(Disclaimer: I am not Rowling. All characters and material surrounding the Harry Potter series mentioned are hers, not mine. This is not for profit, only entertainment. Enjoy, review, share, etc…but especially review. Thanks for lending a voice, Rowling.)

Enjoy.

This is a beautiful morning.

I watch her breathe deeply and evenly while she sleeps in my arms. It surely has been a few more hours since she kissed me, as the sun rises slowly but surely over the castle. My heart ignites with a flame of passion at the recent memory. My fingers play with stray strands of red hair, soft and silky to the touch. I smile. I can't help the smile.

This is the happiest I've been in the longest time.

She buries her nose deeper into my chest. Even the times we've shared her bed at the Burrow, she's never cuddled me like this. I like the feeling. I can smell the sweetness of her skin. No matter what, she manages to smell like strawberries. She isn't like her brothers, who all reek of sweaty leathers, polished wood, and grass.

Speaking of her brothers… My mind suddenly focuses on the thought of Ronald. What will I tell him? What can I say? How? I haven't allowed him to touch me in some time. I can hardly call our relationship a relationship.

"Mione?" Ginny mumbles against my chest.

"Yes, love?"

"Your thoughts…are loud."

I blink twice. "You're not honestly using Occlumency on me, are you?" I ask.

"No," she scoffs. "Your racing heart is sure giving me a headache though."

I grin.

"Seriously, Mione. What are you thinking about?"

"Oh you should know, oh observant one," I retort.

She lifts her head up. Blue eyes meet my brown eyes and lock in an unavoidable gaze.

"It's about Ron, isn't it?"

I can't look away, no matter how much I want to.

"Yes," I admit in a low voice.

"We don't have to tell him. Quite frankly, I want to keep exploring and figuring out what this is between us."

"Okay…? Where do we start?"

She grinned. In the corners of her blue eyes, I witness a hint of mischief.

Yes, this is a beautiful morning.

I can't stop smiling. My mind keeps replaying the hot shower I shared with Ginny this morning. She touched me, slowly and tenderly. She brings out something in me that I've never wanted to share with anyone else before.

I can still feel her fingers on my skin, deftly working up a thick soapy lather while she kneaded the knotted muscles in my shoulders. Everything felt so right…and so good. I felt this powerful urge to do…something. I don't know or understand what, though. I've never felt that way towards anyone before.

I sit at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, across from Ronald and Harry. Ronald is stuffing his face with eggs Benedict, as per usual, but Harry is watching me. I can't stop smiling. His forest green eyes gleam with curiosity—his expression is rather peculiar.

It's like he knows something that no one else does.

Ginny eases down next to me as I take a bite of my French toast. Her fingers brush the inside of my thigh—not too high, not too low. I nearly choke on the bit of toast I had already started masticating. I hadn't realized how much my skirt had bunched up until now. The only barrier between her fingers and my leg is a thigh high stocking.

I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks.

"Are you okay, Mione?" Ginny whispers sweetly against my ear.

I shudder involuntarily at her teasing.

"F-f-fine, Gin. Yourself?"

I inhale and smell the soap we used for this morning's shower: a strawberry scented (and flavored as I eventually discovered) body wash.

"I have an ache in my shoulder, but I am otherwise fine."

"Maybe I can get that for you, Gin? Before practice tonight?" Harry's voice permeates the intimate conversation Ginny and I are having while I pick at my food, no longer ravenous.

Ginny smiles sweetly at a hopeful Harry Potter.

"No thank you…I'll have Mione do it after breakfast. She has a free period and so do I."

Harry stares at me with that peculiar look again. I have a feeling that he knows, somehow. I suddenly feel very vulnerable. I stand up, stiffly, and walk at breakneck speed out of the Great Hall.

I can hear Ginny's footsteps following me.

(A/N: Review, please? :) Feedback is always lovely. I'll post the next chapter soon.)