Hermione put her fingers to her lips in a happy daze as she walked back to her common room, forgetting about the rest of her patrol. She kissed me and she likes me. She really likes me. She smiled. It was a small smile at first but it very quickly grew into a huge grin. "She likes me!" Hermione exclaimed to herself. She felt the laughter bubble up from somewhere deep inside her.
She was still grinning like a fool when she walked into the common room. Ginny spotted her instantly.
"Somebody looks happy." Ginny said easily, amusement filling her eyes. "Catch someone from Slytherin out or something?"
"Ginny." Hermione stared at her best friend for a moment then she laughed and pulled Ginny into herself for a hug. "Ginny! You're bloody brilliant." Hermione laughed. "I could kiss you right now!"
"I know I'm brilliant, but why don't you save the kissing for someone else." Ginny laughed along with the older girl. "Now why am I so brilliant?"
"Oh I've had the most wonderful day today." Hermione sat, "Was it really this morning I woke up so confused?"
"Are you going to clue me in here or not?"
"I took your advice." Hermione said with a bright grin. "I've never felt happier Ginny. Never. I feel so light right now."
"You took my advice?" Ginny questioned seriously trying to get Hermione to say something that made sense.
"When you said I should just tell her how I feel. This morning, you remember." Hermione tried to calm down enough to tell the story. "I thought about it all morning, but when I saw her before dinner, I greeted her way more enthusiastically then I meant to because I was so happy to see her and she looked so cute with that lost look on her face then she smiled at me and everything just… it clicked." Hermione sighed it was a content sound. "So I talked to her tonight. I told her how I was feeling and she likes me. She kissed me Ginny and it felt amazing." Then Hermione frowned. "But she says we have to wait. She's got something to take care of."
"You…" Ginny stared at the girl in front of her. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Hermione."
"I am the real Hermione. Why would you think I'm not?"
"Hermione, you're saying you took my advice, AND you're talking about liking another girl as if it were the most common thing in the world. YOU. Hermione Granger." Ginny shook her head. "You snapped at me this morning when I suggested your crush was a girl."
"I did?"
"You did."
"This morning feels like so long ago." She sighed again.
"So… are you going to tell me who this lucky girl is?" Ginny asked raising an eyebrow. "Or are you going to make me guess?"
"I…" Hermione frowned. "I don't know if she's okay with me saying anything." She realized.
"If I guess will you tell me the truth?" Ginny said already figuring who Hermione was talking about.
"I suppose that would be alright." Hermione smiled. "But you only get 3 guesses"
"I only need one." Ginny grinned "I guess Luna Lovegood."
Even if she'd planned on lying about it as soon as Ginny said Luna's name Hermione broke out into a grin. "How'd you know?"
"I just guessed." Ginny shrugged. "She wouldn't mind me knowing. She told me about Katie when they started out."
"Katie…" Suddenly Hermione stood rather upset. "You KNEW about Katie and Luna when you asked about her the other day. You knew the person Katie was with was Luna, didn't you think mentioning that would upset her? You know they're going through a break up right now."
"Relax. Yes I knew. But I asked for her sake." Ginny sighed. "Look I knew Luna liked you. That's why I guessed her. She didn't know how you felt about same-sex couples. I used Katie to find out. How was I supposed to know you were going to make the first move? I mean no offense Hermione but you're not usually one to act without a great deal of thinking beforehand. And I knew Luna wouldn't make a move if she thought she'd be rebuffed. And she had a good reason to think that she might be. You avoided her for an entire week because of one simple kiss."
"I was surprised. I'd never thought of another girl like I'd been thinking about her. At least not that I'm aware of, besides I was with Ron at the time. What else could I have done?" Hermione grumbled. "Anyway none of that matters now. We seem to be on the same page."
"I'm happy for you." Ginny gave her friend a genuine smile. "So what's this thing she's got to take care of before she can be with you officially?"
"Katie. Apparently she didn't quite accept that things were over and Luna said she wants it to be clear before we start dating." Hermione said with a bit of a pout. "But I can wait for her. She's just trying to start things off right."
"I always said she was a clever girl." Ginny shrugged, "Just a bit odd sometimes," she gave a long yawn and smiled. "I think it's time for bed. Goodnight Hermione."
"Goodnight Ginny."