A/N: No, their first time was NOT in the kitchen, just in case that's what you're thinking. Thanks to BlackHawk13 for looking this over for me and making sure I don't make idiotic mistakes. ;-)

Disclaimer: Don't own HP, though my laptop is a Hewlett-Packard. Haha.

Hermione was lost deep in thought when Ginny came searching for a mid-afternoon snack. She snagged an orange from the counter and sat at the kitchen table. Hermione didn't even register that Ginny was sitting directly across from her, and Ginny started peeling the orange, waiting for Hermione to snap out of her daze.

Ginny recognized the look in Hermione's eyes, and wasn't sure whether or not to be happy for the bushy haired girl, or dry heave. Hermione was, after all, mooning over Ginny's brother.

Ginny had peeled and eaten half the orange before Hermione's eyes finally focused on the ginger haired girl staring at her amusedly.

"Hi Hermione," Ginny said casually. "Got something on your mind?" Her eyes were full of humor.

"Uh… no, no not really," Hermione said quickly, but the look of guilt and instantaneous blush that covered her cheeks told Ginny otherwise.

"Alright then," Ginny said simply, and continued with her orange. The kitchen now smelled like citrus, and it was crisp from the cold early autumn afternoon.

"Ginny, have you and Harry ever… you know…?" Hermione burst out, then clapped her hands over her own mouth, eyes wide and blush almost completely overtaking her face.

Ginny burst into laughter at her friend's sudden outburst. "No, not yet, why?" She already knew the answer.

"It's just… alright, if I tell you, will you swear not to tell anyone? Not even Harry? I mean it, Ginny, not a soul!"

"Of course," Ginny promised, and leaned towards Hermione. "But don't you think we ought to go to my room to talk about this? I mean, honestly, anyone could just walk in at any moment. High traffic area, this kitchen. Then again… you and Ron find it awfully cozy, from what I've heard…"

"Shut. Up," Hermione seethed through her teeth. She quickly waved her wand about with wordless spells, and cast a silencing charm around the kitchen, and another that would alert them if anyone approached.

"Alright, tell me everything," said Ginny eagerly. She was going to ignore the fact that Ron was the one they were gossiping about.

"Were you really serious? You and Harry haven't had… you know… yet?"

"Hermione, you're the one who's had sex, and you still can't say it!"

Hermione's face flushed a shade of red so deep, any Weasley could have been proud of her.

"If you're going to be difficult about it, I'm not going to tell you," she said stiffly, and moved to stand.

"Wait, wait, wait, I'll be good, I promise! Just stay!"

Hermione scooted her chair back to the table, and attempted to compose herself.

"So, was it any good?" Ginny teased lightly.

"Yeah, you could say that…" Hermione said, and smiled to herself. "More than good." Her grin widened as Ginny's eyeballs nearly popped out of her head.

"But… I mean… It's Ron. How good could it be?"

"You only say that because he's your brother. Believe me when I say that he…"

"No! No! On second thought, I really don't want to know." Ginny covered her sticky, citrusy hands over her ears and closed her eyes tightly, trying as hard as she could to banish any and all thoughts of her brother as a lover out of her head.

She shuddered violently, and Hermione laughed hysterically.

"I'm sorry Ginny. You asked."

"And now I want to kill myself," Ginny joked. "I can't believe you guys finally… you know…"

"Had sex?" Hermione teased. "I can't either. But it was just… so right. I love him so much, Ginny. I really and truly do. And he loves me, too." Her eyes grew dreamy.

"I figured as much," Ginny said, grinning at her friend. Maybe someday they'd be sisters. She leaned over the table to hug Hermione.

"And now, tell me about what's going on with you and my brother?" Hermione said, eyebrows raised.

"Brother?"

"Yeah, Harry's my brother. Not biologically, obviously… but same difference."

"He's… we're… I'm not sure yet," Ginny gave. She sighed and looked at her hands, covered in orange peel and juices. "He's so stubborn."

"I figured as much," Hermione quipped, and the two girls laughed for a moment.

"He puts a lot of blame on himself. It's hard to get close to him sometimes. I don't want to force him to love me. That's just not right. But if he doesn't get his head out of his arse soon, I swear to Merlin…"

Hermione patted her hand sympathetically. "Give him time," she advised. "He'll see that he can't live without you. Trust me. He's rather thick at times, but I know he'll figure it out sooner or later."

"Better be soon," Ginny said under her breath. Hermione just gave her a soft smile.

"It will be," the older girl encouraged.

A soft humming let the girls know someone was approaching the kitchen. Hermione quickly waved her wand around for the counter-charms, and put her wand away quickly. Ron sauntered into the kitchen, and immediately began poking around for a snack himself.

Ginny watched as Hermione grew scarlet, and instantly began chewing on her bottom lip. She had to stifle a laugh as she watched her friend check out Ron's arse.

"Hi Ginny, Hi 'Mione," he said, and Ginny's eyebrows raised. She'd never heard this nickname for her friend before, and was expecting her to curse him into tomorrow for it, but instead Hermione smiled and merely replied "Hi Ron."

Ron had found Merlin knows what to snack on, and sat next to Hermione at the table's bench. He nudged Hermione gently with his elbow, as if to ask her if Ginny knew, and Ginny volunteered the information herself.

"Ron, it's OK. I know."

"Know? Know what?" he asked suspiciously.

"Lots of things," she said cryptically, and rose from the table. "Talk to you later, Hermione," she said, and walked out of the kitchen. Before she turned the corner, she turned to see Ron whispering frantically to Hermione, who was trying very hard not to laugh. Hermione chose to shut Ron up by unceremoniously kissing him.

Ginny turned away. No need to scar her eyeballs for life.

A/N II: Just so we're clear, this story is moving up in rating, to M, by next chapter. Hope you stay with me, if the law allows it. ;-)