Written In The Body
Poetheather
A/N: Here you go… yet another chapter… I can't believe how long I have been posting this every week. I really need to bust my butt to get the rest of this story written as I am not very far ahead anymore. I so want to give you all extra stuff because of the over 300 follows (WOW) but I am not caught up enough. Grrr…
A/N 2: Love you all. And people who leave Guest reviews or reviews where I can't comment back like I usually do (i.e. leilane) thank you so much for your reviews. They mean a lot to me.
Still not JKR. Like for reals though. If I were I would be buying more tacos.
Thirty-Five
Even after Ginny was finally released from the Hospital Wing after a few days it took her a while to really get back up to speed, as she had been severely injured and it did have a lingering effect. She was moving slower and her head ached a good bit. Naturally the girl still ran Quidditch practices but did not participate at least not through the rest of November and into early December. Hermione was a bit grumpy about that particular fact but knew better than to try and stop her. Ginny was okay, that's what she kept telling herself, so long as she really didn't push herself too much she would be fine. The problem was that this was Ginny they were talking about, so of course she kept pushing herself farther and farther.
Hermione was frustrated that she had not seen or heard anything more from the Slytherin bullies as this was a problem she really wanted to fix. It sadly figured that they were the only smart Snakes of the bullying kind she had heard of and that they would keep their heads down for a while right when she was most interested in stopping them. While it had been over a month since she had almost caught them they were still keeping their heads down and playing it safe. She wished this whole mess were over and done with but doubted she could be so lucky as to stumble on the perpetrators in the act with them unprepared. The tensions between Slytherin and the other Houses were still growing thanks to this mess and the Ceremony, just as Cameron had predicted, though thankfully no fights had broken out. Apparently news of her intervention had spread and had cowed people. The only thing that Hermione could think of to do to help with this was to tell the Prefects to not be as harsh on the Slytherins as they might want, as that might help deescalate matters and make the Slytherins feel less persecuted. She made it clear to all of them that if something major was wrong than to still go after them as needed but to otherwise try to go with warnings if at all possible unless they were Snakes that had happily colluded with the Carrows.
Mostly she, Ginny and Luna were both deep in the work of preparing for the end of term tests. The Trio seemed to be well and truly on top of everything study wise and were even trying to help Simon and his bevy of beauties with their classwork. They knew that tests were going to be mock NEWTs and Hermione certainly hoped she was going to be ready for them. These pre-NEWTs were supposed to help point out a student's weaknesses so that they had plenty of time to correct them. She knew that her stress was better than it usually was during test run up but she could tell that she was getting a bit short with people and a bit insane with her study needs. It was taking focus and a few more potions to fight but she really was worried about Ginny. Her girlfriend was still getting occasional headaches and bouts of weakness but it really wasn't like it had been that first week back. She was doing better but Ginny was still pushing herself far more than she should which concerned Hermione to no end. The last thing she wanted to have happen to her love was for her to fall over and hurt herself because she was doing too much.
It had her very concerned and Ginny generally blew her off when she stated her worries. It was irritating her to no end when Ginny did that and she kind of wanted to tear her hair out but what could she do? The girl wouldn't listen to her, insisting that she was actually fine for the most part when Hermione was sure she needed to rest and let herself fully heal. Didn't Ginny know that all she was trying to do was take care of her love the way that Ginny took care of her? She was just trying to show her the same degree of consideration, care, and love. So having that concern thrown back into her face time and again really grated on her. Did she really deserve that?
