Chapter 27

Ginny POV

"Ginny?! What in the bloody hell are you doing out here?!" Ron asked angrily, standing up and pulling Lavender up with him.

"I could ask you the same thing! You two can't snog inside? The two of you are a couple, it's not as if you've got to hide out here!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Won-Won thought it would be better out by the lake! He's so romantic…" Lavender gushed as she looked up at Ron. Ginny shot an incredulous look at Ron.

"Okay, whatever. Look, I've lost Mum's necklace. I think it may be out here somewhere. Have you – "

"You mean this necklace?" Lavender asked as she pulled a blue necklace away from her chest to show Ginny.

"Yes… That would be it…"

"Oh, that's Mum's? I just found it on the ground, thought it'd look nice on Lavender here." Ron said proudly.

"That's… Incredibly thoughtful of you Ron… To pick something up off the ground and give it to your girlfriend to wear… Just… Wow…" Ginny couldn't even continue speaking as Ron and Lavender had pulled each other into a tight embrace, snogging aggressively. "Alright, alright! Let's get back to Gryffindor Tower before we get caught. Surely someone saw me light up this area."

The three of them began the trek back up to the castle, completely oblivious to the other couple that was tucked a bit further into the forest, just barely 100 feet away.

Hermione POV

Hermione could hardly breathe as she watched Ginny, Ron, and Lavender depart the shore of the lake and head back up towards the castle. Partially because she was terrified of any of them finding her, but mostly because Juliette had her hand firmly across Hermione's mouth.

"Just a few more seconds, 'Ermione… Zen zey will be far enough away…" Juliette whispered into the girl's ear. They were deeper into the forest than Ron and Lavender had been, and hadn't actually noticed that the pair were even there before now. Once the two girls had seen the flash of light from Ginny's wand, Juliette had immediately pulled Hermione away from the light, holding her close, one arm protectively across her midsection, the other hand on Hermione's mouth to keep her quiet. "Okay… Zey are gone." Juliette removed her hand from Hermione's mouth, and smiled at her, again, that genuine smile that Hermione had seen briefly that one night in the corridor. She chuckled lightly, "Zat was a close one," and then continued where she left off, gently kissing down Hermione's neck.

"Juliette… Juliette, wait – " Hermione said. Juliette immediately stopped and brought her face up to Hermione's. "I can't…" Hermione's eyes began to well with tears. Juliette looked at her, studying her face, quickly wiping away the single tear that had escaped onto Hermione's cheek.

"Zis is about Ginny?"

Hermione nodded.

"Would you 'ave asked me to stop if Ginny 'ad not shown up tonight?"

Hermione hesitated, then shook her head no. Juliette paused as she looked at Hermione, as if she was debating on what to do next.

"Well zen… Let us get you back up to ze castle. I am fine if you want to stop for ze night, but I am not fine with you getting sick. It is much too cold out 'ere if we are not going to be… Keeping each uzzer warm…" She straightened Hermione's dress before fixing her own, shaking a few bugs off in the process, and then took Hermione's hand to lead her out of the wooded area they were in and up to the school.

They walked in silence, and every once in a while, Hermione would look over at Juliette. She thought that Juliette was beautiful before, seeing her in her dress in the Great Hall, but it didn't compare to how she looked now under the light of the moon. Her long, silky, dark hair was glistening in the moonlight, she had done her makeup perfectly to highlight the flecks of green and gold in her hazel eyes, and her dress fit her flawlessly, accentuating both the tone of her muscles as well as her feminine curves. She was gorgeous, and Hermione had just been snogging her down in the forest by the lake. Hermione blushed at this. Why did I ask her to stop? Why did Ginny have to show up to the exact spot where we were? And Juliette is being so understanding and… Kind…

They stopped as they arrived at the doors to the castle. The Beauxbatons carriage, where their delegation was sleeping while they were at Hogwarts, was down near Hagrid's hut, so this was as far as Juliette would take Hermione. Juliette let go of Hermione's hand, and Hermione noticed how she immediately missed the contact.

"Goodnight, 'Ermione. I am sorry zat our night was cut short, but – " Hermione cut Juliette off by crashing her lips against hers, kissing her almost desperately.

"I changed my mind, I don't want this to be the end of our evening," Hermione murmured against Juliette's lips. "Come on, I know where we can go where we shouldn't be bothered." She stepped back towards the castle, offering Juliette her hand.

Juliette stared at Hermione, clearly at a loss for words, before giving her another one of those genuine smiles.

"Lead ze way, 'Ermione."

Hermione grabbed her hand and pulled her into the school. They walked, quietly and quickly, through the various corridors until they arrived at their destination, the library.

"Alohamora," Hermione whispered and then slowly pushed the door open, guiding Juliette in first then closing the door behind them. There was no way that anyone would be visiting the library tonight, especially not after the event this evening. The girls walked towards the back of the library before Hermione pulled Juliette into an area between two stacks near the back. It had her usual table and three chairs, one on one side of the table, two on the other side. Hermione backed Juliette to the edge of the table, and kissed her as she felt the girl bump against it. Juliette pulled Hermione close to her as the kiss intensified, then reached her hands up into Hermione's hair, letting it down out of the fancy style it had been in for the Yule Ball. Juliette then pivoted them around so Hermione was against the table instead, then effortlessly lifted her up to sit her on it. Hermione looked down into Juliette's hazel eyes to find they were looking back into hers, passionately. Hermione took Juliette's face in her hands, gently running her thumbs across her soft, smooth skin. Juliette stared up at her, longingly, her hands resting on the outside of Hermione's thighs.

"'Ermione… What is it zat you are wanting from me? I do not want to push you beyond what you are comfortable with…" Juliette said breathlessly. Hermione studied Juliette's eyes for a moment, then took her hands from Juliette's face and grabbed Juliette's hands, leading them around to the back of her dress, guiding her to begin to undo it.

"I want you to help me forget…"