-Chapter 4: I Wanted to Share it With You-
Ginny awoke early the next morning; she was on her back and Hermione halfway on top of her. She could do nothing but smile when she recalled the previous night. She gently used the hand that wasn't pinned under Hermione to lift the other girl's chin up and lightly kissed her. Hermione gibbered something about it being too early. Ginny giggled and kissed her again, a bit more passionate. Hermione immediately woke up and kissed back. She opened her mouth, inviting Ginny's tongue. The redhead generously accepted the invitation. Hermione slipped her hand under Ginny's t-shirt.
Ginny pulled out of the kiss and Hermione jerked her hand away.
"I am so sorry…I just…I got carried away…I wanted…just to touch you." Hermione trembled, afraid Ginny was angry.
"No no, don't apologize 'Mione. I just didn't expect it. I've never uh…with anyone, you know? I mean…of course you know. I tell you everything…I'm not mad, just…surprised. I just...I'd rather take things slow, okay?" Ginny pulled Hermione back closer to her.
"Okay. I will find some way to survive!" Hermione laughed, trying to be melodramatic. Ginny laughed, too as she sat up a bit and gave Hermione a quick peck on the lips. Ginny looked out the window, the sun was peeking through the trees and she thought for a moment and then smiled.
"So, Hermione Granger, no one else will be awake just yet…can I take you on a walk down by the river?"
"You mean like a date?"
"Yeah, sure, if that's what you want to call it."
"I'd be honored, Ginny Weasley!" Hermione said and she sprang out of bed. She grabbed her clothes and toiletry bag and ran to the bathroom.
Ginny got out of bed and dressed in her jeans and her new scarlet Gryffindor t-shirt that Ron had given her for her birthday, she tried to be quick as she knew Hermione wouldn't take long. Hermione emerged from the bathroom in her jeans and a white t-shirt and Ginny went in and finished getting ready for the day, taking extra time brushing her teeth. The two headed downstairs, Ginny scribbled a note on some parchment to let her mother know where they had gone and left it on the kitchen table. She grabbed a blanket and they went outside.
It was humid but not too warm yet. The scents of dew and grass filled the air. They walked down the grassy hill towards the river bed. Ginny slipped her fingers in between Hermione's. Hermione squeezed her hand a bit, Ginny squeezed back. They laughed and talked all the way down to the river. When they made their way through the thin patch of forest that lined the river they found a spot under a big shade tree. Ginny spread the blanket out and sat down, leaning against the big tree, Hermione sat between her legs and leaned against her. Ginny wrapped her arms around Hermione's waist and Hermione rested her head back on Ginny's shoulder. They sat under the tree for what felt like forever just talking about the upcoming year, classes, teachers, and anything else they could think of.
The sun rose above the trees, the forest around them was coming alive with the sounds of birds chirping and wildlife scampering through the grass. They heard Molly's voice echo through the trees, calling for them to come to breakfast.
At the breakfast table Hermione and Ginny sat side by side across from Fred and George. Their hands were under the table, fingers intertwined. Fred looked at Ginny and raised his eyebrows inquisitively. Ginny smiled from ear to ear and nodded. Both Fred and George gave her the thumbs-up. Ginny rolled her eyes at them and then caught Hermione's gaze, they both smiled.
The rest of the morning Ginny spent with the boys playing Quidditch in the yard. Hermione sat on the ground with her Potions book although she wasn't paying much attention to it. Ginny could out fly any of the boys; Hermione was oddly turned on by watching her. She'd of course seen Ginny play the year before on the Gryffindor House team but not up close like this. Ginny looked so determined and focused like nothing else in the world was around her, she just focused on the game. It seemed like no time at all passed when Molly called everyone in for lunch. After bacon sandwiches and chips for lunch the twins went to their store to do some paperwork, Ron headed to his room to write a letter to Harry, and Hermione wanted to go to Ginny's room to study but Ginny had other ideas.
"Oh come on Hermione, we don't go back to school for a couple weeks. Studying can wait one more day, right?"
"Ugh. Fine. But whatever you are making me put off studying for had better be good," Hermione huffed.
Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged her outside. She left Hermione standing in the yard while she went into the broom shed. She emerged with her broom which had been handed down to her from Charlie and Hermione immediately knew what Ginny was after.
