Chapter 38

Ginny POV

Hermione was walking her down the hallway towards the fourth-year dormitory, and Ginny could barely see, her eyes were so blurred with tears. Hermione opened the door, and walked Ginny over to her bed, sitting her down on it. Ginny felt Hermione sit down next to her, and put her arm around her.

"Ginny, whatever it is, you can tell me… I'm right here…" Hermione whispered as Ginny continued to cry.

She looked tearfully up at Hermione, "Demelza ended things… For… For good…" Ginny barely got out before she started to cry even harder. She buried her head into Hermione's neck and clung tight to her. She hated to cry and tried not to do it often, but she couldn't help it. Her heart felt like it'd shattered completely.

"Oh Ginny… I'm so sorry…" Hermione said, gently rubbing Ginny's back.

"All because I lost my temper and hexed Juliette… I can't believe I did that…" Ginny cried.

"Well… Juliette admitted that she was pushing you, Ginny. She knew what she was doing…" Hermione admitted, a bit frustrated with her girlfriend's now-retired ability of getting under Ginny's skin as much as possible.

"It doesn't matter… I shouldn't have done it… I shouldn't have lost control like that…" Ginny whispered, her tears making her voice a bit hoarse and thick. She laid back on the bed, covering her face with her hands. "How could I have screwed this up so badly…?" she whispered from behind her hands.

"Well, if you ask me, Demelza is being a little ridiculous… If anyone should be upset about what happened, it should be Juliette and myself. It's not as if you hexed her," Hermione said exasperated, upset at how hurt Ginny was.

Ginny removed her hands, and sat up to look at Hermione.

"It doesn't matter… She doesn't want to be with me, and I don't want to be with someone who doesn't want to be with me… It just hurts for now… I'm sure I'll – I'll get through it… I have to," Ginny sniffed, her crying slowing down somewhat. "She suggested that maybe when we start up our fourth year, we could try being friends again… But I'm not so sure…" Ginny said, wiping her eyes.

"Why not?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know… I just feel like it might be too hard, after how close we'd been through our relationship… But at the same time, I don't want to lose her completely…" Ginny sighed, "How is it that a month ago everything in my life was so good and easy, and now it's been completely flipped upside down?" Ginny leaned her head on Hermione's shoulder.

"Sometimes, life is just kind of hard. It'll be okay though, Ginny. I'm sure, when you're ready, that you'll find someone new, if you're interested…" Hermione said, hesitantly.

Ginny laughed coldly, "Yeah, right. What exactly have I got to offer someone? Sure, I'm a fair decent flier, and I'm obviously not too bad at Charms…" Hermione gave her a look, "That's kind of you Hermione, and I know a lot of girls were looking at me at the beginning of the year when everyone was finding out that I fancied women, but I can't imagine anyone actually – "

Hermione had moved very suddenly, standing up from her bed. Ginny almost fell down as she'd been leaning up against Hermione, but she managed to narrowly catch herself.

"Ginny Weasley, you have everything to offer someone! You are exceedingly bright and a very skilled witch, you're a brilliant Quidditch player, you're sweet, you're loyal, you're brave, you're willing to stand up for not only yourself, but others as well, and you're beautiful…" Hermione listed off, hands on her hips, staring scoldingly at Ginny. Ginny stared at her, eyes wide. "Don't you dare sell yourself short, Ginny Weasley. You are a catch, and any girl would be lucky to have even a chance with you."

Ginny gaped at her, "I – I'm sorry…"

Hermione quickly closed the gap between them, standing right in front of Ginny. "You don't have to apologize. For this, or for who are you. Start being unapologetically you, and own how amazing you are. You'll have girls lining up for a chance to take you to Madam Puddifoot's, I'm sure of it."

Ginny gazed up into Hermione's brown eyes. By their intensity, she couldn't help but believe every word Hermione had just said to her, even that she was beautiful.

"Okay…"

"Good. I'm sorry I spoke to you like that, I just can't have you doubting yourself because of this. I'm shocked that Demelza would break up with you based on something like this, but her loss is someone else's gain, got it?"

"Got it… Thanks Hermione. This… It's made me feel a lot better," Ginny mustered up a smile and Hermione returned it.

"You're welcome. So," Hermione offered Ginny her hand. "Would you like to go downstairs?"

"No… It's already been quite the night as it is, and I just don't have the energy… I'll apologize to Fred and George in the morning."

"Alright then," Hermione said as she walked towards the door.

"Hermione?"

Hermione turned back to the girl still sitting on her bed, "Yes?"

"Can I sleep here tonight?" Ginny asked, tentatively.

"You mean…"

"In your bed with you…?"

Hermione paused, then answered, "Of course you can, Ginny."

