Chapter 23:

Coming Out

Ginny scrunched up her nose at the feeling of the apparition. It was very uncomfortable and she wasn't sure she was going to be able to do it in class. They were learning but they haven't actually had to practice it yet. She climbed into the carriage with their friends who were talking happily.

"So what was the surprise," Blair asked anxiously.

"Well, I'm going with Kalya to America this summer."

"That's it," Martha frowned.

"And Kalya bought us a house in Ottery St. Catchpole. You should see it, it's such an amazing house as far as muggle houses go," Ginny gushed.

"Whoa! That is awesome," Colin exclaimed, "Where did you get that kind of money?"

"My parents and my brother."

Silence once again filled the room, everyone uncomfortable to move forward with a conversation not sure what they could say.

"Honestly, don't act like this. This is why I left my school in America, because everyone acted like this around me. I'm not going to be hurt or upset. I am just tired of people walking around me like they are on thin ice."

Suddenly the conversations started again, everyone excitedly telling their stories of what happened for them that day. Denis and Blair had gone on their first date. Colin had bought Jade a 'promise' ring. Lillian and Roslyn had hung out together and Martha had gone on a date with her mystery boyfriend.

"I'm betting your boyfriend is in Slytherin," Kalya stated after she had confessed to going on a date.

"What makes you say that?"

"You refuse to name a name."

"So what if they are in Slytherin."

"I have not issue with that. I do however have an issue with your fear of us not liking you for admitting you're dating a Slytherin."

Martha blushed, "His name is Damien."

"Damien Barlow?"

"Yeah."

"Really? That little sneak not telling me something like this," Kalya shook her head.

"You know him"

"He is a part of my Slytherin group of friends. I haven't really hung out with them much this year cause I've been busy hanging out with Ginny, but ugh we talked the other day and he mentioned having a girlfriend, not that he was dating one of my friends."

The excitement continued well into diner and Ginny wasn't surprised when the group of friends found themselves sitting around in the Head common room.

"Holy Merlin, this place is awesome! Why haven't you shared it with us till now," Denis jokingly glared accusingly at Kalya.

"I wanted to keep it all to myself, I'm not sure about Colin however," Kalya joked laughing.

"It was my only place I could escape all of you," His face and voice was serious until he suddenly broke into laughter.

They enjoyed a long night together talking and laughing until they all passed out randomly throughout the room.

Ginny sat outside by the lake. Spring had finally come and the snow had melted. It wasn't totally warm yet, but it was warm enough with a soft warming charm she could sit next to the still water and watch it. It was another Hogsmeade weekend; it had been two weeks since Valentine's Day.

Kalya walked around the tree with a letter in her hand. She sat down next to Ginny and looked thoughtfully over the water that suddenly rolled as the giant squid poked a tentacle out of the water.

"You know that guy we met two weeks ago?"

"Yeah what about him?"

"He wanted to meet up for a drink at Hogsmeade tomorrow. Would you mind if I went?"

"Nope, not at all," Ginny smiled showing she indeed did not mind.

She actually wanted to see the look on the guy's face when he realized that Kalya was already engaged. But, she wanted to see the priceless look on his face when he found out that the person she was engaged to was a woman. She smiled a plot already going off in her head.

Ginny watched Kalya walk into the Three Broomsticks. She went in with the whole group and they sat down just a bit away from the table Kalya was sitting at waiting for the guy to show up. She smiled when she saw the blonde hair green eyes boy walk into the pub.

He was tall and obliviously in his early twenties. He was pretty well built with muscles without much definition. His face was round and his eyes were perfectly centered, his nose was slightly large and his lips big, his skin dark. Ginny knew the girls would consider him tall, dark, and handsome, but so was Blaise.

Kalya smiled and greeted him as he sat down across from her. They ordered a butterbeer.

"I realized I never gave you my name last time. My name is Christopher. I'm actually a muggle-born."

"I was raised like a muggle-born, but I'm half-blood," Kalya smiled.