"Oh no you don't, Ginevra Molly Weasley!! No. You know I hate to fly. I am not getting on that thing. Period." Hermione crossed her arms and planted her feet firmly on the ground.
"Not even with me on there with you? Come on 'Mione, just this once. Please?"
"No, absolutely not. I refuse."
Ginny walked over to Hermione, slipped one hand around her waist and down to her arse, leaned into her ear and whispered, "If you do I promise it will be worth it." Hermione's knees nearly buckled. There was no way she could resist something like that.
"It had better be." Hermione clenched her jaw as Ginny hopped on the broom.
"Come on, you." Ginny motioned for Hermione to sit in front of her. Hermione climbed onto the broom.
Ginny wrapped one arm around Hermione's waist and held the broom with her other hand. She kicked off and hovered about 3 feet off the ground. Hermione's eyes were glued shut. Ginny leaned forward and they began to move and slowly ascend. They were about 10 feet off the ground when Ginny told Hermione that she had to open her eyes or no reward. Hermione reluctantly opened her eyes and screamed. Ginny laughed and they moved a bit quicker and went up even higher.
"Ginny…slow down! Oh…oh Merlin I swear I will get you for this!" Hermione screamed as Ginny zoomed around the house going up and down.
"Come on Hermione, just relax and move with it, don't be so rigid!"
Hermione relaxed a bit and Ginny took them up even higher.
"Hold on 'Mione!"
"What…what are you going to do??"
Ginny ascended as she went around and around the Burrow. After a few circles they were at the top, hovering over the roof.
"Hermione, open your eyes, look." Ginny nudged her. Hermione opened her eyes. The view was breathtaking. She could see forever. She saw the river at the bottom of the hill and the tree they sat under that very morning. A couple of houses far apart from each other dotted the horizon. There was a clearing across the river that was obviously once occupied by a house but it had since disappeared, a small stone outbuilding stood by itself but the area was still well kept and not overgrown. Hermione turned her head further and barely saw the outline of the village of Ottery St. Catchpole. Ginny wrapped both arms around Hermione's waist and kissed her neck.
"Amazing, isn't it? You see that house up over there?" Ginny pointed to a tall structure on the horizon. "That's the Lovegood House. The one over there," Ginny moved her arm to point at the other, "that's the Diggory place. Amos owns all of the land up to the other side of the river where that clearing is. Dad reckons he was going to build a house and give that clear part of it to Cedric after he left Hogwarts."
"It's beautiful, Gin. I'm a bit jealous that you got to grow up here...everything is so peaceful, not at all like living in the city. I'm fairly certain the neighbors would think it a bit odd if I hovered above the roof of our house on a broomstick. I'm pretty much confined to my room if I need peace and quiet and even that doesn't work sometimes."
"You know...All last year you were all I could think about. After we moved out of Grimmauld Place earlier this summer I picked this as somewhere to come and think. I got to fly off the built up emotions and then just come up here and think about it all. That's why I wanted to bring you up here. Whenever I needed to think about you I always came here. It's peaceful and beautiful. I wanted to share it with you."
Hermione carefully turned as far as she could, leaned back and kissed Ginny.
"Mmm be careful with that. You don't want me to lose my concentration, do you?" Ginny smirked and shook the broom a bit.
"Ginny!!" Hermione gasped and clutched the broom. "Don't do that again!"
"I'm sorry, never again, promise." Ginny laughed. "Ready to go back down?"
"Yes, please." Ginny flew them back down to the ground, Hermione jumped off and Ginny put the broom back in the shed.
"I suspect you want to go study now?" Ginny asked as she and Hermione headed inside.
"I'm not sure; I do believe you told me you would make it worth my while to go on that ride with you."
"What, was the view not worth it?" Ginny asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Hermione grabbed Ginny's hand and they ran through the house, nearly knocking Ron over when they went through the kitchen.
"Oy, you two! What could be so important you need to come through here like a couple centaurs?"
"Sorry Ron," Ginny said. "Hermione's learning French and she wants to share it with me." Hermione elbowed Ginny in the ribs and the redhead laughed at a confused Ron. The elder witch grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her up the stairs.
I want to thank those of you who are reviewing! I think I've responded at least once to everyone that has reviewed so far. I hope you continue to enjoy the story and that you're not disappointed.
