CHAPTER 3

"Stop letting her affect you like this. It's what she wants! You know better than anyone how she thrives on throwing others off balance." Following her confrontation with Ginny, Hermione had fled to the quiet solace of her Hogwarts apartments where she had been pacing and talking aloud to herself since.

"So just don't let her see you upset! Right. And while you're at it stop looking at her like she's Christmas dinner and you're a starving person. Oh, excellent Hermione. Sarcasm is REALLY going to help you out in this situation. Why not call up Ron and ask his advice while you're at it? I'm sure he'd LOVE to hear all about the sexual tension his sister stirs up in you whenever you see her. Or think of her. Or smell her. Or taste her... AARRRGGGGGG!!"

Hermione had always taken pride in her ability to rationalize any situation out and proceed accordingly. Unfortunately, she was up against something that few, if any out there, could compete against. Much less think about rationally when face-to-face with. This, of course, was the Ginny Weasley Affect.

The demise of Lord Voldemort had taken the wizarding world a bit by surprise. A happy surprise though it was, it was still a surprise to wake up one rather ordinary day to discover that Voldemort and very nearly all of his followers had been slain by Harry Potter, The Order of the Phoenix, and Hogwarts students in a massive battle that took place at Hogwarts. Life seemed to come to a halt as parties were held, toasts made, and a huge sigh of relief released. But as wizards and witches reverted back to their lives prior to Voldemorts' return, it was quickly made apparent that the wizarding world needed a happy obsession to help the healing process. What better to focus on than the 'Golden Trio'?? The same trio that had eluded capture from the darkest wizard and his followers for a year? The same trio that initiated the demise of that same dark lord?

In the dawn of Voldemorts' death owls flocked the skies to deliver the good news with Harry Potter and his 'sidekicks,' as they were sometimes referred to as, smiling up from the front pages. Thus, setting the news reporting tone for months to come. People couldn't get enough of the trio. They were celebrities and could hardly go to the store without finding pictures from that excursion appear in the following mornings' paper.

Naturally, Harry bore the brunt of the obsession. Then, something funny happened over time. It was no secret that Harry despised constant photography and myriad of stories that appeared in the papers. At the time, he and Ginny had reconnected and started dating again. Following her graduation from Hogwarts, Ginny had been recruited by the Chudley Cannons to tryout for a chaser position on the team. As the newest member, and breakout all-star of the European Quidditch League, Ginny only added fuel to the fire surrounding her and Harry's relationship. However, over time the media stopped following Harry around all the time and began simply following Ginny out of their London apartment. When a story appeared in the paper it was about Ginny's latest match. Whereas Harry had never taken a liking to the celebrity lifestyle, Ginny bore the fame easily. The once shy, awkward, youngest Weasley Harry met all those years ago, had morphed into a radiant, beautiful, and talented Quidditchstar. People loved her. Young girls and boys walls were filled with smiling pictures of Ginny Weasley. Toy figurines featured Ginny waving and laughing. Ginny Weasely had become a household name.

When everything seemed to be going perfectly for the youngest Weasley, it all came crashing down. One minute she was bearing down on the opposing goal with the quaffle tucked under one arm when a bludger came flying at her from below. While the bludger just missed her, it broke her broom in half sending dozens of wood splinters flying everywhere. Four of the larger splinters managed to fly straight up into Ginny's face, stabbing her eyes and blinding her. Quick thinking teammates pulled out their wands allowing Ginny to float to the ground, unconscious from the shock and pain. When Ginny woke up she was lying in a hospital with her mother and Harry beside her. Although the splinters were easily removed with magic, the damage they had done had left serious damage. The doctors assured her that they would be able to reverse the damage done to her eyes over time, but that her season was over.

Two months later, Ginny Weasleyhad fully regained her 20/20 vision. One month after that she gave her Cannons coach notice she would not be returning. Another month later she packed up her bags, sent a majority of her belongings to the Burrow where her mother assured her she would store them for her, and was in the process of leaving the flat she shared with Harry when he arrived home early from work.

Flashback

"Hey Gin, how's my girl?" Harry asked coming in to find her sitting at their kitchen table.

Harry leaned over to plant a kiss on her lips but only managed to touch her cheek as she turned her head away. Straightening up he raised his eyebrows in worry as he took in her hunched shoulders and lack of eye contact.

"I'm leaving." Ginny muttered.

"Where?" Harry knew Ginny was not simply going out to pick up some eggs.

"To the Burrow for a couple months. Then to Hogwarts. McGonagall wrote and offered me the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position some time ago. I accepted."

