Chapter 72
Ginny POV
The next morning, Ginny woke up and immediately scrunched up her face in frustration as she realized what day it was. It was September 1st, the day they'd be going back to Hogwarts. It wasn't that she didn't want to return to Hogwarts, as she certainly loved it, she just wasn't quite ready to accept that she would no longer be able to sleep next to Hermione every night.
She sighed as she took in the girl wrapped in her arms in front of her. She breathed in the smell of Hermione's shampoo, tried to memorize how it felt to have her body firmly pressed against Hermione's back, and gently moved her loose, sun-kissed curls to the side so she could place a soft kiss on Hermione's cheek. The older girl stirred, then arched her back away from Ginny as she stretched in her arms.
"Is it time to get up already?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.
"By your standards, yes, it is. If you'd like to work off of Ron's standards however…"
Hermione turned in Ginny's arms to face her, and gave her a stern look, "We don't want to be late, we can't possibly miss the train for our sixth and fifth year at Hogwarts…"
"I'm sure we'd be able to figure out another way to get there," Ginny grinned.
Hermione shook her head and kissed Ginny softly on the lips. As she pulled away, Ginny leaned forward, not letting the kiss break. Ginny felt Hermione smile into the kiss, and took that as encouragement. Ginny pulled Hermione tighter to her, then moved her hands to the soft skin of her back as she dipped them beneath Hermione's loose t-shirt. Hermione pressed her body firmly against Ginny's as she deepened the kiss, opening her mouth slightly. They carried on like this for a while, until Hermione finally pulled back, face flushed and breathing heavily.
"Ginny… We really can't be late… I'm a Prefect… It would be setting a horrible precedence on the very first day if I were to be late…" she said as she fought to even out her breathing.
"This is what I get for fancying such an overachiever…" Ginny sighed before grinning at Hermione who'd lifted an eyebrow at her, "I'm just kidding. We can get up."
The two disentangled themselves and climbed out of bed. Hermione was rifling through her trunk, pulling out the clothes she was going to wear and putting her robes up at the top of the trunk for easy access on the train, while Ginny stood nearby and watched.
"Yes?" Hermione asked, realizing the redhead was watching her.
"Oh, I was just wondering if you'd need help getting dressed? Well, undressed, then dressed," she said, smiling cheekily at Hermione.
Hermione gave her a look that Ginny could tell was meant to be serious, but Hermione wasn't able to hide the smile from breaking through, "Ginny Weasley, go get ready in the bathroom."
Ginny grinned as she grabbed her toiletries and placed a quick kiss on Hermione's check, "Just wanted to offer! You know me, always looking to help!"
Ginny dashed up the stairs, toiletries in tow, and nearly ran into her mum who was exiting the bathroom.
"Oh good, you're up! Is Hermione awake as well?"
"Yep! She's getting dressed while I get ready in the bathroom, then we'll swap and she'll get ready in the bathroom while I get dressed."
"See, the two of you are so thoughtful and respectful. Nothing like your brother and his girlfriend," Mrs. Weasley said, shaking her head.
Ginny's eyes widened slightly as she thought about the fact that she'd just offered to undress and dress Hermione, and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her, hoping her mum hadn't thought anything of it.
About an hour later, everyone was up and breakfast had been eaten. Hermione and Ginny were working together one last time to wash and dry the plates from breakfast, while Ron desperately tried to shovel one more forkful of eggs into his mouth.
"It's a long journey!" he exclaimed as nearly everyone gave him a look.
"That's why I've packed you some sandwiches, of course, Ronald!" Mrs. Weasley said, giving him a smile, "Your favorite, corned beef!"
Harry, Ginny, and Hermione all fought to keep straight faces, as they knew corned beef was Ron's least favorite of Mrs. Weasley's sandwiches. Ron winced, then opened his mouth to respond, but was beat to it.
"Only joking, they're bacon, your actual favorite," Mrs. Weasley said with a grin that looked strangely similar to the one Ginny had seen on Fred or George's faces loads of times before.
Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all laughed out loud at this, while Ron looked at her in shock, and Mr. Weasley gave her a proud look. She kissed Ron on the head, then rounded everyone up to get them moving out the door, "Let's get going, you can't be late!"
