I don't own any of the Characters, It is all the wonderful J.K Rowlings work.
Ginny was pacing around her dorm, flicking clothes about. Slug Club was tonight and she just couldn't workout what to wear, not that it normally mattered, but for some reason tonight she felt a bit more conscious for the occasion.
'Do I really need to go at all' she thought to herself. 'It's not like it really matters what Slughorn thinks anyway, everyone knows it's just a silly club full of people he wants to know for his "Shelf", I still don't know what I'm doing in there' She was interrupted mid thought.
"Ginny?" Dean Thomas wearily leaned into the redhead's quarters.
"Dean! What are you doing up here? You know it's against the rules for boys to be wandering around girls rooms!" Ginny whined as she continued to flick clothes around.
"Since when do you play by the rules Weasley? Besides I couldn't really study in the common room with all this ruckus going on up here" Dean ducked as Ginny hurled a dress robe at his head and scoffed at his remark "Seriously Gin, what's going on with you? I know you, and getting all worked up about what you are going to wear isn't really top of your priorities"
He paused for a moment as Ginny was lost in her thoughts still mindlessly tossing items of clothing left right and centre.
"Who's the boy Gin?" He questioned the redhead in a sly tone and sat down on the bed.
Ginny continued to hunt for a certain outfit clearly evading her sight.
"Gin, who's the boy?" Dean questioned a little louder.
"What! Oh" Ginny said in a pained voice "No one, nothing Dean. Argh I mean" Ginny stood up straight and composed herself " What do you mean who's the boy Dean? It's not a boy, I just can't find my other Quidditch shin guard and it's been bothering me for a few days now" Ginny huffed and started to re-sort her wardrobe, that now looked like it had had a small tornado empty its contents on the floor.
"Ginny Weasley, really? You really think you are getting off with a story about Quidditch gear? You got new Quidditch armour in the post months ago! And you were so excited to show all of us that you basically put it on in the great hall at breakfast! I know you haven't just lost a piece of that" Dean rolled his eyes and got up casually to lean again the wardrobe, as Ginny finished packing it away "Gin, what's going on?"
"Dean honestly you are barking up the wrong tree, It's not a boy, it's nothing to do with a boy at all" Ginny said casually, she wasn't lying at least.
"Then what is it Gin? Are you and the other three up to something?" Dean said a little more seriously.
"No, no it's not that Dean, you don't need to worry like that" Ginny said now laying out the outfit she was so desperately searching for to wear to slug Club.
"Where are you going then?" Dean questioned looking at the more formal clothes.
"Oh, well I have that ruddy Slug Club tonight, and you know" Ginny gestured to her casual clothes "This doesn't cut it"
"Hmm not buying it Ginny, Harry's going to be there right? If I had to guess I would say your little scene just now may have been brought on by him?" Dean wiggled his eyebrows at Ginny.
"Harry and I haven't been after each other for months now Dean you know that" Ginny chided.
"Someone else then? I can't image who though, all the other boys in Slug Club are kind of prats Ginny" Dean mocked.
"Dean, drop it, haven't you got study to do? I thought you said I interrupted you?" Ginny stood facing Dean tapping her foot impatiently, she was already late "And how did you get up here past the slide anyway?"
"I've got all night Gin, plus, your situation is far more compelling right now and it's only a slide Gin, nothing a floating charm can't get around" Dean smiled a cheeky smile and Ginny gave him a slight shove.
"Well I Don't have all night! So you should think about shoving off before I have to call McGonagall!" Ginny threatened but soon broke into a smile.
Dean sighed and took a more serious tone with his friend, he knew something was up and he thought he was on the verge of finding out "Gin, if you need to talk?"
"I know, I know" Ginny said impatiently. Something told Ginny she really should get this off her chest, but what to tell? She didn't really know, Ginny took a more level tone with her friend "I know Dean, and thank you for asking, I really do appreciate it, but honestly, I'm fine"
The Weasley didn't buckle. Dean stood and gave Ginny a pat on the back as he walked towards the door "Alright mate. I'm going to shove off like you said, but you know where to find me"
With that Dean walked out casually and Ginny slumped on the bed. She really didn't know where to start; even if she wanted to talk to Dean about Hermione what would she say? Where would she begin? She didn't really know how she was feeling about Hermione or how seriously she should be taking the whole thing. She knew that things were changing, at least on her on own part, but could it just be a momentary thing? She honestly didn't know.
Looking at her watch she got herself up 'urgh, now I'm really late' she thought and with that Ginny threw on her clothes and headed for the door a little less casually than Dean did moments earlier.
Hermione and Harry were sitting side by side at Slughorns' table as Ginny Quietly slipped through the door. Ginny Caught Hermione's eye but quickly dropped her gaze. Her mind had been going around and around in a circle with thoughts of Hermione on the way over to Slug Club and seeing Hermione just reaffirmed a lot of what Ginny was contemplating. 'She is so beautiful she thought to herself, and even more so when she's engrossed in an explanation, as Ginny sat down she could overhear Hermione talking about the fact that her parents were dentists in the muggle world to the rest of the table.
For the rest of Slug Club Ginny sat watching and listening to the conversation around her, nodding and smiling to the group while her mind wandered with thoughts of the older witch.
"A superb flyer at that wouldn't you say Miss Weasley?" Slughorn bellowed Ginny's way with an encouraging smile.
"Oh ah, yea, yeah" Ginny stumbled coyly looking around at the table to get some hint of who Slughorn was referring too.
"Not as good as Ginny though" Harry pipped up, clearly very proud of his own Gryffindor chaser.