"Alright, I'll go grab a change of clothes. Thanks, Hermione." Ginny stood up and walked past Hermione, gently brushing up against her as she scooched past.

"You're welcome…" Ginny heard Hermione say as she left the room.

Hermione POV

"Can I sleep here tonight?" Ginny asked.

"You mean…"

"In your bed with you…?"

Hermione paused, not knowing really how to respond. She felt for what Ginny was going through, and would never want to be forced to sleep mere feet from someone who'd just broken her heart… But Juliette…

"Of course you can, Ginny," she suddenly heard herself say.

"Alright, I'll go grab a change of clothes. Thanks, Hermione." Ginny stood up and walked past Hermione, gently brushing up against her as she scooched past. Hermione felt a familiar electricity jolt through her body.

"You're welcome…" Hermione whispered into the now empty dormitory.

What are you doing? Things with Juliette are going so well! Just because Ginny is sad you just have to be the one to take care of her?

Hermione shook her head, trying to dissolve her thoughts. Ginny had been through a lot, it wasn't a big deal, she could let her sleep in her bed for one night.

Your self-control better be on tonight…

Hermione shook her head again and went back down to the common room. The party had gotten a bit raucous, and she walked up to Harry, who was standing against a wall watching the wildness unfold.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked.

"Sure thing! What's up?"

"No, someplace quiet." Harry looked at her, taking in her serious expression.

"Yeah okay, let's find somewhere quieter. I'm sure any room in the castle would suffice with how loud this lot is being." He grinned as he followed Hermione through the portrait hole and off to an empty classroom. He sat down in a chair while Hermione paced in front of him. "Hermione, what's going on?"

She paused to look at him, then continued pacing. After a few more laps, she stopped in front of him.

"Ginny's sleeping in my bed tonight," she blurted.

"Wait… What?" Harry asked, completely shocked. "What about Juliette?"

"I'm still with Juliette…"

"What about Demelza? I thought they were just on a break?"

"Demelza ended things for good tonight… That's why Ginny didn't come back down to the party. She's been crying her eyes out…"

"So, Ginny is officially single, upset, and sleeping in your bed tonight?"

"Yes…"

"And you think Juliette would be okay with that?"

"I mean… We trust each other… And I don't think I even feel that way about Ginny anymore…"

"You don't think you feel that way anymore? Hermione…"

"Well, I didn't think I did! But she was doubting herself and that no one would want her, and I couldn't allow that so I literally listed out all these things that make her extremely dateable and attractive, and just now she walked past me and brushed against me and…"

"And what?"

"I felt something…"

"Look, Hermione, as much as I would love for the two of you to be together, you can't do this…"

"Harry – "

"And I know that I was the one who told you to wait out Ginny and Demelza's relationship with Juliette. But you're happy with Juliette. At least to me you seem happier than you've maybe ever been. Aren't you happy with her?"

"Yes…"

"Then why would you do this?"

"Harry, just because I felt a tiny little something and Ginny's single doesn't mean I have no self-control…" Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Plus, Ginny doesn't even like me like that. There's no issue here, besides me having to talk to Juliette about it. And honestly, I think she'd be fine."

Harry was quiet, staring at her.

"What?"

"Just… Be careful Hermione…"

"I know what I'm doing… She needs someone to be there for her tonight. That's all this is. I can't let her go back in her dormitory and sleep feet from the girl who just broke her heart. I just can't."

"Then why did you need to come talk to me about it?"

Hermione frowned at him, "I don't know…"

Harry raised his eyebrows, pursing his lips.

She glared at him.

"Look, what do you want me to say? Sometimes your feelings of protectiveness over Ginny makes you do irrational things. Do you not recall when you punched Malfoy in the face? It was the right thing to do, if you ask me, but you did it without thinking. You just, reacted in the moment to protect Ginny from any sort of hurt. I don't think this is a good idea, but if you're insisting on doing it, make sure that you're careful."

Hermione lessened her glare and stared at Harry. She knew he was right, and that this was a big risk. But she couldn't deny Ginny tonight, not when she so badly needed support.

"I'll be careful," Hermione said determined.

"Please do," Harry said, giving her a serious look.

The two walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room, where the party had somehow gotten even louder. They stayed for a while, until a 7th year Prefect came downstairs to shut the party down.

"I'm sorry everyone, but it's getting a bit too late! Happy birthday, Fred and George," he said apologetically as he herded the group over towards their respective staircases. Harry shot Hermione one more look before he ascended the boys' staircase, and she took a deep breath as she began the trek up the girls'.

As she entered her dormitory, she was immediately accosted by Lavender.

"What's Ginny doing in here, Hermione?"

"She's going to sleep in here tonight," Hermione said as patiently and calmly as she could.