Before they knew it, Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were boarding the Hogwarts Express. As Ginny reached to grab her trunk from her dad, he leaned in close to her.
"I'm so very proud of you, Ginny," Mr. Weasley said, beaming up at her. "Hermione is a lovely girl, make sure to treat her right."
Ginny nodded, then gave her dad a tight hug before taking her trunk from him. He stepped back to grab his wife's hand, who was already crying.
"See you at Christmas!" Ginny called out to her parents, before disappearing onto the Hogwarts Express in search of her friends.
"Ginny!" she heard someone call out ahead of her.
Looking up, Ginny spotted Demelza and Katie waving to her from a compartment. Ginny grinned, then hustled down the hall to meet them. She loaded her trunk up into the racks above and sat by the window, next to Demelza and Katie, across from Colin and Ritchie.
"How was your summer, Ginny? Mine was great! I took the one hundred quality photos that I wanted, but I was done with that in the first week, so I ended up taking so many more! Then I taught Dennis how to use my camera, and he took nearly a hundred more photos as well! Want to see?" Colin rattled off, holding out an entire photo album for Ginny to take.
"Sure Colin, give it here," Ginny said, smiling as she took the photo album from him.
"There's some in the back that are really – " Colin started.
"Oi, we haven't seen her all summer, and you want her to flip through an entire photo album? How about we get re-acquainted first, then she can look through it," Ritchie suggested.
Ginny smiled at him appreciatively, then raised her eyebrows slightly as she really looked at Ritchie. He hadn't gotten any taller, but he'd certainly filled out.
"Blimey Ritchie, what did you do all summer? Just work out?" Ginny asked, both shocked and impressed.
"Pretty much," Ritchie said, grinning across at her. "My dad gave me the more labor-intensive jobs as well at his shop to help me out there too, and since I only spent my time at work or working out… Well…" Ritchie grinned wider.
A few fourth and fifth year girls walked by slowly, looking into their compartment and giggling as Ritchie shot them a flirty look.
"I guess if I don't get a spot on the team, it wasn't a complete waste of my time, eh?"
"Definitely not, you look fantastic!" Colin chimed in, punching Ritchie's solid shoulder.
"Thanks Colin," Ritchie said, grinning and ruffling the much smaller boy's hair.
"Well, now that I'm caught up with those two, how are you?" Ginny asked, turning to Demelza and Katie.
"Oh no, you first! How was your summer with Hermione?" Katie asked.
Ginny blushed slightly, then smiled, "It was the best. And we've told people as well. Fred and George know, Harry and Ron know, and we told my parents last night, so no more keeping it to ourselves."
"Wait, what? You're dating Hermione Granger? When did that happen? Before we left school? After we left school? When – " Colin again rattled off.
"Nice one Ginny, she's well fit!" Ritchie said, grinning and putting his hand up, offering Ginny a high five, "And look at you two, pulling older women! Nice!" he said, adding his second hand up to Demelza.
Demelza, Ginny, and Katie all gave him the exact same look unimpressed look.
"Okay, not something we're celebrating, alright…" he muttered.
Colin stood and gave him a double high five so he wasn't left hanging, which made everyone laugh. Suddenly, Hermione appeared in the doorway of the compartment.
Hermione POV
Honestly, I don't have time for this kind of club, but I'd be an idiot to turn it down. The Slug Club is a great way to make very valuable professional connections, but still, I've got Prefect duties I also need to manage…
Hermione thought as she rushed down the aisle of the Hogwarts Express, looking for Katie.
"Do you know Katie Bell, the fantastic Quidditch player from your house? Please pass along her invitation, won't you?" Professor Slughorn had requested of Hermione after he'd invited her.
Finally, Hermione had come across the right compartment, as she could hear Ginny's laughter down the hall. As she stood in the doorway of the compartment, everyone stared at her. Katie and Demelza were smiling, Ginny was grinning, and the two boys, Colin and Ritchie, had turned red. Hermione ignored that, and focused on the eldest girl.
"Katie, I need you to come with me."
