Chapter 47

Hermione POV

When Hermione woke the next morning, she rolled over to find that Ginny's cot was empty. She stretched her arms up over her head and yawned. She'd always gotten fairly good sleep at the Burrow; she figured it was because it was so quiet and peaceful, at least when everyone was sleeping, that is. She quickly changed into a top and shorts and padded downstairs to see if she could help Mrs. Weasley with anything. Once she arrived in the kitchen, she found two very disheveled and tired looking boys sitting at the table.

"Ron! Harry!" she exclaimed, rushing forward to hug both of them. "Good camping trip?" she asked, laughing as they looked up at her with exhausted eyes.

"Let's just say we underestimated the work it took to camp… I'd much rather be at home with my mum doing everything, that's for sure…" Ron mumbled, before putting his head down on the table.

"It was a little rough, but it would've been better had we been prepared with any supplies other than the tent. We probably should've waited for you, Hermione. No doubt you would've been prepared," Harry said, grinning up at her.

"Of course I would have been, but I'm glad the two of you got some bonding time together," Hermione laughed lightly and helped herself to the tea Mrs. Weasley had made.

"So, how was France?" Harry asked over Ron's snoring.

"It was nice. It was great to see Juliette and stay with her. She showed me so many things, and it was wonderful to experience where she lives. Her family is a lot, but overall, it was nice," Hermione smiled at Harry. "How was – "

Hermione was interrupted by a completely drenched in sweat Ginny, who was wearing nothing but shorts and a sports bra. She hurried through the kitchen, giving a small smile to both Hermione and Harry, before bounding up the stairs. Hermione felt her cheeks go red, and she didn't look back at Harry until she heard him clear his throat. She whipped her head around to find Harry with an incredibly unimpressed look on his face.

"I – What?" Hermione asked.

"What do you mean, what? What was that?" Harry hissed under his breath.

Hermione irritably tucked a loose curl behind her ear, "Look, it's fine. I'll get it under control."

"Get what under control? Didn't you just come from a two-week trip to France with your girlfriend that you've been with for months? Suddenly you fancy Ginny again?" Harry whispered. "Hermione…"

"It's fine! It's just one tiny set-back. I mean, come on Harry, you saw her!" Hermione motioned towards the stairs.

Harry shook his head at Hermione, "Should the two of you be sharing a room together? Honestly, Hermione, this doesn't seem like a good idea… Someone's going to get hurt…"

"The way I see it, the only one who stands to get hurt here is me. Ginny's fine. She has no idea I ever fancied her in the first place, so as far as she knows, I'm happy with Juliette and we're best friends again. That's all. I just need to get used to being around her again, and it'll all be fine, I'm sure of it."

Harry looked at Hermione for a moment, studying her face, then nodded reluctantly, "Alright."

Suddenly, Mrs. Weasley rushed into the kitchen and started making breakfast.

"Can I help, Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione asked.

"Of course you can dear, and please, call me Molly," Mrs. Weasley beamed at Hermione. "Now, tell me about this girlfriend of yours."

Hermione blushed, and then proceeded to be bombarded with questions about her relationship with Juliette as she helped Mrs. Weasley prepare breakfast. As they were finishing up and setting plates of food on the table, Mrs. Weasley said, "Well, she sounds like a wonderful girl, Hermione! And I'm sure she's feeling incredibly lucky to have such a lovely young woman like you in her life," she smiled at Hermione kindly.

While Hermione appreciated the love and support she was receiving from Mrs. Weasley, it was an odd feeling, as she felt guilty that she was also slightly fancying her daughter as well.

The six of them, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Harry sat down for breakfast. Fred and George were still locked up in their room, claiming to be too busy for breakfast when they were called down. Throughout breakfast they talked about Mr. Weasley's raids at work the day before, the boys camping trip, and Hermione's trip to France. Once breakfast was over, Ginny and Hermione cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen as the others went off their separate ways: Mr. Weasley to work, the boys up to Ron's room to catch up on sleep, and Mrs. Weasley off to hang laundry on the line.

"I heard my mum ask you about Juliette, did you know she knew about you two?" Ginny asked as she dried a clean plate Hermione had handed her from the sink.

"She did… The day after Rita Skeeter's article was published, she sent me a letter saying how awful she thought it was that I had been outed in a magazine and how much she supported me regardless of who I fancied," Hermione said. "It was very kind of her to do, your mum is very sweet."

"She is… I probably should've told her sooner, that I fancied girls, but I just didn't want to disappoint her I guess…" Ginny muttered.

"Why would she have been disappointed?"