Hermione was just tired of all this stupidity and needed to find some sort of way to deal with the mounting stress. This was not a good thing and she knew what would happen if she did not cope with it. It was not a thing she was looking forward to and was actively trying to avoid it. As an attempt to battle that stress she was walking through the halls of the castle, trying to get rid of the nervous energy she was feeling because it certainly was not helping her mood. Her temper was rather close to the surface and it was taking more effort than she was pleased with to keep from snapping at everyone. She had never been this… well mean was the only way she could see it. Outside the first real winter storm of the season had descended on Hogwarts and the wind was currently howling around the castle and sleet was falling in curtains. Tomorrow everything would doubtless be coated in a layer of ice and it just might be pretty if the sun shone to reflect off it, but thanks to the weather her desire to go out and take a walk to go visit Hagrid, or perhaps head down to the lake was simply not an option. That left the stone halls of the castle as her only option for mindless wandering with the same paintings and tapestries she had seen year after year, to the point where they were almost invisible to her now. Her mood was not helped by any of this as all of this served to remind her of too many things that upset her. Right now she desperately wanted to run into those Slyterin idiots so she could pummel them for a while to make herself feel better about life and to reduce her stress to far more manageable levels. It's not like she would kill them or anything, just educate them as to why upsetting her was not in their best interests. She was so irate that she kind of felt like Harry had Fifth year, angry at the world and wanting to snap at most anyone.
This was one of the rare times where she did not have Ginny, Luna or Simon with her and in a way it felt a little surreal to be walking through the halls of the school all alone. She was consciously avoiding certain sections of the building as they still gave her painful memories, like the large staircase where she and Ron had been pursued by Nagini, or the various spots where some of their friends had died that spring. Those areas still affected her; the morbid memorials were carved into her memory just not as strongly as they had been before. That was something she was utterly grateful for since she had to walk past those spots on occasion. Sadly, that knowledge was only slight comfort as she walked through the nearly silent halls, the faint echoes of distant voices bouncing down the stone.
She was walking with no real purpose or aim, just letting her feet take her where they will. There was no design, nothing but her thoughts and her distracted wandering. She soon came to a stop at the base of the spiral stairs that led to the top of the Astronomy Tower and she gazed up them. She remembered the last time she had been here on her own like this, feeling a bit cut off from her own happiness due to forces outside her own control. At the time it had been when Ron had been all entwined with Lavender, snogging her as if his life depended on it. The display had been stomach turning and heart aching. Harry had found her there morosely practicing her spells, some of the more obscure and difficult ones, and had been in the process of cheering her up when those two had burst in, looking for a place to snog in private and perhaps take their liaison further. She had been so incensed at their intrusion that she had turned the spell she had been working with against him. Ron had deserved those birds attacking him like that. It had served him right as he had been such a huge prat then. And now, now she wasn't even sure if they were still friends anymore because of who she had fallen in love with. She hadn't heard anything from him at all since Halloween and Harry's occasional letters from training that spoke of him didn't really help clear up that matter. She was still in the dark.
It wasn't like she had been trying to break his heart on purpose or anything. She had pulled away from him initially thanks to his leaving her and Harry and it had only gotten worse. How did she have any control over her sexual identity or who she fell in love with? Ron had kind of given her the impression that Hermione had gotten together with Ginny out of spite which was one of the dumbest things she had ever heard from him, and considering some of his other statements that he had made in the time she had known him that was huge. She was simply trying to live her life and become the truest version of herself that she could be, was that so wrong or difficult to comprehend? Once she had made that realization on the cold marble of Malfoy Manor while Bellatrix had been happily torturing her, her life had changed so dramatically and completely that there really was a distinct disconnect between her life before having that vile slur carved into her arm and now. Who she had been before had been a girl who had been afraid to see herself as she truly was, preferring the safety of books and peoples notions of her. That wasn't currently the case and it was liberating. It was kind of funny now that she thought about it in a sick stomach turning sort of way; Bellatrix had actually done her a great favor by torturing her and carving that thrice bedamned word into her arm. Without that whole event, that singular traumatic experience that still hurt and tore at her, would she have ever taken the risks necessary to become this version of herself? Her life now was so rich, blessed and full of love and of all things she had to thank the most insane and horrible Death Eater of them all for making it happen. The irony was not lost on her.