"Oh, I wouldn't go that far Harry" Ginny mumbled as she turned a similar shade to her fiery red hair.
"I would" Hermione added casually, gaining the attention of the entire table "Gryffindor is lucky to have your talent Gin"
"Here, here Miss Granger, well put" Slughorn raised his glass, encouraging the rest of the table to follow suit "To Ginny, a promising young talent"
"To Ginny" The rest of the table chimed and raised their glasses, Ginny was turning a deep shade of red at the sudden spotlight shining brightly on her, she was lost for words and acted fast to side step the attention.
"Thanks everyone" Ginny added coyly "But from what I hear the ministry will be lucky to have you in a few years Hermione" and with that Slughorn was off on a tangent quizzing Hermione about her work on S.P.E.W and where she thought it would lead her into the ministry.
Soon after the ice-cream was polished off and Slughorn was bidding the last of the club goodbye "Ah Miss Weasley and Miss Granger, thank you for attending our first little club gathering" Slughorn said as he drew them in, putting an arm around both of them "It was a pleasure" he released the girls from his hold as quickly as he pulled them in.
"Thank you professor, it was all so lovely" Hermione expressed as she and Ginny headed for the door.
"How many of these are we going to have to show our faces at?" Ginny sighed as the girls wandered down the hall back to the common room.
"Gin, it wasn't that bad, and more to the point, everyone seemed to be celebrating you tonight" Hermione teased.
" 'Mione you know I don't like all that attention, besides, I might not be on the Gryffindor Team if my grades don't improve!" Ginny said softly, realising the situation she just got herself into.
"What do you mean Gin? Are you struggling?" Hermione questioned as she tugged on Ginny's sleeve, and in turn Ginny felt a slight heat in her cheeks from the older girls touch.
"Oh, no 'Mione, really I'm doing fine, I probably should be spending a little more time in the library and not so much on the pitch, that's all" Ginny said playing down her initial comment.
"Really?" Hermione questioned with a slight smile on her face "Well then, answer me this; what are the ingredients for a Draught of Peace? You should be brewing that quite soon if not already. On second thought just name three"
"Alright" Ginny announced stepping up to the challenge "One is moonstone" Ginny nodded at Hermione feeling proud of herself "Another is, uh, Unicorn hair"
"Gin, it's Unicorn horn" Hermione Chuckled "I'm going to help you with your studies"
"Hermione, it's fine, and besides half the others in my year couldn't even name one if you asked them" Ginny reasoned.
"If I had that view, do you think I would study as much as I do?" Hermione chided, "You want to be great at Quidditch Gin, but you need something else to fall back on. I'm not saying you won't make it to a professional level, you just need to think down the track"
"Pixie puffs" Hermione whispered to the fat lady as the portrait swung open and the girls entered their common room.
"I know, I know. But Hermione I don't want to take up your time" Ginny explained hoping Hermione would drop the subject "I'll be fine honestly"
"Gin, you know I'm not taking that for an answer, Where is your timetable for your classes?" Hermione requested.
"Ah it's upstairs," Ginny pulled her wand from her back pocket "Accio timetable" she commanded, and as she did a small white folded piece of parchment fluttered down the stairs towards the two girls.
Hermione took out her wand and flicked it towards the paper now resting in Ginny's hand to cast a charm.
"Geminio" Hermione said softly.
As the two watched, the piece of paper began to unfold in Ginny's hand, peeling itself open fold by fold. As it reached its flat form it opened again once more and a perfect copy of the parchment tore itself carefully away from the original. Hermione carefully retrieved the new timetable which was floating, and started to jot down a few notes on her own copy. Once she was done she explained her thoughts to Ginny "We can study together in these spare lessons as I have these off too, they are in blue, the rest in green are for you to study in by yourself, and that means no Quidditch"
"You really are wonderful 'Mione" Ginny couldn't help but compliment the older girl. It was one of the things that Ginny loved so much about Hermione; her ingenuity was second to none.
"I'm just logical really, nothing to special about thinking in a reasonable fashion" Hermione said simply.
"Well, I think you are still wonderful regardless of your logic, and thank you for wanting to help me with my study" Ginny conceded giving the brunette a warm smile.
Hermione pulled the younger witch into a hug squeezing her tight. Immediately Ginny began to blush, feeling Hermione's body pressed against hers was proving to be more pleasant than it had ever been.
'This is exactly why I was trying to avoid study' Ginny thought to herself, it was one thing to spend time with Hermione when Harry and Ron were around, which generally was the case at Hogwarts. But time alone with Hermione would mean a lot more attention on Ginny and more than likely not just about her progress with her studies. Hermione had the habit of asking Ginny a lot of direct questions when they were alone; it is just the older witch's nature. And why wouldn't she? Ginny and Hermione were best friends; it never proved to be an issue, but Ginny never felt, well, whatever she was feeling. She would just have to do her best to keep it strictly study.
Hermione released Ginny from her hug but kept her arms on the younger witches shoulders "I'm proud of you Gin, Ron would never let me help him study and I'm so happy that you genuinely want to continue to improve your grades"
"Well, Ron's an Oaf, and I didn't have much of a choice in the matter with you on the case" Ginny teased as she started to make her way towards the stairs "thanks Hermione, I really appreciate it"
"I'm excited to start" Hermione bounced a little as she headed up the stairs "Night Gin" she threw a smile Ginny's way and turned the corner to her dorm.
Hi All thank you for reading so far! Sorry this chapter is a little slow but it is all for a reason!
Thank you to Monkgirl, McGruff, FalconLux and Randy87M for the lovely comments! Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter!