AN: Just to clear up any confusion that the wording of my Author's Note at the end of last chapter caused, this is not the end of the story. I was just acknowledging that it took a long time for Hermione and Ginny to finally get together, and thanking those who stuck with the story for so long. I will definitely be continuing this story. Also, I know the upload schedule is kind of random right now, but I've been writing like crazy, so I figured I'd release a few more chapters this week to make up for the weeks in the spring that I missed.

Chapter 65

Ginny POV

Ginny wasn't sure how she managed it, but she finally left Hermione's dormitory to go and check on Demelza and Katie. Kissing Hermione wasn't like kissing Demelza. Kissing Demelza had been sweet and safe and comfortable. Not that kissing Hermione wasn't all of those things as well, it was just… Different… When she'd kissed Demelza and things had gotten a little more heated, Ginny wanted to slow down. With Hermione, slowing down was the last thing she wanted to do.

She knocked on her own dormitory door quietly, and Demelza opened it, pulling Ginny inside before sitting beside Katie on her bed.

"To be fair, the two of you lasted what, six months without getting caught? That's pretty impressive," Ginny said as she sat down on her own four poster bed.

"What did Hermione say? She's not going to tell anyone, is she?" Katie asked a bit nervously.

"Of course not," Ginny said, shaking her head, "She uh, was relieved to find out that you and I weren't dating, actually…"

Katie looked at Ginny in shock, as did Demelza.

"She thought we were together this whole time?" Katie asked.

Ginny nodded.

"She didn't think to just ask you?"

"Nope."

"Wait so, what does that mean? Now that she knows that you and I aren't together and never were, does that mean – "

Ginny put up a hand, "We decided we're just going to take some time to get back to being friends. You know, spending time together and working on the communication skills we clearly need to work on."

"Oh yeah?" Katie asked, a hint of a smirk on her face.

"Yeah… Why?"

"Well, I was just wondering, is that her smudged face paint on your face, or were you snogging someone else this evening?"

Ginny felt her face go hot as she reached up to touch the spot on her cheek that Hermione tried to wipe off earlier that evening. Demelza and Katie looked at each other and then grinned at Ginny.

"Okay well maybe we kissed a bit, but we really are going to take it slow!" Ginny insisted, the grins growing larger on Katie and Demelza's faces. "It was my idea not to tell anyone, can you two please keep this to yourselves?"

The two girls opposite Ginny nodded, "Of course we can. Or have you forgotten you've been keeping our relationship a secret for months now?" Demelza asked, giving Ginny a reassuring smile.

Ginny took a deep breath, then nodded back, "Thanks you guys. Oh man, what a night!" Ginny exclaimed, laying back on her bed and looking up at the ceiling.

"Won the Quidditch Cup and got the girl in one night, pretty impressive Miss Weasley," Katie agreed, kissing Demelza on the forehead before getting up from her bed.

"I'm impressive? What about you? You had the match of your life out there, you were incredible!" Ginny exclaimed, sitting up to look at Katie as she walked towards the door.

"I know, I told you I felt amazing! Have a good night you two, I'll see you later. Love you," Katie said the last part looking at Demelza, who blushed lightly.

"Love you too."

Once Katie left, Ginny raised her eyebrows at Demelza, "Love, huh?"

"Oh, we've been saying it for months now, this is just the first time she's said it in front of someone else," Demelza said, blushing further.

"I'm really happy for you, Demelza," Ginny said, giving the girl a genuine smile.

"Thanks Ginny, I'm happy for you too," Demelza returned the smile. "Goodnight!"

"Goodnight!"

Hermione POV

The next morning, Hermione would've been hard pressed to believe what happened last night had actually happened. She probably would've tried to deny it or excuse it away as a dream, if her lips hadn't been slightly swollen and bruised. As she sat up and touched her lips, she smiled at the memories from the night before. Finally, finally, they'd figured things out. Ginny hadn't been dating Katie for months, she hadn't been dating anyone at all. And they'd kissed, a kiss that was, well, Hermione couldn't describe it any other way than electric. Her entire body reacted to Ginny's lips on hers, and even though it had only been a few hours since they were together last, Hermione missed Ginny, maybe even craved the girl. It could be the pain of knowing they'd wasted so many months that they could've spent together, but Hermione just couldn't help but want to spend every moment with her.

Hermione got up, to Crookshanks' great disapproval, and got dressed quickly before heading down to the common room. No sign of Ginny, so she went off to the Great Hall in hopes she'd find the redhead there, but no such luck. Hermione sat down near the center of the Gryffindor table, loaded a plate with eggs, toast, and fruit, and settled in to her Potions textbook. She was so consumed with her reading that she wasn't sure how much time had gone by before she felt a hand land gently on her shoulder.

"Morning," Ginny said as she sat down next to Hermione and started filling her plate with food. Ginny wasn't looking directly at her, but Hermione could still see the light smirk on the younger girl's face.

"Good morning, Ginny. Good evening after the match last night?" Hermione asked.

"You could say so," Ginny's smirk grew larger. Hermione shook her head and smiled. They were in trouble. Ginny finally looked over at her, and her eyes said it all. Really, they were in trouble.

"There's our Quidditch star!"

Both girls broke eye contact and looked across the table to where Ron and Harry were sitting down. Both boys were focused on Ginny, looking at her with big grins.

