A/N: Hey everyone! Hope everyone is doing well (I'm feeling better finally)! So I was so encouraged by all the great reviews that I decided to post this one up before I said I would :) endless thanks for all your support! It feels good to know that people are reading what I'm posting, so thanks again! Please don't forget to review and let me know what you guys think.
Disclaimer: JK owns it.
Chapter 9:
It took a second for Hermione to believe her eyes. In front of her stood a miserable looking Ginny; her eyes were still red and her cheeks were blotchy and tear stained. The girl sniffled and gave a weak smile. Before she could say anything Hermione let out a deep breath she didn't know she was holding and engulfed Ginny in a bone crushing hug. As she held the young girl in her arms she felt relief wash over her.
Almost as soon as she felt Hermione's arms around her Ginny responded to the hug with equal fervor. She didn't fully understand why but she felt safe for the first time all day. With a sigh she felt the flame in her heart grow and let herself become filled with its warmth. The moment she smelled Hermione's scent she instinctively tightened her hold on the older witch; needing the contact more than she had expected.
Both girls just stood holding each other for what seemed like ages. Ginny felt a smile creep up her face as she realized Hermione hadn't let go yet. Gods this feels so good, so natural. She thought. It was when she remembered the reason why she had ended up in Hermione's flat in the first place that reality came crashing back to her. Her feeling of contentment was quickly replaced by embarrassment forcing her to slowly break the embrace.
When she pulled back she was surprised to see Hermione's eyes welled up with tears. The older witch responded to Ginny's shocked expression with a bashful smile. With a shaky hand Hermione wiped the lone tear that was rolling down her cheek and let out a short incredulous laugh that was mainly directed to herself for being so emotionally transparent.
"I'm so glad to see you" the brunette choked out.
Ginny took a step back and decided to pay close attention to the floor.
Hermione felt Ginny's mood change and looked at the girl curiously. A moment later the redhead looked up and locked her gaze.
"You were looking for me?" She asked in bewilderment. Sure she had expected her parents to be sick with worry, and her brothers even, but she didn't expect Hermione to be so worked up over it. Something about that made her heart skip a beat.
"Yes - we all were! You're family is worried sick Gin" the redhead nodded her head solemnly and broke the eye contact again.
"Yeah, I know. Do you mind if I come in?" She said with a little hope in her voice.
"Oh goodness! Of course. Please come in" Hermione opened the door to her flat and ushered Ginny towards the living room. Instead of sitting down with the girl the brunette stood in front of her nervously.
"Can I get you anything? Tea? Pumpkin juice? I think I might have some butterbeer in here too"
Hermione felt the now familiar Ginny-induced butterflies take over her stomach once again. She felt even more anxious when she noted that this was the first time Ginny had been to her flat.
"Tea is fine. Thank you" Ginny responded evenly also starting to feel that tingly sensation she always got when she was alone with the older witch.
With a few whisks of her wand Hermione effectively put the water to boil and summoned two tea cups. She sat down on the couch on the opposite side of Ginny and saw the redhead raise her eyebrow at her.
"Impressive kitchen spells"
"Thanks. Your mum taught me actually" she chuckled.
"I suspected as much"
There was a very awkward silence that followed. Hermione was debating with herself on how bring up the elephant in the room. Unable to decide what was the most tactful way to discuss such an issue she decided she would stay quiet and wait for Ginny to bring it up instead.
"So I'm guessing you've heard? Or saw actually" the young witch laughed bitterly before covering her face with her hands and letting out a deep breath.
"Yes. I did." She struggled to end the sentence there even though there were about a million things racing through her mind threatening to come out.
Ginny nodded again and stared off to space. Hermione waited patiently giving Ginny all the time she needed to say whatever she wanted to her. Finally the young witch came back from wherever her mind had gone and looked at Hermione determinedly.
"I-" she closed her eyes and took a deep breath "I-I didn't know. Gods this is such a bloody mess. How could I have been so naive? I never thought … I just didn't think period. Stupid bloody pictures!"
Hermione saw Ginny's face turn crimson with anger. Not really sure how to respond Hermione just stood still and waited for Ginny to calm down.
"What happened? If you don't mind me asking" she asked probed gently.
"It was just a couple of pictures. How on earth did Rita Skeeter find them! Or a better question, how did they end up published by a magazine!" Feeling herself getting worked up again Ginny took a deep breath to reign in the emotions that were erupting inside of her.
"I'm sorry. I guess it would be easier to just explain form the beginning. So my final year of school was when I first found out I had a real chance of making the Harpies. My coach pulled me aside one day after practice and told me that a scout from the Harpies would be attending a few of the games towards the end of the season. I was ecstatic- I mean it was my dream come true. Right after that happened a girl that played in the opposing team came up to me and told me she was also going to be trying out for the same spot. By that point I had heard that this girl had found about the team recently and had taken interest in it. I personally think is because she was looking for an excuse to move to London. Her parents never let her because she was the oldest and responsible for carrying out their family's business -they are very wealthy you see. Anyway, bottom line is that she randomly wanted to try out for the spot I've been dreaming my entire life for. On top of that she had the nerve to tell me that I would never make it because... because I was poor and my broom wasn't up to "professional" standards."
Hermione carefully moved closer to redhead placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder reassuringly. The younger witched looked at her and Hermione gave her a caring smile accompanied by a brief nod urging her to continue.
