Here's the second part everyone! Enjoy! :) xx
In the days that followed, Ginny had completely avoided any sort of contact with Hermione, causing the brunette great stress as she desperately wanted to explain her actions to her only female friend.
No matter how fast she hurried to catch Ginny after her classes, she would arrive to be told that Ginny had already gone. No matter how long she waited in the common room, Ginny would never come through the portrait hole.
The red head may have been out of sight, but she was far from out of Hermione's troubled mind.
As the days turned into weeks and Ginny had still been evading her, she grew more and more desperate, so desperate in fact, that she wanted, no, needed someone else to talk to about her stupid actions. She knew that there was only one person she could trust to keep her issue a secret without freaking out about it: Harry Potter.
He was easy enough to track down, she found him in the Quidditch stands, watching the Ravenclaw team perfecting their strategy and taking notes all the while; Hermione was surprised they hadn't spotted him.
Carefully she approached him, tapping him lightly on the shoulder, he jumped "Merlin Hermione! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Hermione lowered her head "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." She shuffled her feet nervously, Harry looked at her with concern "Hermione? What's wrong? Are you alright?"
Hermione shook her head "no, not at all...look, can we go somewhere private? I need to ask for your help, as a friend"
Harry nodded "of course, let's go" He got up off his seat in the stands, hurriedly gathering his notes and following Hermione to the lake.
When they reached their destination at the lake's edge, Hermione turned to Harry, taking several deep breaths before opening her mouth to speak...but Harry beat her to it.
"It's something to do with Ginny, isn't it" He stated, his green eyes looking knowingly into Hermione's hazel ones. Hermione blinked in shock "how did you-"
"It was obvious" Harry said, interrupting her "a few weeks ago Ginny left the common room saying she needed to talk to you about something, from then onwards she hasn't been the same"
Hermione nodded "I know, she's been avoiding me..."
"But why?" Harry asked confusion evident in his tone "what happened between the two of you that was so bad as to make her avoid you?"
Hermione swallowed "Harry, you promise you won't think of me any differently after I tell you this? You promise you'll still be my friend?"
Harry blinked, confused, but nodded "of course Hermione, I promise"
"Ok then" Hermione took a deep breath, then finally spoke "the reason Ginny is acting so strange...is because I...I..." She hesitated "because I...Kissed her..." She trailed off.
She then looked up to see Harry staring at her shock clearly written across his face. He shook his head before running a hand through his hair "oh, well I- Hermione, I had no idea you were that way inclined..."
Hermione sighed "I know, I didn't expect it either, but it just happened you know?"
"When did you start feeling that way about her?" Harry asked after he had regained his composure "Ginny I mean".
Hermione fidgeted a little "I'm not sure, it feels like months to be perfectly honest, I thought it would just go away after a while if I hid it long enough...looks like I was wrong" She sighed, then felt a hand on her shoulder. She raised her eyes to meet Harry's calm gaze "Hermione" he said gently "I understand, and I'm ok with it"
Hermione stared at him in shock "really? B-but I thought you and Ginny-"
"We're never going to be anything other than friends" Harry said, interrupting her yet again "she expressed her feelings towards me, but I felt nothing in return" he smiled "and for the record, I think she deserves someone better, someone smart who knows just how to treat her right, someone like you"
Hermione couldn't help but return the smile as she flung her arms around Harry's neck "thank you Harry!" She exclaimed happily "I'm so glad you understand!" Then her face fell "but I still don't know what to do about Ginny...I just need some time alone with her to talk things through, but I just can't seem to get hold of her" She said, sighing.
Harry looked at his friend thoughtfully for a second, then his face lit up "I think I have an idea" he said "you stay here 'Mione, I'll be right back!" With that he rushed off leaving Hermione blinking in shock.
Ginny let out a long sigh as she stared vacantly at the incomplete essay in front of her. Normally she wouldn't bother even starting such an essay until the day before in was due in, but she had found working was a useful way to distract herself from the incident in the library. She shook her head, trying to forget the moment when she heard the portrait open and a familiar voice calling her.
"Hey Ginny" Harry said as he made his way towards her; Ginny looked up and forced a smile "hey Harry, what is it?"
Harry grinned "I was just wondering if you'd like to come out for a walk with me? The weather's perfect" and when Ginny showed no interest he said "come on Gin, think of it as a break from all this work you've been doing, you deserve it! Please?"
Ginny rolled her eyes, smiling a genuine smile this time "fine, fine, I'll go with you"
"Great!" Said Harry "come on, get a move on!" Ginny couldn't help but giggle as she got up and followed Harry, her essay forgotten.
A few minutes later, the pair were strolling leisurely down the grassy slopes to the edge of the lake; Harry tried his best to keep up conversation in an effort to distract the young Weasley.
Finally Harry stopped "oh, hey Hermione!" He said, feigning surprise "fancy seeing you here!" Ginny froze, staring at Hermione as Hermione stared right back.
Harry grinned, then pretended to remember something "oh!" He said "I completely forgot I was supposed to be meeting Ron right about now, and thrashing him at Wizard's chess! Bye girls!" He called over his shoulder, giving Hermione a quick grin before making a hasty exit.
Both girls stood in silence for a few minutes before Ginny swallowed "well, I think I'd better be going..." She said, turning around and trying to make an exit, but Hermione refused to let her go this time. She reached out and grabbed Ginny's wrist "no Ginny, please, wait! We need to talk...please..."
Ginny looked back and saw the sorrow and desperation in her friends eyes and instantly felt bad, she bit her lip "O-ok" she stuttered out, stepping towards Hermione.
The pair of them sat down then Hermione began to speak "Ginny, I'm so, SO sorry for what I did, I don't know what came over me..." She looked at her red headed friend "can we try and forget what happened and go back to how it way before?"
Ginny fidgeted a little "Hermione...I think you don't fully understand. You see, when you...kissed me, I didn't run away because I didn't like it, I ran away because I was scared..." She said softly "I was scared because I actually enjoyed the kiss, and that if I confessed the truth to you, our friendship would be ruined..."
Hermione shook her head in disbelief "So, you actually enjoyed the kiss?"
Ginny nodded "yes, to be honest, it was probably the best kiss I've ever had"
On hearing those words, Hermione's heart practically skipped a beat "Ginny..." she said gently, taking her hand in hers "I know now that you're scared about ruining our friendship, but I care about you a great deal and would never do anything to hurt you in such a way that we would no longer be friends, trust me"
Ginny looked up, gazing at Hermione nervously "R-really?" She asked quietly
Hermione nodded "yes, really"
"In that case..." Ginny said, biting her lip nervously "I-I would like another kiss"
Hermione smiled broadly before obliging; she leant forward and kissed Ginny deeply.
She returned the kiss just as deeply, and Hermione could feel the corners of her mouth turn up in a light smile as they kissed and hers did the same; Ginny then felt a soft hand on her cheek as Hermione caressed her face with her fingers. The red head shivered a little at her touch, then slowly reached up a hand and ran it softly through the brunette's hair.
A small distance away, Harry had been hiding behind one of the greenhouses and had seen the whole event unfold. He grinned "congratulations you two" he whispered, before heading back to the castle to give the new lovers some privacy.
Ok, what do you say everyone? Should I continue this little story? ;)
Please review and let me know :) thanks! xx