This confused everyone.
"I – Okay?" Katie said uncertainly, getting up.
Before she departed, Hermione gave a nod to everyone in the compartment and a quick wink to Ginny.
"Miss Weasley," she said as she turned to go back down the hall, Katie now following her.
"What's up Hermione?" Katie asked, somewhat concerned.
"It appears the two of us have been invited to this year's first meeting of the Slug Club," she explained.
Katie was silent, following behind Hermione closely.
"Professor Slughorn told me to find the fantastic Gryffindor Quidditch player, Katie Bell," she added, as she assumed Katie was confused as to why she'd gotten an invitation.
"Really?" she asked in shock. "Wow! Getting an invitation to the Slug Club is huge! Gwenog Jones was a member when she was in school… Wow!" Katie repeated, apparently still stunned that she'd gotten an invitation.
As the two girls wove their way through the busy train, they finally made it the carriage containing Compartment C, where Professor Slughorn's was waiting for them. He was not alone, and unfortunately, was not with the best of company. Both girls frowned as they entered the compartment and found themselves face to face with Cormac McLaggen, who lifted his glass to the two of them as they entered, and smirked.
"Very polite of you, Cormac, yes, welcome in girls, welcome in!" Professor Slughorn said as he beckoned them to enter.
Hermione and Katie exchanged looks before sitting together on the side of the compartment opposite McLaggen.
"Can I get you anything? Butterbeer? Pumpkin juice? Gillywater?" Professor Slughorn offered.
Hermione accepted a pumpkin juice from Professor Slughorn, while Katie took Gillywater.
"So, I believe the two of you must already know Cormac, as he's in your house," Professor Slughorn stated.
They each nodded curtly.
"I think very highly of his Uncle Tiberius. He was a part of the Slug Club when he was in school. Surely, Cormac here is cut from the same cloth, and will likely be an important figure at the Ministry someday, eh Cormac?" Professor Slughorn asked, smiling broadly at the large boy.
"Miss Granger, the most academically exceptional student at the school currently, is here for obvious reasons," Professor Slughorn continued, beaming at Hermione. "And Miss Bell was absolutely outstanding in that Quidditch Cup Final at the end of last term, I must say! If Gwenog Jones is able to make it to our Christmas party this year, I'll have to introduce you," he added, grinning at Katie.
Hermione smiled at Katie, who still looked stunned that she'd even been invited, but now her mind had appeared to have gone into overdrive at the possibility of actually meeting Gwenog Jones. Hermione imagined how Ginny would react when she'd heard about it, and smiled further, knowing she'd be incredibly excited. Then, the smile was wiped off of her face as Draco Malfoy appeared at the compartment door.
"Ah, Draco, come in!" Professor Slughorn ushered the tall pale boy in.
This might not actually be worth it… Hermione thought to herself as Malfoy sat beside McLaggen.
Another boy arrived at the compartment door, Blaise Zabini, another Slytherin.
Hermione exchanged a look with Katie, and it appeared that she too thought very little of the three boys sitting across from them.
"Sorry I'm late!" a familiar voice rang out breathlessly from the door. "I couldn't find the right carriage!"
Neville Longbottom was standing in the doorway to the compartment, and Hermione had never been so happy to see him.
"No worries, Mr. Longbottom, all we have is time!" Professor Slughorn said, motioning to the window that showed the vast English countryside flashing by as they slowly made their way to Hogwarts.
Neville accepted a Gillywater from Professor Slughorn, then plopped down beside Katie, "Good to see you two, did you have a nice holiday?" he asked, giving each girl a genuine smile.
Neither responded, as Professor Slughorn began speaking as a table suddenly moved into the compartment, setting itself between each set of three students.
"This group that I have invited here today, I believe, is the most elite group of sixth and seventh years that are currently attending Hogwarts… Now, typically there are a few Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs in the mix as well, but alas, not this year… I would like to meet a few times throughout the year for supper or a party, so we can get to know one another and help you all meet, nay, exceed your potentials… If that sounds like something you would be interested in, then I will expect to see you again, in my office, for supper on September 14th… For now, let's enjoy each other's company, and feast!"