"I never caught sight of what house you were in."

"I'm in Slytherin."

His face fell slightly but he worked back a smile, "I was Gryffindor."

"Most my friends are in that house, and so is my adopted brother. Well, actually we are both adopted by the same man."

"Oh really, who would that man be?"

"Well, Sirius Black is my adoptive father and Harry Potter is my brother by adoption."

"Oh, wow! How come you're not famous?"

"Because I don't want to be."

"I can understand that. You don't have a British accent, where are you from?"

"America actually. I moved here three years ago."

"That awesome, do you miss it there?"

"I visit a lot, but I do miss it."

"How old are you then?"

"I just turned sixteen recently. I'll be seventeen in October."

"I just turned twenty two."

"What made you work here in Hogsmeade?"

"I wanted to be close to magic, and here is about as close as I can get. I actually live here in the village."

"I live in London currently, but I mainly stay in Ottery St. Catchpole."

"Oh yeah, who do you stay with there?"

"The Weasley family."

"They are famous too! You were with the youngest Weasley the other day."

"Yeah, she and I are always together."

"So, what class do you enjoy at school," Christopher asked changing the subject.

"I love potions! Muggle studies is also one of my favorite. Transfiguration is fun too. I could do without DADA."

"I loved DADA."

"I was in the war that happened at Hogwarts, I'm not really a big fan of it anymore."

"You're lucky to be alive then?"

Kalya touched her locket a smile coming to her face, "I'm very lucky."

They continued talking for over a good hour. Everything he could possibly think about talking about came up and Kalya offered every answer truthfully. She never lied and just smiled while listening to what he had to say about himself. Ginny and the group were silent listen to every word they said, none of them bored as they got to know Kalya on an extremely deep level without having to ask her all the questions themselves.

"So," Christopher took a deep breath to gain the confidence to ask something.

Kalya used her left hand to brush her hair behind her ear and she smiled, "yeah?"

"You're engaged," his voice sounded shocked.

"Oh yeah, I've been engaged for almost a year now and in a relationship for almost two and a half," Kalya smiled happily.

"I thought you came with me here because you liked me too and wanted to go on a date with me," his voice sounded shocked and hurt.

"Oh! Oh, wow. I didn't even think about that. I'm very sorry to lead you on. Honestly, I thought you wanted to be friends! I'm so sorry, I didn't even realize that you could possibly like me," she apologized.

"How could you not possibly think I wouldn't like you? Look at you, your beautiful, smart and honest, why would I not like you?"

"It's just different. I'm not really used to it, so I guess I just kind of forgot it's possible."

"How is it different?"

"When you saw me and Ginny at the table, what did you think?"

"That two good friends were celebrating Valentine's Day because they were both single," he spoke honestly.

"That's the difference. I forgot that when most people see us together, they think we are just friends."

"Are you saying she is your fiancé?"

"Yes, Ginny is my fiancé."

His jaw dropped open and his eyes went wide. He didn't notice a small flash.

"I'm really sorry. I'm lesbian and I don't honestly think about the possibility that men could like me because I don't see them that way," Kalya blushed.

"Wow, it's just… you seemed like the girl for me and then you suddenly tell me such a shocking thing."

Ginny moved over to the table and looked at Kalya, "If you want more time to talk, the group and I are going to go see George."

"Alright, I'll meet you there," Kalya said right before Ginny leaned over and kissed her softly before leaving with their group of friends, Kalya smiled when she noticed Damien had joined them.

"It's just so hard to believe," he breathed.

"Many people have told me that," Kalya smiled, "but, I'm happy with who I am. I've never been attracted to men and I've only ever kissed one and he wasn't straight either."

"I can see why you like her."

"Believe me, I've had the pleasure of being her fiancé and girlfriend for a while now and I love every minute of it."

"Do you think we could still be friends?"

"Of course! I would love to be friends."

They parted ways and Kalya met up with Ginny who was arguing with George over her working there for some of the summer and leaving for America for a while.