"In your bed? Don't the two of you have girlfriends?" Lavender asked exasperatedly, looking between the two girls.

Ginny winced at the mention of 'girlfriends', and Hermione rounded on Lavender.

"Look, it's none of your business what's going on here, but Ginny needs to sleep in my bed tonight. There's nothing wrong or funny about it, so keep your mouth shut and mind your own business, alright Lavender?" Hermione snapped at the girl.

Lavender sat down on her bed in a huff.

"Look, if this is going to cause too much trouble, I'll just – " Ginny had started to get up from Hermione's bed, but Hermione pushed her back down and cut her off.

"You're sleeping here tonight, Ginny. There's nothing wrong with it. Goodnight, girls," Hermione spoke directly at Lavender before grabbing a change of clothes, climbing beside Ginny on her bed, and closing her curtains around them. She quietly placed an Imperturbable Charm on the curtains, then turned to Ginny.

"Are you okay? She wasn't harassing you, was she?"

"Not really. She seemed oddly upset at the thought of me sleeping in your bed, though," Ginny said curiously.

Hermione laughed, "Well, she was elated to hear that you fancied women the first day we were back in school, so she may be jealous."

Ginny's eyes widened, then she laughed, "I would love to tell Ron that." The two girls laughed, then Hermione turned her back to Ginny.

"I'm going to change, okay?"

Ginny nodded, turning her back to Hermione as well to provide extra privacy. "Hey…"

"Yeah?" Hermione murmured a she changed out of her top into a loose t-shirt.

"When you got all uncomfortable with me changing in front of you this summer… Why was that…?" Ginny asked slowly.

Hermione froze, she never would've figured she'd have to address those two moments where she pretty untactfully averted her eyes from Ginny's body over the summer.

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable…" she answered.

"But I didn't know that you fancied women… So…"

"Still… I just… I felt bad seeing you that way, especially when I knew I was gay and you didn't know…"Hermione said honestly.

"I wouldn't have taken offense, Hermione… Even if I was straight, I would never have thought you were objectifying me or anything…"

Hermione was silent.

"Hermione…?"

Hermione turned around, now fully changed into her t-shirt and joggers, "Thanks Ginny. I would never objectify you," Hermione said, softly smiling at her, as Ginny had turned around too as she heard Hermione rotate on the bed.

Ginny grinned back, "Guess that's good to know, seeing as we're sharing a bed together. Uh, is there a particular side you want to sleep on, or…?"

"Whatever works for you works for me. It's going to be pretty tight, are you okay with that?"

"Of course! Honestly, it'll be nice being close to someone tonight. Um…"

"What?" Hermione asked, looking at Ginny.

"Is Juliette going to be okay with this?"

"Of course, why? Is there a reason she shouldn't be? I'm just helping out a friend in need…"

"Good point. I just wasn't sure since I'm into girls and you're into girls and – "

"Ginny, even though we're both into girls, we can still be platonic friends… Right?"

"Of course, of course. Sorry."

"No need to apologize, it's fine. Are you comfortable?"

They both had gotten under Hermione's blanket. Ginny had grabbed her pillow from her dormitory while Hermione was downstairs, so they each had their heads on their own pillows, Ginny on the right side of the bed, Hermione on the left.

"I am… Thank you, for this. I really appreciate it."

"What are friends for, right? Come on, let's go to sleep. Goodnight, Ginny."

"G'night, Hermione."

The two girls both rolled over so they were laying back to back. Hermione's eyes were wide open as she felt Ginny's warm back against hers. She could feel her breathing even out, and she was sure Ginny had fallen asleep. She rolled onto her back to get one last look at the girl before she went to sleep. Ginny's face had softened completely, and it looked tired from all of the crying she'd done that evening. Hermione studied it, taking in every freckle, every nuance of her nose, her eyes, her light pink lips. She sighed, frustrated with herself as she felt the feelings she had for the girl slowly come crawling back into her heart.

No… Juliette is in love with you, and you're in love with her… This doesn't even make any sense. The very first day Ginny is single, you drop everything for her? What does she have that Juliette doesn't? Juliette is arguably a better match for you, a perfect match, even. She's been so patient, and so understanding of everything you've been going through, and she loves you, still! Think about Juliette… Juliette…

Hermione screwed up her face, scrunching her forehead, eyes, and nose as she forced herself to forget about the sleeping girl beside her. As she was about to roll back over so her back was to Ginny again, she felt Ginny roll over into her, placing an arm across her stomach, her head nuzzled into Hermione's chest. Hermione froze, and looked down at Ginny with wide eyes. She was still fast asleep. Hermione exhaled slowly, then forced herself to shut her eyes so she could hopefully get some sleep.

Juliette may be the perfect match… But she's not Ginny…