Breaking Boundaries
By: Somewhere Sky
Disclaimer: Of course, as always - the rights to the Harry Potter realm of fiction belongs solely to
J.K. and her brilliant mind. Although I may admit, I shall always be slightly jealous.
Chapter 7:
The Tales of Keen & Greggor
Hermione hadn't spoken to Ginny since her outburst on the train. She did feel incredibly bad about what had happened, and she truly did care for the other witch; but Hermione still hadn't figured out why she felt so glum. She never cared once what people thought of her, she had always been teased because of her intelligence, ridiculed because of her association with Harry Potter, and many times Hermione found that being herself led to a lot of trouble – was this why she didn't want anyone to know of there relationship? She did want this to be the real thing, she wanted this red-headed, beautiful woman to be by her side for always, now why couldn't she tell Ginny that?
Hermione laid her fore-head down on the table in the great hall. She should be happy, they were back at school, Voldemort was gone, and she was surrounded by friends – maybe it was the fact that Hermione's one true love had died, and to be with another woman would mean to open up the blockade she had let build for so long. Before Hermione even knew of Hogwarts and of Wizardry, Hermione lived with her parents, an only child – and not very good with "making friends". Being an insufferable know-it-all for Hermione didn't have a great deal of advantages – instead it left her incredibly alone.
The last semester at Hermione's school, Hermione had managed to befriend a young lady named Quinn. She was really a gentle spirit, and she cared just as deeply about her studies as Hermione did. They had spent a very large sum of their time together that year, becoming quite inseparable. Hermione's parents weren't comfortable with amount of time Hermione spent with Quinn, they found the girl to be strange – and than Hermione received her letter. She had stashed it under her pillow and slept on it every second since it's arrival, the same night Quinn kissed Hermione - she had also found the letter. Now by this time Hermione had researched everything she possibly could about magic, and one of the things she had learned – was that there was a statute of secrecy not to be broken. Quinn had discovered her secret – but surprisingly enough, it wasn't of disgust or horror, it was of excitement.
Quinn had received a letter just like it, only she had been invited to Bauxbatons due to her very unique french heritage. The girls spent all day every day discussing magic, and when Hermione came home for summers following – they spent it just the same – together.
It was the year of the Tri-wizard tournament that everything had changed, Quinn had heard the rumours, and Hermione had filled her in on the facts. For years they had been discussing the details of their lives, Hermione always mentioning her adventures and misdemeanours. Quinn had been supportive and wonderful, even occasionally nervous for Hermione to go back. Something about Quinn had changed though one night in July, Hermione was soon to be leaving for the Weasley's Burrow, and Quinn seemed as though she was hiding something – and that's when it happened, at first it was just a quick soft kiss, but when Quinn noticed Hermione's want for another one, Quinn had embraced the bright witch. Quinn's arms had felt so natural wrapped around Hermione in an intimate embrace. Hermione kissed Quinn black, moving her blonde hair away from her face and enveloping her into what eventually became something more drastic, something neither of them had expected so young, at only fifteen the girls found themselves falling in love and making it too.
The following summer Hermione discovered that Quinn had died during the final semester before their sixth year, she hadn't received a letter in the mail, or an note from her parents. No one told Hermione, she unfortunately discovered what had happened when she went home. Her parents told her they had just been informed by Quinn's parents that she was killed in a muggle car accident on their way home for the winter holidays. Hermione remained tortured ever since, and than she had fallen in love with Ron, but it just wasn't the same – and Ginny... it was so beautiful being with Ginny, everything seemed so perfect that it scared Hermione. She couldn't bare to lose someone else, she couldn't let her heart be shaken so dramatically again. Hermione knew what she had to do, but before she could – McGonagall had a final announcement as the New Headmistress of Hogwarts.
"You've all demonstrated a great moral responsibility that not many youth have encountered, most of you if not all have contributed to the downfall and riddance of an incredible evil, I applaud you; for it took not only a great amount of courage – but also a great amount of sacrifice." McGonagall said to them, it seemed different having her speak to them rather than their beloved Dumbledore.
"I want to assert a great amount of attention towards our new goal as we move on from the grief we've all endured these last seven years. I stress to you the need to find common ground with your opposing houses, you may find that friendships will arise from doing so. You must know, that now more than ever there needs to be a no-tolerance policy for behaviours that target indifference." McGonagall looked toward Gryffindor table as the words trickled out of her mouth, and followed to stare down at all of the Slytherin's as well.