Harry looked intently into Ginny's face. When a minute passed in silence, Ginny finally looked up at Harry. The stress and fatigue that had been plaguing the young woman in the months following her accident could be seen in the bags under her eyes and hollowness of her eyes as they stared back at him.

Harry cleared his voice.

"What about Quidditch? Is that it then??"

"As much as I love the sport and my teammates, it was never a permanent thing. I had always planned on playing for a while before doing something else. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to find that 'something else'."

"So can I visit you? Or is that talk about finding 'something else,' also refer to our relationship?" Harry despised the bitterness coating his every word but for months he had felt Ginny pulling away and had tried everything to be the perfect boyfriend. He gave her space when she asked for it, came home early nearly everyday (not easy for an Auror!), attended her trips to the healers for her eye appointments, and exhausted himself trying to get the Ginny he knew back.

"I think it would be best if you didn't." Ginny couldn't stand the defeated look in Harry's eyes any longer. Standing up she pushed her chair in and grabbed her coat off the back of it. Expecting Harry to leave it at that, she had turned and began walking out. The sound of his voice stopped her a step short of the door.

"What happened? I thought we were good together. Happy. What happened?" Harry asked quietly.

"We were. I was happy with you. I know I would have been happy as Mrs. Potter. But Harry, just being happy and comfortable in a relationship isn't enough for me anymore. I thought it would be. I was wrong. I'm so sorry that I'm hurting you. Please know that it's the last thing I would ever want to do. I love you. I'll always love you. Just not the way you want or deserve to be loved." Ginny replied in an equally quiet voice.

When it was apparent that there was nothing more to be said on the matter, Ginny walked out of the kitchen and out of Harry's life. For the first time in the years since the end of the war, Harry Potter put his head down and cried.

During the months spent at the Burrow, Ginny felt the weight of depression easing out of her mind body. What she told Harry had been the truth. Her relationship with Harry had been a happy time. What she hadn't told him was that it had lacked something from the beginning. Something she had been trying to find with him all during their time together. That same something she had only ever felt with one other person. Passion.

Shaking her head to help clear it from the trip down memory lane, Ginny smiled wryly at her reflection in the mirror.

"Just breathe and relax. You have plenty of time to woo one Hermione Granger. Lets not rush it or she may feel inclined to hex us with some new improved spell only she can reverse. While we're at it, please stop referring to yourself in the third person as you talk to the mirror. It cant be healthy." Ginny glared at herself before sighing.

She was supposed to be getting ready to have dinner with the other Hogwarts professors but all she could think about was seeing Hermione earlier and the feelings she had stirred in the redhead. One of which included tackling the older woman to the ground, ripping their clothes off, and having her way with her.

Ginny smirked.

"I wonder what Miss Granger would have said to that."

Images of a naked Hermione moaning and clutching at Ginny as she bucked her hips, grinding her soaking wet center into the warmth of Ginny's mouth, played before Ginny's eyes and she gasped. Clutching at the edge of her desk to steady herself from suddenly weak knees, Ginny groaned.

"I've got it bad. Christ. Suck it up Weasley! Stop thinking about a naked Hermione." Instantly another, equally arousing image surfaced, this time with Ginny plundering Hermione's mouth as the fingers of her right hand slid into and out of the brunette at an increasing pace.

She was definitely going to have to change her underwear.

"So Miss Weasely, will you be helping give students flying lessons? I'm sure they all would be most excited at the prospect of receiving pointers from a former professional Quidditch player."

"Doubtful Professor Flitwick, I'm sure my lessons will keep me quite busy. Besides, Madam Hooch is an exceptional flying teacher." Ginny exchanged smiles with her one-time flying teacher and Quidditch referee.

After a brief introduction by the Headmistress, Ginny had made small talk with a number of other professors and the dinner had gone by smoothly. They were all now simply sitting, drinking tea or coffee, and talking about the upcoming feast and arrival of students. The small fears Ginny had of fitting in had vanished as the other staff members made it a point of being very friendly and welcoming towards Ginny. All save one.

Looking across the long table she managed to make eye contact with Hermione before the latter turned to make conversation with Pomfrey, the school nurse. Ginny narrowed her eyes briefly before a small grin appeared as an idea formed.

"Hermione!" Ginny said just loudly enough to catch the attention of the professors sitting on either side of them. Hermione looked at Ginny with some surprise. She thought she had made it obvious that she didn't want to talk to her.

"Yes Professor Weasley?"

Ginny gave a little laugh.