Hermione was certain Ginny would understand if she explained all that, being able to follow her train of thought and where she usually went with things for the most part. Harry would have gotten it after a little while and Luna would have gotten it in an instant given her intuitive jumps. On the other hand there was no doubt in her mind that Ron would call her utterly daft and try to convince her that she was just being foolish, that there was no way that it could be true. This didn't make Ron a bad person, not even remotely, it just meant that Ron was not right for her and didn't really get how she thought. Ron really was a wonderful person when he tried and she did love him dearly however the problem was that he often didn't try, taking the easy way out a lot of the time and letting his emotions run away with him. There was no doubt he had a lot of heart, more than anyone she knew, but with it came more anger and jealously than she wanted to deal with. What Ron needed was a woman who would be content to be Mrs. Weasley not someone like her who wanted to do… well in all honesty, everything. That sort of disconnect between their desires and modes of thinking would have torn them apart in the end. Luna or even Harry would have been a better match for her, though the thought of her and her near brother together like that gave her a shudder. She just wished she knew of someone who would be a good match for her friend, at least for her part. Ron deserved to be as happy as she and Harry were.
She could faintly hear the howling wind outside, the charms on the windows helping to hold the faint amount of heat inside the castle and to keep the biting cold, wind and sleet out. The sound and the cool temperature really wasn't helping her mood any. It was much more fitting for a more maudlin state of mind and the current environment was trying to drag her that way to her annoyance. Maybe she should head back to the Common Room, possibly get some hot chocolate and stay warm? It would be even better if she could cuddle with Ginny under the covers, as their shared body heat would make things nice and cozy in no time. They could get to homework and studying in a while. That plan had merit and demanded action. As it moved through her mind she began to smile with anticipation.
Moving away from the window where she had been watching the fall of sleet Hermione left there and she turned her feet towards Gryffindor Tower. It was a little bit of a walk but taking a direct route back would be far shorter than the tinker's walk she had taken to get here. It had been good exercise and had helped get her mind off things to a degree but now she would prefer getting back to the Common Room without too much delay. She was also growing a bit concerned as to precisely what her girlfriend might be getting up to at the moment since she was currently unsupervised by anyone responsible. Knowing Ginny like she did, the girl was probably doing something she wasn't supposed to do. It made her want to tear her hair out but there seemed to be nothing she could do to stop her. Why was it that every Weasley she had ever met was such an amazingly stubborn individual who had to do things their way first and often ignored advice that was meant for their own good? Fleur had told her when they had been staying at Shell Cottage and Hermione had been complaining about Ron that Bill had gotten better after a while but that had taken his Curse Breaking work and training up from her to really settle him down. Maybe she needed to work more on getting Ginny trained up to be a proper girlfriend and less stubborn? She had never really been in an actual relationship, not really as her and Ron had not been official, so it wasn't like she knew how to train her to be a good partner? How would one even do that anyway? The images that ran through her mind at the thought of training Ginny made her blush quite warmly. Perhaps that was not the way to proceed in this instance but based on how her body was reacting to the mere thoughts she was entertaining, it might prove to be fun to try anyway?
Her face was even brighter thanks to that new train of thought as she saw the painting of the Fat Lady ahead. Thankfully she had time for her face to cool some before she stepped inside as the last thing she wanted to do right now was to try and explain why she was blushing so badly to anyone. And she just knew that people would ask because people always did. That was the problem with being one half of one of the popular couples in the House. There really were no words that came to mind for what she could say that would ensure that she was not lying and yet not really say anything. She did not approve of that. However if she remembered correctly as she thought back, there had been some books on that intriguing subject back at that bookstore in London, in fact there had been a whole section of them. Perhaps she should make a trip after graduation and pick up a few? Perhaps even Bondage: A History? She snorted and shook her head. Maybe she should talk to Ginny and see what her girl thought of that particular idea before she spent the money. It sounded like it had potential for some fun but it's not like she wasn't blissfully happy with the way things were right now. Their sex life, such as it was, was perfect. Once she gave the password Hermione stepped inside the Common Room and looked around for Ginny. The redhead was nowhere to be seen and that concerned her. Given the time she sort of doubted that Gin was up in the room so where was she? What in Merlin's name was that girl doing now?