"Looking back it was so stupid, but I was desperate. Despite my best efforts I let that stupid girl's words get to me. I didn't want to risk not making the team just because I didn't have the proper resources. I couldn't let that be a determining factor. So I... "
She took another deep breath to contain the tears that were threatening to fall. When she felt Hermione's hand rubbing her shoulder she felt millions of bolts of electricity strike through her body. That small contact told her everything was okay, that she was safe now, and that she was taken care of.
"So I- I had heard of muggle photographers that paid a lot of money for pictures. So I found an ad in a muggle newspaper. It said it was for an art project for some muggle university so I went. It wasn't terrible- they were actually quite nice. Once it was over I got paid and that was about it. I didn't really think much of it. I mean, it took me days to finally find the nerve to go in the first place. I kept thinking of mum, and what she would have said if she had seen me. But then I convinced myself that it wasn't necessarily terrible, I wasn't completely naked, and on top of that how would anyone I know ever see them." She let out an incredulous snort "how wrong I was"
"Oh Gin" Hermione exclaimed quickly putting her arms around the redhead again. She held Ginny tightly and was about to pull back when she felt heard a sob escape from the young witch.
"Sh Sh, Gin its going to be ok" She whispered in the girl's ear. Ginny turned and fell into Hermione again. The brunette slowly rocked them both and didn't stop until she felt Ginny stop crying.
The redhead pulled away and dried her face with the sleeve of her shirt.
"Thanks" she said gratefully
"Please don't thank me that's what I'm here for. Look, I know things seem terrible now, but everyone knows that Rita Skeeter is an insufferable woman and that most of what she says is rubbish. So please don't take her article at heart-gods knows not many people will. I'm sure that this will blow ever in no time. You're the best player in the team Gin; they'd be daft to want you gone."
Ginny shrugged and sniffled.
"I did get a letter from coach this morning" she relented
"and?"
"well... they want me in the team. They asked me what was true and what was not from that article and said that my position wasn't jeopardized or anything."
"that's excellent Gin! You see I told you!" Hermione beamed with happiness
" Ha, yeah I guess it's not too bad. They do, however, want me to go to an image consultant. Whatever that is."
"That's just a person whose job is to advice on how to create, maintain or fix a certain image for a person. It's pretty common in the muggle world. Nothing terrible I assure you. Though I still don't think you need it."
"Yeah well we'll see. I have an appointment with her tomorrow."
"They waste no time I see" she smirked good naturedly
"Not when it comes to quidditch- can't afford to. It usually takes priority over everything you know" she teased. The older witch rolled her eye at the comment. When she looked at Ginny again she felt an incredible urge to close the distance between them and make those lips hers again. Ginny's gaze did not waver, it remained lost in Hermione's sparkling brown eyes; she also felt that impulse to take Hermione right then and there and to escape reality in her arms once more.
Reminding herself that this was most definitely not the time to try and get into Ginny's pants Hermione broke the eye contact and looked towards the now ready cups of tea that were on the dining table. It was then when she remembered,
"Bollocks! I need to owl your parents" she practically jumped out of the sofa and rushed through her flat looking for parchment. Before she got too far she turned around towards Ginny again.
"Do you mind if I tell them you're here? They've been sick with worry" she asked hoping the girl would agree. She didn't think she could not tell Molly where her daughter was even if Ginny had refused.
"I guess. Gods what must she think of me?" she wondered out loud. She's going to kill me.
"She's not thinking anything Gin except that she wants to know you're safe. I've been with them all day trying to find you and I can assure you they will support you no matter what. You have my word"
"Ok..." she said dubiously. Finding her Gryffindor courage she straightened herself out and felt reinvigorated "owl her. I'm ready"
Hermione took a piece of parchment from her desk and quickly wrote a note to the Weasley's. When she turned back to Ginny she found the redhead scrutinizing her flat.
"It's really nice" Ginny said in approval
"Thanks" she blushed feeling rather self conscious. The flat was probably bigger than she needed but her parents had insisted on this flat so she had to take it. Hermione cleared her throat and before she could stop herself she asked
"would you like to stay the night?" Ginny's eyes went wide at the proposition. "I -I have a guest bedroom if you'd like to stay there. I don't mind" she finished timidly tucking a loose curl behind her ear.
"Thanks Hermione. It really means a lot - you have no idea, but I think I should get home it's gotten pretty late. I'll go to the Burrow as soon as a wake up and then I have that appointment with the consultant or whatever. But thank you. I really appreciate you listening and being so supportive after what I've done" She stood from the sofa and Hermione followed.
"Please Ginny it's hardly the end of the world. I'm your friend and I-I'll be here no matter what." She tried to put as much meaning as she could behind her words. She was rewarded with a bright smile form the younger witch. A second later Ginny took a step forward and planted a small kiss on the brunette's cheek.
"Thank you - again" she said referencing the last words they had exchanged during their previous encounter.
Hermione was rendered speechless. Not trusting her voice now she nodded and smiled tenderly at the witch, her cheeks flushing a bright pink at the unexpected gesture.
With a small plop Ginny was gone.
"Any time Gin, any time"
A/N2: so what do you guys think? who is this image consultant? hmmm...things might get interesting. I have a pretty laid back weekend so I hope to post something again soon. :) HAPPY FRIDAY!