"I dunno… I'm her only daughter, so I guess I was worried she'd be upset if I skewed away from that perfect daughter image that she has..."

Hermione looked up at Ginny from the dishes in the sink, "You fancying girls doesn't make you any less perfect, Ginny."

Ginny looked up from the plate she was drying, directly into Hermione's brown eyes. Neither broke eye contact, until they were startled by Crookshanks meowing loudly as he wrestled a gnome out in the garden.

"Crookshanks, no!" Hermione shouted as she rushed outside. She snatched him up from the gnarled looking gnome and carried him inside, "Bad Crookshanks! Leave the gnomes alone!" she scolded as she brought him back inside. As she reentered the kitchen, Ginny was gone.

Ginny POV

As Hermione ran out into the garden to grab Crookshanks, Ginny took the opportunity to exit the kitchen. She took the steps up the stairs three at a time as she went up to her room and sat on the cot.

"You fancying girls doesn't make you any less perfect, Ginny." It's been one day, and she's already pulling me in so deep. Does she know what she's saying? Does she know what it does to me? How am I going to make it through these next few weeks and not… Not just grab her and kiss her…

Ginny flopped back to lay on the cot and put her hands over her face.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked as she walked into the room. "Are you okay?"

Ginny sat up quickly, removing her hands, "Uh – Yeah, of course. It was – It was just a hard workout this morning, that's all."

"Alright, well, what would you like to do for the rest of the day? The boys will likely be sleeping the day away, and you've got your workout in, so, any ideas?" Hermione asked, smiling at her.

Ginny stared at Hermione, then nodded, "Yeah, actually, I do. Come on."

"This is actually a much shorter walk than I remember it being last year," Hermione said, breathing a bit heavily as the two of them summitted Stoatshead Hill.

"Yeah, it's definitely easier when it's not the middle of the night and you're actually awake," Ginny agreed.

"Wow Ginny, it's beautiful up here!"

Ginny watched Hermione as she took in the view. The blue cloudless sky was contributing mightily to the beauty of the surrounding area of Ottery St. Catchpole, as the contrasting lush green hills seemingly rolled on forever around it. They sat down on the soft grass and were quiet for a bit, looking out over the little village.

"I run up here just about every morning," Ginny said, breaking the silence. "It's been nice, having a place to just be and think and get some peace and quiet from the Burrow."

Hermione nodded, "It really is quite nice and relaxing," she sighed as she laid down in the grass looking up at the sky. Ginny laid down beside her, looking up at the sky as well, before turning to look at Hermione. Hermione must've felt her gaze, because she turned to look at Ginny too, and smiled.

"Hermione, can I ask you something?" Ginny asked tentatively.

"Of course you can."

Ginny hesitated, "Are you in love with Juliette?"

Hermione's brow furrowed just slightly, "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. You've been together for a long time now, and you went and stayed with her and met her family. I guess I'm just, curious. You don't have to answer though, if that's too prying."

Hermione studied Ginny's bright brown eyes for a moment before responding, "Yes, I am."

Ginny swallowed hard then returned her gaze back up to the sky, "I figured as much," she said quietly.

"Were you in love with Demelza?" Hermione asked, softly.

"I don't think so, no," Ginny answered without looking at Hermione. "She's definitely cute and I do really like her as a person, but it almost feels like we were together more out of convenience than anything… I probably would've never gotten together with her had you not suggested it…"

She could feel Hermione staring at her, studying her face hard, but Ginny refused to look at her. She couldn't look her in the eyes, for fear of what she may reveal.

"Is there anyone else that you've noticed, since your breakup?"

Ginny felt her breath catch in her throat, she shook her head no.

"Do you feel like you even want to be with someone else right now? You know, Ginny, you don't need to be dating just for the sake of it. You deserve to be with someone you really do fancy, someone that makes you feel… Makes you feel deeply…" Hermione paused. "Like how Juliette and I feel about each other."

Ginny looked at Hermione, who was still looking at her as if she was trying to read her mind.

Well, there you go, Ginny. Is that enough proof for you? She's in love with her, now move on!

"Not really. I'm young, I don't need to really worry about that right now. I'd rather focus on Quidditch, honestly," she shrugged, trying to act casually.

Hermione nodded, then they both looked back up at the sky. They stayed silent for a while, until Ginny sat up and stretched. Hermione sat up too, and Ginny stood, offering a hand to Hermione to help her to her feet. Ginny hated the feeling that shot through her chest as she grasped Hermione's hand, pulling her up, as it was yet another reminder of how quickly she needed to move on from this. Then they were off, trekking back to the Burrow.