Spotting Simon sitting off to the side doing homework, Hermione went over to where he was and asked, "Hey Simon, have you seen Ginny by any chance?"
He shook his head as he answered, barely looking up from his parchment as he was writing something, "No. I haven't seen her in a while. I think I heard her say something earlier about going flying for a little bit but that would be crazy… right? I mean the weather it terrible."
Simon looked up at the end, giving her this worried look, as if asking her that Ginny was alright and had not done this. Clearly she was not the only one concerned about the redhead and what she was getting up to. She wished she could give her favorite first year some assurances but she had none. "I hope not, but some Quidditch players are not even remotely sane" She ignored the few sounds of protest from the peanut gallery. "And no one has accused her of that to my knowledge. If she did go out flying in this bit of an ice storm, we will have words I can tell you that."
"She'll get in trouble?" Simon pulled in ever so slightly but it was enough for Hermione to notice.
Reaching across his shoulders she hugged him close to her. She wanted him to know she was okay with him despite being irked with her girlfriend and her reckless ways. His history thanks to his family made his overly sensitive to any possibility that he could be to blame for anything. But she figured if she hadn't gone after the Dursleys she really couldn't justify going after the Cresswells. "Hey now, it'll be fine. I don't blame you at all. You're not responsible for any of this because if I can't control Ginny you wouldn't have a chance either. I would just be a bit upset with her for her doing something stupid again, that's all. I still love her and everything and this doesn't change that but I am grumpy with the way she doesn't seem to take care of herself."
Simon nodded, looking relieved. He pursed his lips as he thought about whether he was going to say something or not before stating, "I think that maybe she just wants to go out and do things."
"I know Simon and I understand that but she is still not completely better and until then she should take it easy or at least easier than she is. When you're hurt the last thing you want to be doing is making it worse by pushing yourself too hard. All that does is make you need to spend more time healing and needing to rest in order to get better." commented Hermione, looking towards the Fat Lady, as if that would summon Ginny.
It didn't and she only got more and more wound up as time went on and there was still no Ginny. She wanted to talk to her girlfriend and see if she was okay but while Hermione was down here in the Common Room she wasn't about to pull out the Marauder's Map and have a look. There were some secrets she wasn't willing to share with everyone yet and that was certainly one of them. Her nervous energy made her get up several times and begin to pace in front of the fire, back and forth, constantly glancing towards the portal, wishing that would summon her girl and of course it did not. Her behavior was attracting attention and she was vaguely aware of this fact but she was growing too peeved to care. She was stuck waiting for the redhead to show and when she did that girl would get a piece of her mind. This whole thing was making her crazy with worry and she did not need that right now. For all Hermione knew Ginny could be hurt out in the sleet and freezing without any way to get a hold of any assistance. If she were unconscious she would be unable to send off her Patrouns to summon aid.
The portrait opened and in walked Ginny, her hair darker than usual because it was uncovered and damp, with little bits of ice hanging from it and her cheeks looked a bit wind chapped and red. She was smiling happily but Hermione also noticed that she was moving especially slowly and shivering some in her arms and legs. Hermione stood and turned to face her girlfriend, hands on her hips trying to contain her mounting anger but it was difficult. Part of her wanted to rush over and hug her freezing girl and another part knew what she was about to do was stupid however she couldn't believe the ridiculous Weasley idiocy that Ginny was displaying here. Had Simon actually been right? This was so amazingly Ron like and she just did not have the time for that kind of nonsense in her life anymore. "Where have you been?"
Ginny looked a bit confused, as if she couldn't understand exactly what Hermione was asking, "I was outside. I went for a short flight for some environmental training and toughening until the sleet seriously started coming down harder and then I trudged back up here from the pitch."
