I'm walking back down from the Great Hall, towards the Library, after dinner. I barely got anything done, after Hermione had left earlier. All I could think about was being able to spend time around her, and hours of it at that, tonight. How the Hell am I going to be able to focus on anything? I guess Hermione's 'help' is only more of a distraction. I hardly touched my food, because all I could do was watch her from across the Hall. That's getting a little over-board, don't you think? I can't help myself. She sends shivers down my spine, just by saying my name. The way her eyes light up and the way her smile shines when she gets back an Outstanding on an exam, is entrancing. Everything about her just makes me feel alive, because she's the main source of my feelings. What I would do to get the courage to tell her everything that goes through my mind when we're together. Ha, some Gryffindor YOU are.
By the time I reached the Library, I could already see Hermione sitting at one of the far-back tables. Dinner just ended five minutes ago, and I left early. How did she get here so fast? "You're late, Gin. As uuusual." She said in a cocky voice, as I walked up to the table she was at. "I'm not even going to ask how you got here so fast. Let's get started, hmm?" I said, dropping my bag to the floor. "I don't want to take up any of your precious beauty sleep, unless it's completely necessary." She scoffed. "Trust me, I'm not doing anything I don't want to do." I felt my cheeks flush, but didn't look back up from inside my pack, until I was sure it would no longer be visible. See how easy it is for her to effect me? She started to speak once more, "Now, show me where you left off."
- - -
After God knows how many hours, I managed to finish my entire Potion's assignment. To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised we even got through half of it, with all times Hermione caught me zoning out; That girl has more patience than I could ever possess. If I could guess, I'd say it's about three o'clock in the morning. Everyone else had left hours ago, but due to the amount of time Hermione stays late to catch up on her studies, no one saw a reason to remind us of the curfew. After I packed away my newly finished work, we rose from the chairs we had not left for a great period of time, and made way towards the corridors.
"You did a great job, Ginny. I'm proud that you actually started paying attention towards the end. For a while, I thought that I'd have to write your entire essay on my own." Hermione joked. "I know, I'm sorry." I responded. "I've just had a lot of things on my mind. Couldn't concentrate all that well." We were walking back towards Gryffindor Tower, trying to keep our voices down, so no authority figure would catch us out of our beds at such a late hour. We didn't need any more points deducted, that's for sure. All thanks to Harry and my idiot brothers.
"Well, what's been preoccupying your thoughts? You can tell me anything, you know?" She said, in her trademark, 'loyal-friend' tone. DAMN, why did I even bring it up? Staying up so late is causing me to get delirious. "It's nothing, really. I'll figure it out on my own, eventually." I couldn't let her know. Not yet. "Gin, come on, just tell m-" At that moment, we heard echoing footsteps coming toward us. Hermione and I panicked. She, being a Prefect and all, couldn't risk being caught, for fear of being relieved of her position. Hermione spotted a near-by door. We weren't sure what it led to, but at least it was a spot to hide for a few moments, until the coast was clear again.
She grabbed me by the arm, and threw me behind the door, before shutting it behind herself. Lucky us; We stumbled upon a broom closet. Not for the kind used for Quidditch, no. As in where mops and buckets were stored, for Finch to clean up any mess that, Fred or George for example, would create through-out the day. It was the smallest of closets, at that. There was barely even any room for the both of us to fit in. Hermione and I were pressed so tightly together, that I don't doubt she was able to hear how fast my heart was racing, and it wasn't caused by the fear of being caught by a teacher. We were both breathing a little heavily, her reason probably different than mine. We could hear the footsteps draw closer, and then past the closet we were hiding in, until they drained out completely. That's when Hermione decided to continue our previous discussion.
"So..." She paused. "What was it that you can't get out of your head?" And here I thought this scare would make her forget all about that. I could already feel her hot breath upon me, with how close we were standing next to each other, and it nearly drove me over the edge of my sanity. "Okay, I'll spill..." I said, before doing the boldest thing I think I've ever been able to do; And THAT'S pretty fucking courageous. I don't know if it was my lack of sleep, or the excitement of the entire situation, but at that moment, I leaned in, and gave her the softest kiss I could muster. Clearly, she wasn't expecting anything of the sort, since she let out a gasp, behind the lips mine were pressed against. I felt like I was sinking, down into a warm depth, where hearts grew wings, and the only thing that mattered was population:us.
Given a few, too short seconds, I pulled back, trying to find her eyes in the darkness of the broom closet. I was so nervous, and the fact that I couldn't even see her facial expression didn't help any. She stayed quiet, while I mentally bit my nails down into nubs. This is what I meant by not doing anything you'd regret, stupid. Now she hates you. Or, did I regret it? The only word my mind seemed to know at that point, was 'no'.
I figured that I should probably say something at that point, to break the awkward silence. "Listen, I'm sorr-" I was cut off by her voice, finally letting itself be heard. "No, Gin. I think you've already said enough." I felt like a wrecking ball just smashed right into my stomach. I could feel my heart slowly tearing apart. I was prepared to hold back tears with all my might, until I felt those perfect lips pressed up against mine, for the second time that night. She kissed me. SHE kissed ME. For that first instant, I froze up, just in disbelief, before realizing that I should probably let her know exactly how much she means to me, by returning her gesture.
However short it was, that kiss summed up every positive feeling I've ever had. It was indescribable, and once it ended, I felt like I came smashing back down into a place just short of Heaven. And once you experience something that beautiful, and it's done, nothing ever shines quite the same way again. That is, until you visit Heaven again. That's how she made me feel, with just a kiss.
There was no awkward silence that time. No uncomfortable waiting. Because as soon as she parted our lips, Hermione reached for the door handle of that little closet, and went running back towards our Common Room. She was gone without a word, and before I could even begin thinking again. And then, everything that just happened came crashing down on me, leaving me floating back towards Gryffindor Tower, in a bliss that, in my mind, no one else could ever possibly experience.