Once Professor Slughorn had finished speaking, food appeared on the table in front of them, all kinds of sandwiches, soups, and salads. Neville and McLaggen both helped themselves eagerly, as Hermione, Katie, and the two boys across from them hung back. Malfoy was giving Hermione a look she certainly didn't like, and he leaned closer to Zabini and whispered something, before smirking across at her.
"Draco here is a Quidditch player in the year below you, Miss Bell," Professor Slughorn stated, "You must know him?"
Katie nodded politely, "Yes, I do. We just narrowly beat Slytherin at the beginning of last year."
"Ah yes, that's right, that's right," Professor Slughorn chuckled. "I will say, I wasn't fond of the song the Slytherins had made up for that match, but they weren't exactly wrong. Gryffindor's Keeper was dreadful during that match."
McLaggen looked up at his food and smirked at both Katie and Hermione.
"Did Professor Snape ever punish your fellow housemates for starting up that song, Draco?"
"Yes, sir, of course," Malfoy said, nodding politely.
Hermione frowned – she highly doubted that was true.
"I must say, you were punished mightily by the Gryffindor reserve yourself, weren't you?" Professor Slughorn said, chuckling again. "Weren't you pinned to the ground by the young girl? Ginny Weasley, the reserve who came in and won the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor in the final moments against Ravenclaw, is that correct?"
Malfoy frowned at this, but it was short-lived, as Zabini muttered under his breath, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Not the only one in this compartment to be pinned down by Ginny Weasley, I'm sure…"
McLaggen laughed harshly before taking another bite of his ham and chicken sandwich. Zabini and Malfoy were smiling nastily across the table at her, but Hermione didn't let her firm stare falter once. Katie had grabbed her hand tight beneath the table, and Neville had spilled his Gillywater, and was mopping it up while apologizing to Professor Slughorn, who was waving him off.
"No worries, Mr. Longbottom, it's just a bit of Gillywater. Now, Mr. Zabini, I don't know exactly what you're getting at here, but I will advise you that talk like that will not be accepted at meetings of the Slug Club, do you understand?" Professor Slughorn said, giving Zabini a stern look.
"Yes, Professor, I understand," Zabini said stiffly.
Once Professor Slughorn had turned his back to Zabini to help Neville mop up, he'd winked at Hermione, then smirked. Katie tightened her grip on Hermione's hand, and as Hermione looked over at her, she saw that Katie was glaring at both Zabini and Malfoy, fiercely. She squeezed Katie's hand in response, trying to let her know that she was alright, and that she didn't have to be so protective.
As the meeting came to an end, Katie, Hermione, and Neville all left the compartment together.
"Those guys are gits, Hermione, don't give them a second thought," Katie said.
"Oh, were they talking about you, Hermione? I thought they were talking about Katie," Neville said, looking from one girl to the other.
The girls exchanged a quick look, then Hermione spoke up, "He was talking about me, Neville. Ginny and I have been together since the end of last term. It appears we were a little less subtle than we thought…"
"Well, you fooled me! I had no idea!" Neville said, shocked.
"Thanks Neville," Hermione said.
"Well, I'm off to find Luna, see you around!" Neville said as he headed off down the aisle, in search of his compartment.
"Are you okay?" Katie asked, concerned.
Hermione sighed, "Yes, it's only Malfoy. I don't really know Zabini, but he seems like quite a charmer…"
"And McLaggen…" Katie added.
"Yeah, wow, quite the group Professor Slughorn's assembled…"
"Do you think you'll stick it out?" Katie asked.
"Will you?"
Katie shrugged, "I'm not going to let a few stupid boys cheat me out of some solid connections and possibly meeting Gwenog Jones. It would be nice to not be the only girl though…"
Hermione nodded, "You're right, I shouldn't let them win."
Katie smiled at her, and they walked back to the compartment where she'd picked Katie up from.
"Ginny, can you talk for a moment?" Hermione asked as Katie sat down beside Demelza.
"Of course," Ginny said, hopping up and joining Hermione in the hall.
"People know. Like, they actually know," Hermione said.
