, even heavy metal, nothing would've ruined the mood they found themselves in now.

Suddenly, Ginny's pulling changed into pushing, tentatively at first, before she repeated it with more determination. Hermione had no choice but to take a step back until she felt a wall in her back. Ginny's tongue slid inside her mouth causing Hermione to let out a quiet moan, a noise she wasn't used to hear from herself.

Encouraged by Hermine's reaction, Ginny let go of her girlfriend's lips and placed small kisses along her cheek until she reached Hermine's neck. The redhead nibbled on the skin carefully, every once in a while moistening the spots with her tongue. Hermione shivered and gripped her tighter as Ginny repeated the action all over her neck.

"Ginny", Hermione whimpered out of breath when Ginny playfully nibbled on her earlobe.

"Hermione, I love you", Ginny whispered right into Hermione's ear. Feeling her hot breath grazing her ear and cheek, made her weak in the knees.

Hermione closed her eyes, not being able to form any coherent thought at this point. But there was no need for thinking, her body knew what to do. In a swift motion, she pulled Ginny's head away from her ear and crashed her lips against Ginny's, using the second Ginny parted her lips to slide her tongue inside her mouth. Hermione sighed when she felt Ginny's warm tongue against her own and slowed down the pace a little without losing any of the passion she felt in that moment.

Hermione dug her hands into the fabric of Ginny's shirt and pulled the redhead even closer, so close, not even a piece of parchment would've fit between them.

"I love you, 'minione", Ginny said in between kisses, sounding like she was out of breath.

Hermione pulled back a little and rested their foreheads together. "I want you," she whispered.

Ginny inhaled sharply and tried to meet her eyes in the darkness. "You mean…?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded and gave her a crooked smile.

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked and cupped Hermione's cheek, grazing it with her thumb.

Hermione didn't reply and instead pushed herself off the wall and captured the redhead's lips in another passionate kiss. She was sure. No analysis required this time.

She slowly walked them towards her bedroom, somehow managing to reach it without stopping their kiss for longer than a second.

The room was still sparsely furnished and poorly decorated, but somehow having Ginny in the room made everything so much more comfortable and inviting. As if the redheads presence alone was enough to make up for the lack of warmth and comfort.

While Hermione kicked the door shut, Ginny pulled her wand from her back pocket and mumbled a quick spell. With a few faint popping sounds, candles were appearing on Hermione's nightstand and window sill, bathing the room in a warm light.

Hermione smiled and wanted to thank Ginny for her thoughtfulness, but she couldn't bring herself to let go of the redhead's lips. By now, they had reached the edge of Hermione's bed and Ginny sat down on top of the thick comforter, pulling Hermione onto her lap.

Hermione straddled the younger witch and slung her arms around her neck. Ginny looked up at her from her brown eyes which reflected the soft swirls of candle light.

"I missed you so much," Hermione whispered as she pushed a strand of hair behind Ginny's ear. "I'm sorry I didn't fight for you as much as I should have. I-"

But Ginny placed a finger on her lips and shut her up. "It's not your fault," she replied softly. "We'll find a way. We defeated Voldemort, so we can also overcome this, don't you think?"

Hermione nodded. She didn't know how Ginny did it, but her words always reached her. Her girlfriend's presence along with the things she said made everything seem less dramatic than it was. And maybe they really would overcome all the obstacles in their way. Together. Starting right now.

"I love you so much," Hermione said and looked deep into Ginny's eyes in an attempt to show her how serious she was about it and how much she needed the girl.

"No matter what?" Ginny asked as she cupped the brunette's cheek.

"No matter what," Hermione replied and placed a soft kiss on Ginny's lips.

She could feel Ginny smile into the kiss, which made Hermione finally forget about her worries and she started just enjoying the feeling of the other witch's lips on hers, her tongue moving in her mouth and her hands roaming over her back, down to her ass and under the seam of her shirt. What had she been worrying about? Hermione couldn't remember. All she felt now were Ginny's cool hands wandering over her hot skin.

She registered that the redhead was pushing the fabric up further and further and for the first time in her life, she let somebody take off her shirt. Hermione didn't feel shy or uncomfortable anymore, if anything, she felt free and just like herself.

Before Ginny could proceed touching Hermione, the brunette had already started tugging at her knitted sweater, so Ginny obediently raised her arms and let Hermione pull if off of her.

"You're so beautiful, Hermione", Ginny whispered as she traced her girlfriend's collar bone with her index finger. "I'm so lucky to call you mine, aren't I?"

Hermione only smiled and placed a soft kiss on the other girl's forehead. She let her hands wander over the redhead's back until she found what she was looking for. With trembling hands she reached for the clasp of Ginny's bra and tried opening it. She failed once, which caused Ginny to giggle, but eventually she managed to unclasp it. Even though Hermione had read about it in the book she had borrowed from the library, actually putting her theoretical knowledge into practice was something no book would ever help her with.

The piece of clothing dropped down somewhere between them and was forgotten right away when Hermione's gaze fell on what it had hidden from sight. Ginny was watching her intently when Hermione reached out and hesitantly cupped one of Ginny's breasts.