"Will you take care of her while you're over there," George asked his eyes narrowed.

"Honestly George, it's not that bad over there. Ginny will be plenty safe with me," Kalya smiled softly.

"Okay, if you say so."

"Why don't we go, it's really loud in here," Ginny nodded toward the door.

They left the shop. Roslyn and Lillian were standing outside.

"Could we talk to you two alone," Lillian asked nervously.

"Sure," Ginny smiled.

They walked down a path to a tree covered area. They could see the village and it wasn't very far. They all found spots to sit and the two other girls looked completely nervous as if they were afraid of what was about to happen.

"What is it like coming out," Roslyn asked.

"To who, friends or family," Ginny asked.

"Both."

"It's pretty nerve wracking when it comes to family. My mum had a hard time accepting my sexuality as I am her only daughter and she was hoping I would be straight. She is slowly coming around, but it's still hard to deal with knowing that I'm fighting for my mum to feel comfortable with Kalya's and I's relationship."

"When it comes to friends it's a little easier and harder at the same time," Kalya started, "You run the risk of losing your friends, but if they are really good friends it's easier because you know they will accept you no matter what."

"How do you know you're lesbian, bisexual, or straight," Lillian asked.

"You know, I always thought it didn't matter what your orientation is. It's what you feel comfortable being. If you're only attracted to women, if you're attracted to both sexes, or if you only like men, it really doesn't matter as long as you feel happy and in love in your relationship it doesn't matter what sex it's with."

"You could actually be bisexual and in a lesbian relationship, or in a straight relationship. But either way as long as you love the person it shouldn't matter what sex they are," Ginny pointed out.

"Lillian and I have been dating for the last four months," Roslyn confessed quickly, blushes creeping on to both girls faces.

"That's amazing! Congratulations! How come you haven't said anything," Ginny asked confused.

"We were scared," Lillian admitted.

"I know what you're saying," Ginny nodded.

"It took you a while to come out, didn't it Ginny," Roslyn asked.

"I pretty much knew I was lesbian from second year on, but I didn't have the guts to say anything till fourth year when the girl of my dreams finally made her appearance into the school."

"How about you Kalya, when did you know and come out," Lillian turned to her.

"I knew I was lesbian when I was ten during my first year of school. A couple months before I turned eleven, I met Emily as she was coming in at her first year. We dated for two years, till I was almost thirteen. Right after my birthday I got my letter for Hogwarts and that's how I ended up here."

"So you and Emily had just recently broke up before you moved here," Ginny asked.

"Not really, we broke up at the end of her second year, only two months away from having been together two years."

"How did Sirius feel when he found out you weren't straight," Roslyn questioned.

"He didn't mind, said as long as I was happy he would still love me no matter what."

"That's Sirius for you," Ginny laughed.

"We are just nervous about telling our families this summer," Lillian admitted.

"And you will be until you actually do tell them," Ginny smiled reassuringly.

"Do you think the other's would be happy for us if we told them," Roslyn asked nervously.

"They would be we are sure of it. They accept us and are happy for us, I'm sure they will not be upset with you or unhappy with you both," Ginny stated.

"Actually, I think they would be happy that you two are in a relationship. They are afraid of hurting your feelings by showing their relationships in front of you because you guys have always been the single ones," Kalya added.

They all sat in the carriage in silence. No one spoke enjoying the comfortable air around them.

"We have something to tell you guys," Lillian spoke up.

"What's up," Martha asked.

"Lillian and I have been dating the last four months," Roslyn blushed.

Suddenly everyone was talking excitedly and exclaiming their congratulations and happiness for the couple that none of them had even known would be. The girls breathed a sigh of relief when their friends happily and excitedly talked to them about their relationship.

Ginny and Kalya smiled softly at each other before sharing a long sweet tongue mixing kiss. It was great to know that all of their friends were happily in relationships and they weren't the only lesbians in their group of friends. It was perfect, everything was going so great.