"You mean to tell me that you were actually flying out in this?" Hermione's disbelief was etched over her whole body, and she gestured towards the window where tiny bits of ice were pelting off the glass.
"Well yeah. I've played in worse. You know I've played in worse. There was that match in January of my fifth year where the weather was like this, remember? Ron's hands hurt every time he stopped the quaffle." It was clear that Ginny was trying to get Hermione to remember the worst times she had been in the air.
"But you haven't played in this sort of weather coming right off a serious head injury." challenged Hermione, undaunted as she was trying to get her girlfriend to actually think about things for a change.
"Oh come off it 'mione, I'm fine. I didn't do anything wrong today and you know it. Look I went out flying and I didn't hurt myself and managed to make it up here in one piece without injury as well, so what exactly is the problem?" retorted Ginny, clearly affronted by Hermione's doubting her ability.
"The problem? The problem?! Honestly Ginevra, you almost died a few weeks ago if you've forgotten and you can't figure out why taking it easy for a few more weeks might be in your best interests?" Hermione's voice was raising, and her emotions were starting to get the better of her. She was so frustrated with her that she wanted to scream, pull her hair out, and pound on Ginny all at the same time. It would be difficult but she felt up to the challenge.
"I've been taking it easy Hermione or haven't you noticed? God, if you had your way I wouldn't be doing anything at all, not flying at all, just sitting around and doing nothing but my ruddy homework." complained Ginny obviously frustrated with this situation, throwing her hands in the air to emphasize her point.
Everyone in the Common Room stopped what they were doing and stared at the two seventh years that were standing there facing off with each other. No one had so much as seen them disagree on anything since the start of the year so this build up and argument was kind of intimidating and out of character for them. One of the Prefects scampered out of the room as other students were slinking out of the line of fire, desperately wishing to avoid being in between those two those two powerful witches if things got worse. And they did.
"That's not true and you know it. Anyway, you sure as hell shouldn't be flying around in goddamned sleet! Do you have any bloody clue just how badly that could hurt you, how doing that could screw up your body?" Hermione stalked a bit closer to her girlfriend her hands clenched into fists. She so wanted to slap the stupid off Ginny but kept refraining. It was becoming more of a challenge moment by moment.
"It's my body Hermione, mine and I know what it can and cannot take. I don't need you trying to coddle me all the damn time. Merlin, you would think you were my mother the way you are carrying on about this. Yes I got hurt but I got better. I took it easy and I need to get back into shape. I know how to take care of myself." Ginny was not giving an inch, moving towards Hermione almost as if she were arguing with her brother, her face growing red with anger.
"Then prove it! Stop pushing yourself into exhaustion all the damn time! Stop working so hard that you give yourself headaches! Don't you see that these are signs that you aren't better and that you need to slow down! Dammit Ginny you're only making yourself worse and not giving yourself time to heal!" Red face to red face, she was screaming at her girlfriend with all that she had, trying to get this through the girl's thick skull with all that she had, hoping that volume and emotional intensity would manage what logic was failing to do. Why was she being so damn difficult?
"I'm fine! How many times do I have to tell you that? I'm making sure I don't hurt myself when I go and do something. I don't need you hovering around me all the time worrying over every bloody sniffle!" Ginny's face was now a bright red and her arms flailed a bit as she was gesticulating wildly.
"I'm just worried about you Ginny!" She leaned in, getting her face even closer to Ginny, her eyes narrowed as she snapped that out.
"I don't need it!" Ginny did the same thing, yielding nothing. Their eyes were blazing at each other. And their jaws were clenched.
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Quiet!" bellowed Professor Cottington, silencing the pair of them instantly. "Why in the name of all that is holy are the two of you arguing like pair of petulant fishwives?!"
The two girls said nothing in response to her query but just continued to glare at each other, fists clenched, and lips pursed, holding back the next round of yelling due to the Professor being there. Clearly that was not going to fly as so the Professor ordered, "You two, my chambers, now. The rest of you, go about your business. There is nothing more to see here."