Ginny furrowed her brow, "Really? How do you know?"
"We were just at a Slug Club meeting, and – "
"Wow! A Slug Club meeting, really? You and Katie?"
"Yes, but Ginny – "
"That's great, Hermione!" Ginny smiled genuinely.
Hermione sighed, "Yes, it's fantastic, but Malfoy was there."
"What?" the smile fell from Ginny's face.
"And McLaggen."
"What?" Ginny's face was now angry.
"And Zabini, one of Malfoy's friends, who made some snide comment about you and me today at the meeting…"
"What? What did he say?"
"Honestly, it doesn't matter, but what does matter is that people know. People already knew. Are we really that bad at acting as if we're not dating?" Hermione asked.
Ginny paused, then shrugged, "I guess it doesn't matter now, as long as you're still okay with being public about our relationship?"
Hermione paused, then nodded before pulling Ginny in to her and kissing her hard.
Ritchie whistled from inside the compartment.
Ginny stepped back and looked at Hermione in awe, before grinning, "So is that a yes… Or…?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and gave her another quick kiss, "I've got to get back to the Prefects compartment, but I'll see you later, okay?"
"Alright, see you, Hermione!"
Ginny POV
After watching Hermione disappear down the aisle of the Hogwarts Express, Ginny rejoined her compartment.
"What did he say?" Ginny asked Katie as soon as she sat down.
"What did who say?" Demelza asked, looking from Ginny to Katie.
Katie looked at Ginny worriedly, "You can't do anything to him… You don't want to jeopardize Hermione's place in the Slub Club…"
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Of course I won't, what did he say?"
"What did who say?" Ritchie asked.
Katie paused, then said, "Slughorn made a joke about you pinning Malfoy down on the ground after the Gryffindor/Slytherin match, and Zabini said that Malfoy surely wasn't the only one in the compartment to have been pinned down by Ginny Weasley…"
Everyone looked at Ginny, shocked, while Katie gave her a sympathetic look. Ginny was livid.
"I'm going to go talk to him," she said, gritting her teeth.
"Oh no you're not," Ritchie said, quickly standing to block the compartment door.
"Move Ritchie!" Ginny demanded.
"Didn't you just hear what Katie said? You don't want to do anything to jeopardize Hermione being a part of the Slug Club."
"And giving a worthless prat what's coming to him would fall under that category?" she asked harshly, glaring up at Ritchie.
"Definitely…" he said, "Sit down."
Ginny narrowed her eyes further at Ritchie, but sat down, muttering about him being so big.
"Me being this big will likely save your arse many times over this Quidditch season, so maybe don't complain about it yet, alright?" Ritchie said.
"I can't just let him get away with that!" Ginny argued.
"Slughorn gave him a warning, and I'll keep an eye on him at the meetings, I promise," Katie said reassuringly.
"What? You two are still going to the meetings after that?" Ginny asked incredulously.
"Yes, we're not going to let a few idiots keep us from a very valuable social club," Katie explained.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Fine, I won't tell you then," Katie said.
"Tell her what? Tell her what?" Colin asked excitedly.
Katie whispered into Demelza's ear, who then turned and gave Ginny a big smile.
"What?" Ginny asked, irritated.
"Oh, nothing…" Demelza said, her grin growing bigger.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "What is it?"
"Gwenog Jones is likely going to be at the Slug Club Christmas party!" Demelza squealed, not being able to hold it in.
Ginny's jaw dropped, "Are you serious?"
Katie nodded, "See why I figured I'd stick around? I'm not missing out on meeting Gwenog Jones!"
"I understand now… Wow!" Ginny gaped at Katie, "That's incredible."
Katie nodded again, "So I'll still be going to meetings, and if Hermione decides to as well, I'll make sure I keep an eye on her. Alright? No need for you to go hexing anyone, got it?"
Ginny mumbled in agreement, just as the trolley rolled up. They all got sweets, Ginny grabbing a few extra Sugar Quills for Hermione, and settled in, happily eating their treats as they all elaborated on the summer holidays. Katie had visited Demelza while she stayed with her dad in Herefordshire, and they did indeed go up north to catch a Holyhead Harpies practice. Demelza's dad apparently loved Katie, which Ginny couldn't imagine anyone not loving Katie, but it'd clearly meant a lot to Demelza that the meeting had gone well. Besides that, the talk of the compartment was the upcoming Quidditch trials, and how that would go.
