This is quite a short chapter, but I needed to be on it's own.
The next thing Ginny was aware of, was Hermione squeezing her hand. Looking up, she looked directly into Hermione's brown eyes.
"Oh Hermione. I am so, so, so very sorry. This is all my fault." Ginny sobbed.
"No, Gin, please don't think like that. I don't blame you."
"You should. I left Hogwarts, and you came looking for me. I asked you to apparate us back here and you weren't ready."
"Ginny. Look." Hermione sighed. "I didn't have to go into Hogsmead to find you. There were other people that would have gone looking for you. You never asked me to go find you, but I insisted it be me. And apparating back here, well, that was my choice too. You have never forced me to do anything Gin. None of this is your fault. Unless, of course, you asked that Death Eater to stun me."
"Hermione," Ginny almost squealed. "I would never do..."
"Relax Ginny, I was joking with you." Hermione giggled.
"Why do you do that to me?"
"Cause you fall for it every time."
Ginny scowled, causing Hermione's giggling to continue. "Ok, quit it."
Hermione settled down and removed her hand from Ginny's. Unconsciously Ginny frowned. Hermione put her hand on Ginny's cheek. "Why the frown?"
"What?"
"You started frowning. I'm wondering why."
"I, I, did I? I don't know."
Hermione rubbed her thumb across Ginny's cheek, while her fingers stroked the back of Ginny's neck. "No frowning from you, you hear?"
Ginny could only nod. She liked what Hermione was doing. It scared her though, she didn't know why she was feeling this way.
"'Mione?" Ginny whispered.
"Yes?" Hermione replied just as softly.
"What are you doing?"
Ginny felt Hermione hesitate like she was going to stop but didn't. Ginny was thankful, she didn't want Hermione to stop.
"I don't know Gin. Do you want me to stop?"
"No. No, not really." Ginny leaned into Hermione's hand closing her eyes. "Not really at all." Hermione ran her thumb over Ginny's lips. Ginny opened her eyes and stared deeply into Hermione's. She lightly kissed Hermione's thumb.
Hermione move her hand and tried to sit up.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?"
"Sitting up, what does it look like?"
"No you're not." Ginny put her hand on the older girl's shoulder and pushed gently. "Lay back down."
"No! I want to sit up!"
"No! Lay down!"
"Dammit Ginny, why are you being so stubborn?"
"Me? You're the sick one. You're being stubborn, you should listen to me."
"I'm ok, I just want to sit up, I'm not asking to 'do a dance'."
Ginny rolled her eyes and sighed. "Fine then. Here let me help." Ginny leaned over. "Put your arms around my neck and I'll pull you up."
Hermione wrapped her arms around Ginny's neck and Ginny helped her up. "There. You happy now?"
"Yes. Yes I am." Hermione didn't move her arms from around Ginny's neck. "Very happy."
Ginny felt a slight pressure on the back of her neck but she didn't really need the prompting. Slowly she leaned in towards Hermione. Closing her eyes, she could feel Hermione pulling her in gently as Ginny put her lips to Hermione's.
She had that feeling back in her stomach and she intensified the kiss. Moving in as close as possible to Hermione, Ginny put her hand on the other girl's cheek and slowly and reluctantly pulled back.
"Um..."
Hermione grinned. "It's ok." She moved over to give Ginny some room on the bed then patted it. "Sit? Please?"
Ginny moved to the bed, but instead of sitting she half laid down. "This ok?"
Hermione nodded and pulled Ginny back into her. Ginny never hesitated and kissed Hermione deeply. Ginny gently pushed Hermione onto her back. She put her hand on Hermione's waist and let out a very soft moan. She could feel Hermione smile and Ginny blushed and stopped.
"Don't stop."
"I don't know. Hermione, I... I've... I don't know."
"You're scared?"
Ginny only nodded.
"So am I but I can also feel that this is right and this is what I want. I want you Ginny it has never been so ..."
"Ginny? Ginny?"
Ginny felt a hand on her shoulder and awoke with a start. "What? What's happening."
"It's time for you to go Ginny." Ron said sharply. "You fell alseep."
"I..." Ginny looked shattered. "Fell asleep?" She finished very quietly.
"Yes, now leave. I want to be with my girlfriend."