The girls stalked off, refusing to look at each other. Once inside the rooms of her bedroom/office in the tower, the door closed rather solidly behind them all, a sort of half slam, shutting out the noise of the whispered conversations behind them and leaving them all in there to glower at each other. Hermione and Ginny were sitting on opposite sides of the room, arms crossed, glaring crossly at each other. It was almost possible to see the smoke rising from their ears and the heat waves between them from sheer anger of their gaze. The Professor rolled her eyes and stood between them, cutting off their lines of sight on each other forcing them to look up at her briefly. She took the chance to lock eyes with both of them. "Now what is going on?"
Neither girl spoke; they just sat back and crossed their arms, huffing slightly.
Professor Cottington closed her eyes briefly as if summoning strength before opening them again, stating, "Perhaps I did not make myself clear the first time I spoke or mayhap you thought it wasn't an order. Allow me to correct that misunderstanding. Now one of you will tell me what the hell is going on or I will start handing out detentions and they won't be small ones."
Hermione glared at Ginny, even though her Head of House and then flicked her eyes away, grumbling out, "We were having a disagreement."
Professor Cottington snorted in derision at that description of the event. "That was not a disagreement Miss Granger that was most definitely a bloody row. What in Merlin's name were you two fighting over?"
"She won't stop hovering over me!" declared Ginny with some heat, joining in on things as she blurted that out.
Before Hermione could reply with her own counter to that argument, Professor Cottington had a palm up facing her, stopping her voice while she faced Ginny. "So she's hovering over you, is that it?"
"Yes." huffed Ginny as if that were clearly crime enough.
"So let me see if I understand what you're saying… you're saying that you are upset that your girlfriend who dotes on you is worried about your health since you were almost killed in a Quidditch accident? Is that what you are saying? That she shouldn't be worried about you? That she shouldn't care about your health and wellbeing?" Professor Cottington had an eyebrow raised in question as she spoke, staring challengingly at the girl.
Ginny soon couldn't meet her eyes and was soon looking at her feet, shifting in her seat uncomfortably. In a rather subdued voice, she said, "Yes, that's why."
"I see. And you, why were you upset?" Turning to look over at Hermione, her eyes also intense and locking the Head Girl in place.
Hermione had been thinking as this had been going on, especially when their Head of House pointedly asked why Ginny had been upset she looked at why she was upset. She had been so worried about Ginny and her girlfriend's health that she had basically refused to let Ginny look out for herself on her own, acting as if she knew best, like she did with many other things. She was basically treating her girlfriend like a little kid and she knew how bad that felt. That had happened to her for years, as her parents and Primary school teachers had not realized that she was quite capable of looking after herself and doing things her peers were incapable of doing. She closed her eyes and could feel a tear trickle down her face, the enormity of what she had actually been doing striking home. "I was upset because she wasn't taking care of herself the way I thought she should. I have been thinking that she was pushing herself too hard and working towards ending up back in the Hospital Wing. However I just realized that I am treating her like a little kid and am trying to force her to act a certain way and not simply accepting her for who she is or realizing that she is quite capable of taking care of herself."
"And you see why what you did was wrong?" asked Professor Cottington gently, her tone no longer harsh.
Hermione nodded, looking down at the floor. She was so embarrassed. How could she have treated Ginny that way? This was the woman she loved and she was acting as bad as Ron had with her at times, making it seem as if he was the one that knew best and that she should defer to his supposed wisdom as opposed to her knowledge. She had never been able to stand that so she knew that there was no way that Ginny would be able to stand that sort of treatment either. Why had she been such a prat? "I'm sorry Gin."
"Sorry 'mione." Ginny was upset but this time for a different reason.