The redhead moaned slightly at the contact and Hermione couldn't help but marvel at the soft feeling and the fact that it fit her palm perfectly.

She brought up her other hand and repeated the action with Ginny's left breast, eliciting a content sigh from Ginny.

She was so fascinated by the feeling and Ginny's reaction, she didn't even notice Ginny had unclasped her bra as well.

"I want to touch you," Ginny whispered and pushed Hermione off her lap onto the bed. Before Hermione could move, Ginny had straddled her hips and hovered over her. She placed wet kisses on her mouth, her jawline and eventually her neck, before she detached her lips from Hermione's body and let her eyes wander from the witch's face to her breasts.

"Wow," Ginny marveled while she slowly placed one hand on Hermione's right breast and squeezed it lightly.

"Ginny," Hermione moaned, surprised at the way her body reacted.

"Feels good, huh?", Ginny smiled and started massaging Hermione's breast, stroking her thumb over the stiff nipple.

Hermione felt a gush of wetness leaving her and she started squirming under Ginny's body to somehow ease the increasing pressure she was feeling in her center.

Ginny noticed Hermione's reaction and moved her leg in between Hermione's legs, letting her knee push against her center slightly.

Hermione suddenly wished her clothes were all gone and she briefly considered casting a vanishing spell, but her mind was not able to think about magic. All she could think about was the feeling of Ginny's body, the tickling of her hair on Hermione's stomach and her alluring scent.

Hermione reached out in order to touch Ginny's breasts again, but the redhead grabbed her wrists and placed them above Hermione's head.

"I'm not finished yet", she whispered and before Hermione could realize what she had in mind, she felt Ginny's soft lips on her left nipple.

"Oh god," Hermione moaned and arched her back towards Ginny's.

"You're gorgeous," Ginny said as she moved to the other nipple and gently took it between her lips.

"So are you," Hermione breathed out.

Ginny just smiled and let her hand wander over Hermione's stomach until it reached the waistband of her jeans. The redhead let go of Hermione's breast and looked at the older witch.

"Are you comfortable?" she asked.

Hermione nodded and smiled. "I want this. I want you."

"I love you," Ginny whispered and kissed Hermione passionately. Hermione felt her struggling with the button of her jeans for a while, but then she felt Ginny's hand stroking her center over her panties.

"Mh, I can feel you really want me," Ginny said and smiled against Hermione's lips.

"Take it off," Hermione almost begged, longing to feel Ginny everywhere.

Ginny didn't have to hear that twice and with a swift motion she managed to remove Hermione's jeans and underwear in one go.

"I'll be gentle," the redhead said softly as she cupped Hermione's cheek and kissed her once more. When her fingers touched Hermione's folds and clit, she tensed for a moment, but when she looked into Ginny's eyes and saw her affectionate expression, she managed to relax and enjoy the feeling.

"I'll make you feel good," Ginny whispered, before she she shifted on the bed and positioned herself between Hermione's legs.

Hermione closed her eyes when she felt Ginny's tongue sliding between her folds and up her clit, where she drew a couple of circles before she repeated the motions.

"Good," Hermione breathed out and brought her hands down to stroke Ginny's hair.

As Ginny continued her ministrations, Hermione felt the desire in her grow and started squirming to increase the friction of Ginny's tongue.

"Does it feel good?" Ginny asked out of breath.

"Yes, so good, baby," Hermione panted.

"This might hurt a little, but try to relax," Ginny said and Hermione felt her finger on her entrance again. Slowly, Ginny dipped her fingertip into the territory no one but Hermione herself had ever touched and circled it a little to lubricate it with Hermione's wetness. When she pushed her finger in deeper, she tensed up and it hurt a little, but her body got used to the sensation of Ginny inside her pretty quickly and she could relax again.

Hermione sighed when Ginny started moving her finger inside her and licked her clit at the same time. Her sighing turned into panting quite soon and she could feel she was close.

"Just a little more," she panted, which caused Ginny to increase the pressure on her clit a little.

"Oh Ginny," Hermione whimpered. "I love you." And then she went over the edge, her orgasm making her clench on Ginny's finger.

"I love you too," Ginny said before she pulled out her finger carefully.

Hermione grabbed her head and pulled her upwards. "That felt great," she smiled before she connected their lips.

"Glad to hear that," Ginny mumbled and turned them over so Hermione was lying on top of her.

"Can you show me how to touch you?" Hermione asked, blushing a little.

"Anytime," Ginny replied and winked.

A while later, when she was about to drift to sleep, Hermione suddenly knew what she had to do.

"Let's talk to your mother tomorrow," she mumbled.

"What?" Ginny replied in surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "I will fight for us. No matter what."

Ginny didn't say anything and just squeezed her hand under the covers.

Tomorrow she would once and for all make it clear that she and Ginny belonged together, Hermione thought before she finally fell asleep.

A/N: If you're still reading this story after almost two years hiatus: Thank you so much for your patience. I am going to finish this story, but I'll finish my other fic first probably. Also my style of writing as well as my command of the English language has changed/improved, so I am not 100 percent happy with this story, but it does deserve an ending and I am going to provide it as soon as possible.