"I feel good," Ritchie stated, though he did look a little nervous.
"You'll be fine," Ginny insisted, "It sounds like Harry's only hesitation was your build, and surely you've taken care of that," Ginny laughed, tossing a licorice wand at Ritchie as he flexed his new muscles obnoxiously. "And unless Dean really shows up a completely different Quidditch player, I think it's safe to say that the three of us will be Chasers," Ginny said, grinning at Katie and Demelza.
Colin chimed in, "Ask Harry if he wants a team photographer! I'll be at all of your matches and practices anyway!"
"I'm not sure what he'll say, but sure, I'll ask!" Ginny responded, to which Colin beamed.
They chatted lightly about their upcoming major exams, Katie's N.E.W.T.s and everyone else's O.W.L.s, the classes they'd be taking, and the fact that none of them had been selected as Gryffindor Prefects. Before long, they were pulling into Hogsmeade Station.
The rest of the evening seemed to fly by. The sorting, the feast, Dumbledore's final remarks, then they were off to bed.
"G'night!" Ritchie called over his shoulder as he and Colin headed up the stairs towards the boys' dormitories.
Ginny ascended the stairs to the girls' dormitories alone, as Demelza and Katie were still cuddled up in a chair down by the fireplace. Ginny stopped by her dormitory first to make sure Arnold was acclimating nicely to his new home on her bedside table, before heading for Hermione's dormitory. She knocked on the door, and unfortunately, it wasn't Hermione who answered.
"Can I help you?" Lavender asked, starring daggers at Ginny.
Ginny pursed her lips, "Nope, don't think you can. Unless, of course, you'd be willing to give me a goodnight kiss?"
Ginny heard Parvati laugh from inside the dormitory, and she grinned. Lavender was not as amused.
"Ron told me that you told your parents about your relationship and that they were completely fine with the two of you sharing a room all summer," Lavender said hotly.
"Yes, and?"
"And that's not fair! They get angry at us for kissing one time in the bathroom, and yet you two can spend the summer sleeping together, doing who knows what?!"
"Yeah well, thing is, we can't accidentally get pregnant, can we?" Ginny said, a hint of a smirk on her face.
Parvati howled with laughter from inside the dormitory, and Lavender's jaw dropped in shock.
"Ginny?"
Ginny turned to find Hermione walking towards her, a slightly scolding look on her face.
"Yes?"
"Did you just say something about not being able to get pregnant?"
"Uh, maybe, yeah, I did… Why do you ask?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled, pulling Ginny in for a kiss. At this, Lavender stormed back inside the dormitory, whining about double-standards or something. Hermione and Ginny followed, to Lavender's apparent horror.
"She is not sleeping in here!"
"Lav, calm down," Parvati said, shaking her head at her best friend's ridiculousness.
Hermione dropped off a few things, then took Ginny by the hand and led her out of the sixth year dormitory.
"Good!" they heard Lavender call out after them.
"Honestly, Lav, shut it," came from Parvati as they walked down the hall.
They walked down the stairs into the common room, nodded at Demelza and Katie who were still together in one of the big chairs, and exited through the portrait hall into the corridor.
"Where to, Miss Granger?" Ginny asked, squeezing Hermione's hand lightly before bringing it up to her lips to kiss it as they walked.
"You know, I feel like I need some more practice with the Imperturbable Charm… It might show up on my Charms N.E.W.T. exam…"
"Oh yeah? And you need to practice it for two years to get it right, do you?"
"Practice makes perfect, Miss Weasley…" Hermione said, opening the door to an empty classroom.
If this is how we'll be spending our free time at Hogwarts, it's at least some consolation to not being able to sleep in the same bed as we did at the Burrow... Maybe, just maybe, this year wouldn't be so bad… Ginny thought as Hermione pulled her inside the abandoned classroom, and cast the Imperturbable Charm.