"Now will the both of you talk about this with each other for a change? Clearly you two have some misunderstandings and some worries on this matter that you haven't been talking about with each other. You may have been talking at each other but certainly not with. You need to stop being idiots and talk. You two are both very smart, two of the smartest in the whole House so when you act like idiots I really just want to smack you upside your heads. I would really appreciate not having my Common Room filled with the sounds of students squabbling like that, are we clear?" asked Professor Cottington, using her gaze in a similar fashion to the Headmistress but only more blatant and brutal but far less cutting and lethal.
"Yes ma'am." replied both women demurely, shyly looking at each other.
"Good. Now you two go off and talk with each other. That is an order. Now git!" She shooed them out the door and they both made their way up the stairs on the girl's side in silence, unsure how to start this conversation. Once in the Head Girl room they sat in chairs across from each other and were unsure what to do, what to say, not quite able to look at each other.
When Hermione noticed that Ginny was still shivering slightly she called out, "Topsy!"
"Yes, Miss Grangy?" asked the House Elf when she appeared. She looked between them and grew a bit concerned.
"Can you get us some cups of hot chocolate and a few treats if you please?" she asked politely.
Topsy bowed her head and once she disappeared to accomplish that task, Hermione summoned one of the extra blankets from the bed, stood, and put it around Ginny. "There you go Gin."
Ginny looked up at her with a faint smile. "Thank you love."
Hermione leaned down and kissed Ginny on the temple, leaning her forehead against her girlfriend's as she whispered out. "I'm sorry for being a prat."
"I'm sorry for being a Weasley." joked Ginny, chuckling slightly. "You know how stubborn we can be."
Topsy set down the hot chocolates and a tray of gingerbread on the table and then bowed before vanishing. Hermione leaned back and grinned at her girl as she said, "Yes, I am sadly well acquainted with just how stubborn members of your family can be on a regular basis."
Ginny picked up her mug with both hands and cradled it close to her chest, clearly trying to hoard the warmth. There was still some shivering and it was clear that she wasn't feeling all that great because of it. She took a sip and sighed happily. Looking a bit sheepish she gazed down into her mug as she spoke, "I know I am pushing myself 'mione, but if I don't how can I ever get better? The only way to get better after something like that is to push through the pain and get back to being fit. That's why I am doing this."
"But Ginny, this wasn't like some of the other injuries that have happened to you while you have been playing Quidditch. This was a very serious injury that could have very easily killed you if I hadn't managed to arrest your fall. Yes, you will need to push yourself to get back into shape, I am in no way disputing that fact but since you are still healing at this point you need to rest a bit more until Madam Pomfrey gives you the all clear to start exercising for real. I know she hasn't done that yet and that's why I am on your case about this. Once she does I will leave you alone on the matter, I promise. I mean, I know you can ignore me by and large but do you really want to cross her?" said Hermione with a faint smile.
"Not even remotely," grumbled Ginny. "I'm just frustrated. I hate this."
"Trust me Gin, I understand. The summer after the Ministry battle I had the same issue with my recovery from that curse Dolohov hit me with. That took a while for me to recover from because it had almost killed me and it was rough going for a while because of that. It is the same for you. You are doing right now what I did at the beginning of the year and we both know how well that turned out. Heal first and then get back into shape. It will be easier in the long run. You'll be good as new in no time. I promise love." Hermione's smile was soft and full of caring. She fully believed what she was saying and now realized that she should have said all of this to Ginny earlier instead of acting like Ginny could read her mind or something. That sort of behavior never got anybody anywhere and she knew that.
"Thank you Hermione." Ginny did look touched by her words and thoughtful.
"No problem love." Hermione leaned in and kissed Ginny lightly, more of a promise than anything else.
They sat quietly at the table for a few minutes as they drank their coco, still trying to deal with their jangled emotions from their spat and their talk afterwards. When Hermione set her mug down and she noticed that Ginny was still shivering a little she smiled as an idea came to her. This could work to warm up Ginny and go a long way to making amends for being a Ron like Prat herself. She got to her feet and extended a hand, "Come on love, I have an idea that should help you both relax and warm up?"