"Professor Weasely?? Honestly Hermione. It's going to be hard enough responding to that name from the students, don't you start calling me that!" Ginny grinned as the those listening laughed. The other professors all knew that the two young women had enjoyed a fairly close friendship during their own years at Hogwarts and assumed that they still maintained a friendship.

Hermione cleared her throat and forced a smile.

"Just thought I'd practice referring to you as Professor before the students arrive." Hermione replied.

"Well, I'd still like to hear you calling out my first name when we're alone." Ginny smirked as Hermione shot a quick glare her way at the redheads' choice of words.

"Of course. So what was it you wanted?" Hermione just wanted this particularly awkward conversation to be over.

"I was hoping you would give me a tour of the school and grounds." Ginny smiled brightly. Hermione stared.

"A tour? You ATTENDED Hogwarts. Why would you need a tour?" Hermione was confused and she hated being confused.

"Well, it's been years since I've been back and I just thought it would be nice to see what has changed in the rebuilding and to catch up with you. It's good to see you." Ginny hoped her sweet and innocent face still worked as convincingly now as it had years ago as a student.

"That's a marvelous idea! I'm sure Hermione would love to take this time to show you the renovations to the grounds. What a lovely idea." McGonagall said before Hermione could respond to Ginny.

"Excellent! Well, thank you all for a wonderful dinner. I'm very excited to be working alongside such an intelligent group of people. Goodnight!" Ginny said to the table as she got up and walked around to the other side.

"Thank you Headmistress. I'll see everyone in the morning. Have a pleasant night." Hermione smiled at the group before turning to exit with Ginny.

The two young women walked alongside each other down the hall, neither ready to break the silence.

What am I doing? I thought I was going to take my time. Not practically force her to accompany me! Hermione doesn't respond well when someone forces her into situations. Ginny frowned.

Why am I doing? Oh yea, that's right. I'm giving Ginny Weasely a 'tour' of Hogwarts. The same Ginny Weasely that tormented and stayed one step ahead of those despicable Carrows during her 6th year. And how did she stay hidden from them and other death eaters that wanted to use her and other students against their parents? By using her extensive knowledge of the halls and classrooms of Hogwarts Castle. Yet here I am. All because Minerva still falls for her 'I'm cute and innocent, love me!' face! Of course, I was the biggest sucker for that look. Hermione frowned.

Ginny, keeping her head facing forward, darted her eyes to the corner to peek at Hermione. She watched as a myriad of emotions ran across Hermione's face before a frown settled over her beautiful features. As brunette slowly turned her head to regard her companion, Ginny whipped her eyes forward so as not to be caught staring. Hearing a soft clearing of the throat, a sense of foreboding filled her and Ginny grimaced in anticipation. She knew what was coming.

"Ginny, we need to talk."

A/N: Thanks to all my silent readers and those that take the time to comment!!

zoner04- Thanks! great to have a new reader.

wtchiktonks-Sorry about the short chapters! still trying to get this story fully outlined but they should start getting longer. i look forward to making you go "hmm" lol. sorry no G/Hr flashbacks this chapter! i promise there will be next time.

realized- I'm glad you liked the glasses! it's funny, i'm a teacher yet there i was writing about them and getting a little jealous that my girlfriend can't make me glasses like those for when my students are being obnoxious so i can just pretend to listen. lol

saadzaman126- glad you liked it!

lita rocks LbC-do i still get a cookie 2 weeks later? i love cookies!! me and that cookie monster are tight. i like choc. chip. working on the longer chapters! i'm easily distracted so it's not my fault. blame my parents. DNA and all that. i'm hyper? thanks? lol. yea, i think i just had extra amounts of coffee in my system when i wrote those. i'm glad you liked it!! can i have my cookie now?

Abilenadyke-thanks! i've got a lil tiny idea where this is going but for the most part i'm just pounding away at the keys hoping i spell things while i chug coffee and eat skittles. lol. that's really not an attractive picture i just painted of myself. eh

La Rose de Noir- they're my fav pairing too! can't get enough so just started writing my own fic. i like the image of Ginny getting under Hermione's skin so the tension will definitely be an ongoing them. the glasses was my favorite part to write so i'm glad you liked it! and i bet you could write an equally amusing story, probably better!! in fact, as a fellow lover of all things hermione/ginny i insist! there's not enough good fics of them out there. do it! do it! do it! do it! do it!

HPequalsgreatlit- i should be taking notes from you! you rock in the whole 'update stories' genre! i'm glad to hear that the bond means as much to you as it does to me :)

Rajuu-it takes a sneak to know when someone else is trying to be sneaky back at them! or something like that. lol. i agree w/ u-- they do seem pretty perfect! more cute/tender flashback moments are on the way