"Harry, you're out of the Hospital Wing!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Sure am! Madam Pomfrey really only kept me overnight as a precaution. I appreciate her concern, but I can't believe I had to miss the party in the common room! How was it? Anything wild or crazy happen?" Harry asked as he grabbed a piece of toast from the stack in the center of the table.

Hermione didn't dare look at Ginny and it appeared Ginny was trying to avoid doing the same. Fortunately, Ron spoke up.

"Nothing too crazy, but the party went on for ages, and Professor McGonagall didn't have it shut down like she did Fred and George's birthday! Sorry you had to miss it, mate."

"We'll make sure it's even better next year when we win the Quidditch Cup again," Ginny declared, grinning across the table.

Hermione looked at her proudly out of the corner of her eye, and smiled.

"You were incredible, Ginny! And that move at the end after you caught the Snitch, can you teach me that?" Ron asked excitedly.

"Yeah, Ron told me you outflew Cho, nice work!" Harry shot Ginny a look of pride.

"Hey, you had some pretty spectacular saves too, Ron, it wasn't all just me," Ginny insisted.

"I guess I can take some credit then. It was mainly you and Katie though, that girl was mental last night, wow can she fly!"

Hermione fought back the jealous feelings that rose up in her chest upon hearing Katie's name. She'd have to work on that, she was just so used to anger and jealousy when it came to Katie, and it had been completely unwarranted the entire time.

"Next year we're going to be unstoppable! Well, as long as we can fill the Beater positions, that's honestly what I'm most concerned with. You and Demelza will likely take the open Chaser spots, unless Dean is able to challenge either of you for one of them," Harry said.

Harry, Ron, and Ginny began talking in depth about next year's team and possible formations and tactics they could try, and it was all Hermione could do to stop herself from looking at Ginny. Usually Quidditch was a subject that bored and annoyed her as it was all anyone could ever talk about, but after watching Ginny fly last night the way she did and listening to her talk so passionately about it now, Hermione, possibly for the first time in her life, was interested in the conversation.

"So, what are you up to today?" Harry asked, looking across the table at Hermione.

"What else? I'll be spending the day preparing for my O.W.L.s."

Ron and Harry made a face at this. Clearly they hadn't been concerning themselves with their upcoming exams as the Quidditch Cup Final was considerably more important than academics.

"I'm actually going to head to the library now. I'll see you three later," Hermione said as she stood up from the table. She was nearly to the library when she heard someone jogging behind her.

"Fancy a study buddy?" Ginny's signature crooked smile lit up her face as she caught up to Hermione.

"As long as you don't distract me, then sure…" Hermione said teasingly.

"Well then maybe I shouldn't," Ginny said as she walked beside Hermione.

"Oh yeah? Not sure you have enough self-control to keep to yourself?"

"It's not that. I just think my presence alone will be too much for you to handle."

This made Hermione stop in her tracks, and Ginny rounded on her with a smirk.

"Ginny Weasley, I – "

"You know I'm not wrong, Hermione," Ginny said with a smirk, mischief in her eyes.

Hermione paused. Ginny wasn't wrong, what could she say?

"Oh, come on, I'll behave. Unlike the boys, I do in fact care about my marks," Ginny said as she started walking backwards towards the library, motioning with her head for Hermione to follow her.

Hermione followed reluctantly, suddenly unsure of how productive this session in the library would be. Turns out, incredibly productive. Besides being a little distracting by just simply existing near Hermione, Ginny worked just as seriously and diligently as Hermione while they were there. Every once in a while, the redhead would ask a question or ask Hermione to check her work, but for the most part, Ginny was focused on her own work, leaving Hermione to focus on her's. Hermione appreciated this greatly, and did enjoy working with Ginny again. It was comforting to have her around, and while she did need to work at maintaining her focus when she'd occasionally catch herself staring at Ginny's lips, Hermione found that studying alongside Ginny was definitely something they'd be able to do for the remainder of the term without issue.

After a few hours of working, Ginny stretched her arms up over her head and yawned.

"Coming to an end, are you?" Hermione asked, not looking up from her Transfiguration notes.

"Just about. We've been at it for hours, there's only so much reading a girl can do in one day," Ginny sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I know you're not done yet, but would you fancy a break?"

Hermione looked up at the younger girl now, "What do you have in mind?"

"I left a few things down in the Quidditch locker room, would you be interested in accompanying me?"

Hermione hesitated for a moment as it seemed a little odd for Ginny to be inviting her to go to the Quidditch locker room with her to just grab some things she left behind, but shrugged, "Sure."

The two girls packed up their texts and headed off to the Quidditch locker room. Ginny entered first, with Hermione following in behind. As Hermione pulled the wooden door closed behind her, she suddenly found herself pinned to it.

Hermione gasped, "Ginny!"

That was all that Hermione could get out before Ginny's lips were on hers. Ginny deepened the kiss immediately, which Hermione readily went along with. Hermione's hands went straight to Ginny's long, red hair, weaving her fingers through the thick tresses, while Ginny's strong arms wrapped around Hermione's waist, pulling her into her. Hermione could feel Ginny's muscles against her body, and they were so much better than she'd imagined they'd feel when she'd seen Ginny in just a pair of shorts and a sports bra over the summer.

Once they finally came up for air, Hermione asked breathlessly, "So what – What are we here to pick up?"

Ginny chuckled, "Absolutely nothing."

They didn't leave the locker room for another hour, at least.