"Please, you will find that I'm not wrong in telling you to do this. In fact, you may thank all of us here at Hogwarts for granting you such a rewarding experience. Now, your belongings of course will be in your dorms – if the Head Boy & Girl – Yes that's you Mr. Finch-Fletchey & Miss Granger, stop by my office before your classes tomorrow morning." and with her last statement, the tables cleared and Hermione found herself chasing after a certain red-head who deserved a bit of an explanation. If Hermione was going to let herself fall in love again – it was going to be with Ginny Weasley, she just hoped that she hadn't completely ruined things with the younger witch.
Unfortunately, Hermione was left to direct first-years towards the Gryffindor dormitory. She remembered how big Hogwarts had seemed in her first year, she could just imagine the stories these small children had heard before arriving. Hagrid was always one to boast about his favourites.
"Come along now, Gryffindor First-Years this way please – I know it's big, but just watch your step as you climb the staircases." Hermione yelled amongst the crowd of small bodies, they all drowned in their tiny uniforms, but their smiles were enlightening – they were excited to be there, excited to learn and get started, just as she had once upon a time.
It reminded her of a fairytale she had heard once, of Keen and Greggor – Two wizard brothers, one who found excitement in learning and the other who sought success through violence and laziness. When both were chosen to be in different houses, and than to compete against one another in a similar competition to the Tri-wizard tournament, it was Keen who had succeeded, for Greggor had forgotten to study.
The fairytale was what inspired her to be the better of the two choices, that Hermione couldn't help but enjoy the act of learning. She smiled as she directed the First years up the first staircase.
"Don't forget to be careful, these staircases are extremely tricky – don't go looking for things either – if the staircase changes, wait for it to change back before you proceed to go anywhere forbidden. Believe me, you may just learn the hard way." Hermione warned them. Fluffy was one puppy she wouldn't had minded avoiding in their time.
"Hermione, who's that?" One of the First-years asked– a kind looking a girl, with large brown bushy hair herself. Hermione smiled.
"That's Sir Nicholas." Hermione pointed out.
"You mean, nearly-headless Nick?" A boy asked her from the back of the line, she nodded but gave him a knowing look – Hermione wasn't going to be too intrigued if she found herself face-to-face with the reality of just how Nearly Headless Nick had gotten his name.
"Hello Sir Nichlos, these are the Gryffindor First Years"
"Well Hello there! You're in good hands here, Hermione is the brightest witch of her age!" He yelled across the large circular room as he floated away to speak with the Fair Lady.
"Password?" the portrait of the fat lady asked.
"This is the fat lady, and the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, if you don't know the password – well, you best just wait until someone comes along who does."
"Caput Draconis" Hermione says loudly enough for only the first years to hear.
"Girls Dormitory is on the right, and the boys on the left. I'll see you for breakfast!" She yells across to them. Finally, Hermione is left without her minions, just in time to find Ginny sitting alone on one of the couches. Hermione, without any consideration to what she was about to do – jumps beside the young redhead, embracing her in a familiar entanglement where she's found kissing Ginny. Soft light kisses that made Ginny shiver with excitement. Hermione was hers again.
"Wow Hermione – I .. I didn't know. Honestly, I'm really sorry." Ginny whispered to her as they lay arms wrapped around one another in Ginny's bed. Hermione knew the other girls could wake up any second, but in that moment they didn't even exist.
"No one did Gin, it was just something I had kept to myself for so long, I think the war was just a great big reminder of how horrible it feels to lose someone close to you." She said, kissing Ginny.
The two girls had been talking all night, just wrapped around each other in warm embraces, and passionate kissing. Hermione hadn't felt this happy in a long time when with another woman. No guy was ever good enough, they never compared – when Hermione kissed Quinn, she knew there was a spark that no male could ever compete with, and now with Ginny that spark was back, only it had electrified.
Hermione walked Ginny to breakfast, their hands held tightly between them – no eyes stopped to wander, they just accepted the fact that the two girls were in love, of course some boys had gaped but when they did Hermione and Ginny laughed to themselves afterword. Professor Sprout handed out the timetables to the students, as she did this Hermione and Ginny discussed how to explain to the boys what was going on. Hermione hoped that they would be accepting – as her best friends she hoped they wouldn't care. Before they arrived Hermione quickly kissed Ginny on the cheek not realizing who had been watching.
Okay Seventh Chapter finally complete, and now you all know why Hermione has been so horrible to Ginny, and why she's been so glum and sad. Who do you think is watching? Ron? Harry? A teacher maybe? You'll soon find out! I'm hoping to get Chapter number Eight up in the next couple of days, I have a few days off so I'll have plenty of time to get it down. As always, Read & Review!
Somewhere Sky