Chapter Five: Hormones

Since the dance was Friday evening, Dumbledore had canceled all classes after lunch. Hermione's last class before lunch was Transfiguration. She finished taking her notes and looked at the time, willing it to go faster. She couldn't wait to get ready for the Ball even though she still had a few hours before she needed to. She also couldn't wait to see Ginny in her costume again. They would both certainly be the talk of the Ball but she didn't care. She just planned on having a good time with her friends and her girlfriend. Just as she was about to leave with the rest of the students, Hermione heard McGonagall call for her to stay behind. She set her things back down on her desk and walked up to where her professor was sitting. The older woman motioned to the chair in front of her desk and Hermione sat down.

"Yes professor?" McGonagall just looked at her with a cryptic expression on her face. She looked like she was studying Hermione's face, looking for something specific. It made the younger woman shift nervously in her seat. McGonagall took a deep breath to speak but did not break eye contact and neither did Hermione, mostly because she was afraid to.

"Miss Granger…Hermione," her professor started. Hermione had no idea what this was about and she wasn't exactly sure she wanted to know.

"It has recently come to my attention, that you are in an unusual relationship." Hermione narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"What do you mean unusual relationship?"

"I know about you and Miss Weasley." Hermione opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. "Hermione, as much as I love the both of you, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Snape…" Hermione said, now looking around absentmindedly, a million thoughts running through her head.

"Yes, Professor Snape told me. And as Severus pointed out, this relationship may be harmful to your future."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well I'm sure that you are aware that in the muggle world, it can be quite difficult for a…lesbian," McGonagall whispered the last word before continuing. "…to get a good job." Hermione nodded ever so slightly; she knew where her professor was going with this. "Well it's not much different in the wizarding world."

"So…" She was already thoroughly annoyed that she even had to have this conversation.

"So, with a mind like yours, you could be great. You could be the brightest witch of this century. I would hate for your future to be compromised by who you are dating."

"If you are suggesting that I stop seeing Ginny to protect what may or may not become of my future then I must sadly inform you that you have no right to decide who I do or don't date. I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave, yet you want me to take the cowardly way out. I really thought you were above being prejudicial."

"Hermione…" Hermione hated the look of hurt that she saw on the face of whom she once considered her mentor.

"I am very sorry professor but I'm not going to stop seeing Ginny just because you ask me to. She is my best friend and I care for her more than anything in this world." Hermione stood up and turned to leave but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a tearful Ginny standing in the back of the classroom. Ginny wiped her face and smiled when her girlfriend came walking towards her. Once they were out in the hall Ginny pulled Hermione aside.

"What was that all about?" Hermione took Ginny's hand, not really caring who saw her at the moment.

"Snape told McGonagall." Ginny's eyes went wide and Hermione nodded. "She wanted me to break up with you because it could compromise my future."

"She what?"

"I know. But then I…well I'm guessing you heard what I told her." Ginny smiled again and nodded.

"Did you really mean it?" Hermione smiled.

"Every word." She leaned forward and kissed Ginny lightly. When she pulled back Ginny was smiling but had tears in her eyes again.

"Come on, let's go get some lunch. I can't wait to stare at you all night in the sexy little costume of yours." Ginny blushed and grinned. She linked arms with Hermione and they headed towards the Great Hall.

"I can't wait to see you in yours either." Professor McGonagall had seen the interaction between the two girls and sighed.

"I'm terribly sorry Hermione. I can see that you are happy but I will find a way to convince you. You are much too brilliant to let your future go to waste," she said quietly as she watched Hermione and Ginny walk away.

Later that evening, Ginny went to Hermione's room, feeling slightly self-conscious walking around the castle wearing as little as she was. She could hear the paintings whispering as she walked by, but she tried to ignore them. She knocked on the door and Hermione opened it to let her in. She was almost ready but hadn't yet put on her stockings or heels.

"Wow, Gin. You look even better than I remember." Ginny smiled.

"Thanks. You look amazing also."

"Aw thank you. But I still have to put these things on," she said, grabbing her knee high stockings. She sat down on the bed and lifted on leg to pull one on. Ginny gulped as her eyes followed Hermione's hands up her tanned and toned leg. Then her eyes continued up that leg which turned into a thigh, which was in a position where she could perfectly see Hermione's white panties. She blushed even though Hermione wasn't paying attention. She forced herself to tear her eyes away and walked over to the bookshelf. It will come in time, she thought to herself and then laughed at her unintentional double meaning.

"What?" Hermione asked with slight amusement in her voice. The sudden noise had caused Ginny to jump nervously. She turned around to find Hermione standing right behind her, but she caught herself just before she jumped again.

"Nothing. I just…was picturing the look on everyone's faces when they see us," she said more calmly than she felt. Wow, I totally just pulled out of my ass. Hermione laughed when she pictured the reactions they were sure to get.

