Thank you all for the reviews, favorites and follows. They are a huge motivation for writing faster!


Chapter 5

After Harry's proposal Ginny finishes dinner and leaves for the Burrow with the promise to come back and help with the rest of the repairs.

Everybody works hard on repairs for the next week. During the week more and more people come to Hogwarts in order to help with the repairs. A few people use the repairs to try to romance Hermione or teachers for whom the new law applies. They don't get much of a chance though. Minerva bans anybody who tries the use the repairs as an excuse and Hermione has gotten very good at saying no. Both in person as per owl, because aside from the people who come to Hogwarts she gets several proposals per day via owl. Most of them from people she doesn't even know.

Ginny comes to help every day and near the end of the week she gathers the courage to speak to Minerva. She's talked it over with her mum and has to admit she has a point. She told Ginny that talking to Minerva might be a good start in coming out. Minerva has already told Ginny she knows and doesn't mind so this way she can tell without being afraid of a negative response.

So today Ginny is searching for Minerva to talk. She eventually finds her in the headmistress office writing letters. She knock on the door and waits for permission to enter.

"Come in." Minerva says without looking up. Ginny walks in and stops in front of Minerva's desk. Not sure whether or not to sit down. When Minerva is finished with the letter she's writing she looks up.

"Good morning Miss Weasley. Please have a seat. What can I do for you?"

Ginny sits down and looks at her lap while stuttering out, "I… ehhh.. I wanted… ehhh to t-take you up... on your offer t-to t-talk."

"I see. What would you like to talk about?"

"I think you know."

"I believe I indeed know. However please tell, just to be sure we're on the same page."

"Last week when Professor Slughorn was talking to Hermione it was obvious he was working up to proposing I couldn't look at her. I was bracing myself for Hermione to say yes. When she said no I couldn't contain my happiness. My head knows Hermione will never love me the way I love her, but my heart doesn't listen and I don't know what to do about it."

"I see, we are on the same page. Before getting into what you just told me I have a question. What made you decide to come and talk to me?"

"My mum."

"Your mum? I think I need a little more of an explanation." Minerva says gently.

"Last year, when I figured out my feelings, she knew something was up and she confronted me about it. My feelings scared me and I became very quiet so my mum asked me what was bothering me. It took her a while because I wasn't telling her anything but she eventually guessed I had feelings for Hermione. Once she knew it got easier to talk to her and that helped a lot. For a little while now she has been encouraging me to start coming out to people, not about Hermione but about fancying women. After I told her about our conversation earlier this week she told me I should talk to you. That it might me an easy start towards coming out. You know, tell someone you know will not react negative, mum thinks it might boost my confidence and make it easier to tell people in the future."

"Well I think she does have a point it might make the next time you have this conversation a little easier. Although I loath the fact that coming out is still necessary in this day and age, I mean honestly, love is love and gender shouldn't be a factor in whether or not one is accepting of love. I do understand however it can be hard to say those words out loud."

"It is. I never actually said it you know."

"Said what?" Minerva asks while raising her eyebrow.

"You know... it."

"I've got no idea what you mean." Minerva says with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Ugh.. you're going to make me say it aren't you?" She asks her Professor who keeps looking at her silently in response.

"Alright…. I'm gay... There, I've said it." Ginny says.

"Good for you dear. Now do you feel like next time you tell someone it will be easier?"

"Maybe? I guess it depends on who I'm going to tell."

"From what you've told me so far I'm guessing Hermione is not going to be next. Maybe your father or one of your brothers?"

"No definitely not Hermione. Dad might be a good idea, or maybe Fred and George or Bill. I'll think about it for a bit before I make a decision."

"Alright. Now if there is nothing else you want to talk about I need to go on with my correspondence."

"There is one more thing. I don't know if Hermione already told you but I'm coming with the two of you to Australia."

"She told me."

"Good, I was hoping if I have trouble keeping my feelings in check with being so close to Hermione all the time I could talk to you?"

"Of course you can talk to me."

