Chapter 1
It was late August, one week before her final year at Hogwarts, and Hermione was out in the back garden of the Burrow, reading. The summer sun had lightly tanned her skin, brought out the collection of freckles on her cheeks, and created a mess of highlights that were running through her loosely curled brunette hair. She was wearing a flowing short sleeve top and shorts and her feet were bare, as they often were over the summer. She felt comfortable and content, as she always did when she was staying at the Burrow. Just as she noticed the sun starting to begin its descent behind the rolling hills surrounding the Burrow, she heard a trio of voices getting louder as they made their way back from the orchard out beyond the garden.
"But why do I always have to be Keeper?" Ron whined as he climbed over the wall into the garden.
"Because you're a Keeper…" Harry pointed out, following Ron over the wall.
Ginny appeared, vaulting herself over the garden wall effortlessly and landing beside the boys.
"How about this? Block one of my shots, just one, and I'll switch with you and play Keeper for an afternoon. Deal?"
Harry laughed while Ron glowered at her.
"Seems fair to me, Ron," Hermione chimed in as she set her book down.
The three looked over at her, having not realized she was there before. Harry was laughing harder now, while Ron's brow furrowed further and Ginny shot her a lopsided grin.
"See! The brightest witch at Hogwarts says it's fair, so it must be true, right Ron?" she exclaimed, gently nudging Ron in the ribs.
"Yeah, whatever. I'm going to go see if Mum's got anything ready to eat yet…"
Ron lumbered inside and Harry followed, while Ginny sat down beside Hermione. She had on a dark green racerback tank top with the Holyhead Harpies crest on the front, black athletic shorts, and white, grass-stained trainers. As she sat beside Hermione, she reached up and began to take out her messily plaited hair, letting her long red hair fall over her shoulders in loose waves. Hermione wasn't sure if it was her proximity to the girl, or the fact that the late afternoon sun was glowing golden directly across the younger girl's face, but Hermione was suddenly struck by just how beautiful her best friend's younger sister truly was. Hermione had noticed Ginny loads of times before, but never like this. She'd never noticed how adorable the collection of freckles scattered across her face were, or how beautiful her bright brown eyes were, or how her red hair seemed to have streaks of gold woven through as it was struck by the late afternoon sun. She'd never noticed how soft her light pink lips looked, or wondered what they'd feel like against her own.
Wait, what?
Hermione shook her head fervently, trying to bring herself back to the garden, when she looked up and realized Ginny was staring at her curiously.
"Hermione, are you okay?"
Hermione nodded quickly, "Yes, of course! I think the heat's just getting to me, that's all. I'm going to head inside and get a bit of water."
"Alright, suit yourself," Ginny said, leaning back to lay on the ground, her hands behind her head.
Hermione's eyes shot to the little bit of bare, freckled midriff that was visible as Ginny's tank top had risen up just a tad, before berating herself in her head and hurrying inside.
What is going on? What are you thinking? First of all, since when do you fancy girls? Just because things didn't work out between you and Ron does not mean they won't work out between you and some other boy someday. Second, even if you did fancy girls, Ginny Weasley? She is Ron's younger sister and she's younger than you by over a year, what are you thinking? Is this because of the rumours you'd heard about Ginny shagging girls in the broom shed down by the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts last term? You don't even know if that's true…
Mrs. Weasley was busy at work in the kitchen. Produce from her garden was spread all across the countertops and she was pulling apart some greens for a salad as she gave Hermione a small smile of acknowledgment as she passed. Hermione's thoughts ran wild through her head as she got herself some water from the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, and fortunately, she could see Ginny perfectly from the kitchen window. She was still laying in the grass, looking as comfortable and as fit as could be, basking in the golden glow of the late summer sun. Hermione genuinely considered splashing cold water on her face, before she was interrupted by the boys.
"What are you looking at?" Ron asked as he plopped down at the kitchen table, Harry sitting beside him.
"Um, I thought I saw a gnome out by your mum's peonies, but I think it may've just been Crookshanks," Hermione lied quickly before turning and sitting down with the boys at the table.
"Sure you'll be okay when we go off camping with Seamus, Neville, and Dean?" Harry asked.
Hermione shut her eyes tight for a brief moment before opening them again and nodding, she'd completely forgotten the boys were going on their annual back-to-school camping trip with their dormmates.
"If not, I'm sure you can come! Might have to share a sleeping bag though," Ron grinned cheekily.
"Ronald!" Mrs. Weasley scolded, looking up from the large salad she was tossing.
Hermione shot him a disapproving look, "I believe I'll have to pass on that offer, thanks. But I'll be fine, I enjoy being around Ginny and your parents."
"It'll be just you and Ginny, dear. Arthur and I will be heading to France tomorrow morning to meet Fleur's parents. We'll be staying there for a few days with Bill and Fleur, for the in-laws to get better acquainted," Mrs. Weasley said.
Hermione paused, would she be okay being alone with Ginny for the next few days after how she thought of her this afternoon?
"I'm sure I'll be fine, you two go on and have fun."
"Oh, we will! Seamus said he was going to try to bring a few bottles of Firewhisky," Ron whispered low enough so his mum couldn't hear.
"Five boys out in the woods with a few bottles of Firewhisky, sounds like a grand idea," Hermione rolled her eyes as the boys grinned at her.
That evening, Hermione did her best to keep her eyes nowhere near Ginny. Not during dinner out in the garden, not while the two of them washed, dried, and put away dishes after dinner, and especially not while they were getting ready for bed in Ginny's bedroom, the room they were sharing. As Hermione settled into her cot on the side of the room opposite Ginny's bed, she heard Ginny sigh.
"Alright Hermione, what have I done?"
"I – What?" Hermione asked.
"You haven't looked at me since this afternoon. What did I do?"
"I – Nothing – I – " Hermione stammered.
Ginny turned on her side to look at her from where she was laying in her bed. Hermione didn't dare move from her position, staring straight up at the ceiling.
"Hermione…"
Hermione was silent, still refusing to move to look at Ginny. She heard Ginny get up out of her bed and cross the room in a few quiet steps, the old wooden floor boards creaking as Ginny knelt down beside her. Hermione chanced a glance, and saw that Ginny's bright brown eyes were full of concern, before quickly returning her gaze to the ceiling.
"I've been wracking my brain all evening, and I can't come up with what I've done to offend you…" she said softly.
"I – You didn't offend me Ginny…"
"Then why won't you look at me?"
Hermione looked at her, really looked at the now, and knew immediately it was the wrong decision. The soft moonlight was lightly lighting up Ginny's face, making her features more detailed, more beautiful. She was staring at Hermione intensely, not in an angry way, but in a determined way.
"Look, I know we're not best friends or anything, but I at least thought that we were friends… Why won't you just tell me what's going on?"
Hermione couldn't speak, she was so mesmerized by Ginny's eyes. She flicked her gaze briefly down to Ginny's lips, and then back up. Though Ginny's eyebrows lifted slightly in response, she didn't back away, didn't give the impression that she was uninterested. As Hermione began to lean forward, she froze when she heard the sound of urgent scratching on Ginny's bedroom door.
"Crookshanks…" she breathed out, still neither girl backing away. The scratching intensified, accompanied by some loud meowing, and Ginny sighed and got up to let Hermione's large ginger cat in. He trotted over to the cot and jumped up on Hermione's chest, purring appreciatively. Ginny gave Hermione a small smile and then walked back to her own bed, getting in and rolling to face the wall.
Hermione looked back up at the ceiling, unsure if she should be grateful that Crookshanks had interrupted the possibly regrettable moment, but all she could think about was how badly she wanted to feel Ginny's lips on hers.