"Come on let's get down there." The two girls walked arm in arm to the Great Hall, but before heading in, Hermione dragged Ginny to a secluded area. She leaned back against the wall and pulled Ginny against her. Ginny gulped slightly, thinking about earlier in Hermione's room. She thanked god that she had some self-control. Hermione leaned down and captured Ginny's lips in a slow but passionate kiss. Ginny let her hands wander over Hermione's bare stomach, trying not to lose control. It was becoming extremely more difficult as she felt Hermione's tongue against her own and Hermione's hands sliding up the back of her thighs.

"Mmm, Hermione, if you expect me to be able to go in there you should probably stop now," Ginny said as she broke the kiss. Hermione smiled, gently squeezed Ginny's butt cheeks, causing the redhead to moan as her eyes fluttered shut. Hermione planted one last kiss, and took Ginny's hand to lead her back out into the hall.

"And you say I'm the evil one," Ginny whispered in Hermione's ear as they walked very closely. Her face was flushed from arousal and she had to force herself to stop staring at Hermione's cleavage. Even though Hermione was the one that had chosen to wait, she couldn't stop thinking about Ginny in a sexual way. She was always imaging her lying on her bed naked, screaming her name as she climaxed, and just laying together after sex. She knew that she wanted to have sex with Ginny but she didn't want it to be a quick fuck that was hurried and would be regretted the next morning. She wanted it to be slow and sensual and special. She kept telling herself that she would know when it was the right time, and she was extremely grateful that Ginny was so understanding. As soon as they stepped into the Great Hall, everyone's eyes were on them. They ignored the whispers, and a few whistles, as they walked over to Harry, Cho, Ron and Lavender.

"Hey guys," Hermione said with a warm smile. Both girls smirked at their reactions. Harry's eyes were about to explode out of his head, Cho's jaw hit the floor, Ron's gazed was basically glued to Hermione's chest (which didn't make Ginny too happy), and Lavender looked like she wanted to kill them.

"Uh…Her-Hermione, you look…wow!" Ron said, still staring at Hermione's chest.

"Yeah, I guess you look ok," Lavender said; her voice full of bitterness as she clung to Ron's arm.

"Thanks Ron. You guys all look great too. I love your costume Lavender. And Cho, yours is so cute," Hermione said politely. Lavender huffed and dragged Ron away, and Cho dragged Harry out on to the dance floor. Ginny looked around the room trying not to be jealous of the look she thought she saw Hermione give Cho. She knew she was probably imagining things and she didn't want to fight. Hermione, sensing Ginny's unease, stepped closer to her to whisper in her ear.

"Yes Cho looks cute. I'll admit that…" Ginny looked down at the floor before Hermione continued. "…but you…you just look gorgeous, beautiful, stunning, and last but certainly not least, absolutely and incredibly sexy." Ginny turned twenty different shades of red and turned her face so that she could look into Hermione's eyes.

"Thank you. I'm sorry about this. I'm not jealous…I trust you. I do. I guess I just don't trust anyone else." Hermione wrapped her arms around Ginny's neck, pulling her into a hug. No one would suspect anything because they hugged all the time before they started dating. Ginny had to pull away before her hands caused way too many questions from anyone that might be watching.

Throughout the night, both girls received many, many dance offers but they turned them down unless it was one of their close friends. As the dance floor became crowded for a fast song, Ginny dragged Hermione away from their table. There was very little room, so they were forced to dance close together, (not that either of them minded). During the song, someone bumped into Hermione and pushed her up against Ginny so that there was literally no space between them. Towards the end of the song, Ginny moved her leg between Hermione's and rubbed her thigh against Hermione's panties, causing the older girl to suck in a breath as her eyes fluttered shut. Ginny placed her hands on Hermione's bare sides and Hermione's rested on Ginny's neck. Hermione basically rode Ginny's thigh for the remainder of the song and fought to control her breathing; she was almost panting. Ginny was thoroughly aroused by the way Hermione was reacting to her but the song ended and the crowd started to dissolve so she had to step away. Hermione tried to clutch on to Ginny's body, forgetting for a few seconds where they were, but Harry's voice caused her to snap back to attention.

"You alright Hermione? You must have been dancing like crazy. You should probably sit down for a while." Hermione opened her eyes and saw Ginny in front of her, also trying to regulate her breathing. She caught the redhead's eyes and neither wanted to look away.

"Hello…Earth to Hermione…" Hermione blinked a few times and finally looked over at Harry.

"Uh-yeah. I think I'll go sit down for a while," she said with a blank expression on her face. She turned and walked to the table and could feel Ginny's presence right behind her. She had never felt like this before but she knew what it was. She could not…would not act on her hormones. That was exactly the way she did notwant it to happen.