"Thank you. Now I'll leave you to your correspondence. Thank you for the talk."

"You're welcome." Minerva says and watches Ginny walk out of her office before taking a new piece of parchment to write a letter to Molly. She won't betray Hermione's confidence but maybe she can enlist Molly's help in getting the girls together. If Molly keeps encouraging Ginny to tell Hermione of her feelings and she keeps trying to convince Hermione to come out to Ginny it could lead to something. Granted Hermione has not indicated any interest in Ginny, but neither has she in any other girl and they would make a very good match. Minerva thinks for a few more minutes before she starts composing her letter to Molly.

Dear Molly,

This morning Ginerva came to me for a talk. She told me you insisted she confide in me. Thank you for that. She also told me you would like her to talk to Hermione about this. I have to agree with you. I think it would be very helpful for Ginerva to have a friend, a female friend, of her own age to talk to. Both about her sexual orientation and her feelings.

I believe if the two of us work together we should be able to get Ginerva to the point where she is ready to talk to Hermione in a relatively short amount of time.

Would it be possible for us to meet on neutral ground to make plans regarding this?

Sincerely,

Minerva Mcgonagall.

Minerva sends the letter and hopes she'll get an answer soon. It turns out she doesn't have to wait long. That afternoon Molly knocks on her door.

"Good afternoon Minerva. I got your letter and figured I come to meet you."

"Molly hello. I appreciated you coming but as I said in my letter, we should have this meeting on neutral ground. I wouldn't want Ginerva getting suspicious we're up to something."

"She won't get suspicious because I told her I was meeting you this afternoon regarding her schooling. You know, talk to you about whether Ginny should repeat her sixth year or continue to seventh."

"I see. And what are your thoughts on that subject Molly?"

"We'll get to that later, first your letter. I'm glad you agree with me on this. I believe it would be good for Ginny to talk to Hermione for starters about being gay. Seeing how Hermione handled Ron's affection I don't think she has anything to worry about by telling Hermione. I would even go as far as saying it would be beneficial to Hermione as well if Ginny were to come out to her, wouldn't you agree?" Molly looks at Minerva like she knows something. Minerva doesn't like that look and makes sure her face stays neutral. She made a promise to Hermione and is not going to break her promise. After a little staring contest Molly is the first to speak up.

"Listen, I'm not asking you to gossip about one of your favorite students, nor am I asking you to break any promises you might have made. I think Hermione might be gay as well and I believe Ginny and Hermione are a perfect fit. In other circumstances I would have let them figure it out on their own." Minerva raises an eyebrow at Molly. "Alright I might have meddled a bit, softly pointing them in the right direction. But with the marriage law there is no time for going slow. Both of them have to have found a partner by december first and I would hate for them to miss out on something this great because they're too afraid to be honest with each other. So I suggest we work together on getting Ginny to talk to Hermione. What you do regarding Hermione is of course up to you."

Minerva decides to ignore the last part. "Hermione has asked Ginerva to come with us to Australia. I was hoping I could get Ginny to open up when it's just the three of us."

"I think that's a good start. In the meantime I'll try to get the two of them alone at the Burrow regularly on top of encouraging Ginny to talk to Hermione. It's a good start and once you're back from Australia the two of us can meet again to see how to go from there." Molly is obviously satisfied with the plan for the time being and get's up to leave. When she's almost at the door Minerva calls out to her. "Molly, I think we have something else to discuss."

Molly looks at Minerva confused. "What?"

"Well you gave your daughter an excuse why you are here, I wouldn't want her to find out you lied." Minerva teases.

"Right. What do you think, should she repeat last year or go on to seventh year?"

"Actually, this is something I've had contact with the ministry about. Some time this week or next week all students will be receiving a letter. They get to chose, either the repeat their year or they go to the ministry early august to take exams. When they pass said exams they can move to the next year otherwise they have to repeat last year. I would recommend Ginny take the exams. I believe she can pass them, especially with the help of Hermione."

"Thanks. I'll see you when you're back from Australia."