"Oh? What is it?" Ginny seemed intrigued by this notion and her smile grew.
"Well, if we share a warm bath, you can lean back against me so I can hold you close so that my body and the warm water will serve to chase this cold from your body. What do you say?" Hermione gave a seductive little smile, curling her fingers slightly, invitingly at her girlfriend, trying to draw her in.
The smile on Ginny's face grew larger and larger as she thought about all of that, and she rose to her feet, taking Hermione's hand. With a very pleased grin she said, "Now that is quite the lovely idea Kitten. Honestly, given how playful you've become lately, maybe Otter might be the better nickname for you, because I know how much you like to be wet and squirmy or me to be that way."
Hermione started laughing, blushing a little from the implications of the statement, most specifically since she could not refute them. "Merlin Ginny that was terrible. Who have you been taking comedy lessons from, my father? Ron?"
"Ugh… I so do not need to be thinking about either of them right before we get naked, thank you." protested Ginny. "Please do not kill the mood there Otter. It's unbecoming."
"Good point." Hermione snickered at the new nickname, thinking about how it worked with her patronus and parts of her personality. Leave it to Ginny to think of something like that even when cold and uncomfortable. They headed into the bathroom and Hermione helped undress Ginny, making it into a fun little game, kissing slowly exposed skin as the tub filled with lightly scented water that had curls of steam coming off it. Hermione quickly undressed, tossing her clothes into a pile to the side and once she was done she climbed into the tub, holding her arms out towards her girlfriend, "Come on in Vixy, the water's fine."
With a happy grin, Ginny clearly needed no other invitation as she stepped into the warm tub and settled back against her girlfriend, making pleased noises as she could feel Hermione's breasts on her back. It was a sensation that Hermione found fairly pleasant. She also partially wrapped her legs about Ginny, hugging the girl to her, hooking her heels over the girl's thighs and then one arm around the girl's stomach. Once the tub was filled, she used her wand to turn off the faucet before setting it back down on the little shelf that rested across the tub, holding both their wands as well as a washcloth and soap. Both of them remained constantly vigilant as a holdover from the war and were always within a short reach of their wand.
Ginny sighed and relaxed her body. Hermione could feel that shift and it made her smile, bringing her other hand across Ginny's stomach and linking fingers. Ginny's head dropped back and to the side. "This is a lovely idea. I like how you think."
"Thank you Gin. I can't promise that I won't keep bugging you about all of this but I will try to get better about it. I know you aren't being purposefully stubborn about all of this but I'm just worried about you and your health. I just want my love to be with me for a long, long time." said Hermione, her head leaning back against the tub.
"I know and I am sorry. I promise I will try to stop being a complete idiot about this. I have no idea how successful I will actually be but I will try. You know, there is no way I can do worse at this than Ron." She chuckled for a few moments before she grew serious again, shifting some in the water. "I love you Hermione. I love you so much and I don't intend to go anywhere, you do know that, right?"
"I do. But I was so scared Ginny. It terrified me so much watching you fall and I get worried about how you are doing because of it. I love you Ginny. I am so in love with you it makes me crazy." replied Hermione, sharing her own feelings on the subject.
Ginny turned her head to the side as if she were trying to get a kiss and Hermione leaned back forward to help make it happen. The kiss was awkward but satisfying, and it deepened slightly. Hermione slid one hand lower, to play in the soft hair above her lips. The other hand slid up and cupped a breast, squeezing it softly, fingers starting to move up towards the nipple. Ginny shifted again, groaning softly but not in an aroused manner. Hermione froze and asked, "Are you okay?"
"I don't think so. I think the warmth is letting my body know just how much pain I'm in. Can we do this later? I hate to stop something I know we'll both love but I hurt." said Ginny, with a bit of a discomfited moan.
They kissed with a bit of effort and leaned their heads together afterwards, sighing. Sometimes love was difficult but it was so worth it.