Chapter 3
The next morning, Hermione was woken up by gentle tapping on her arm.
"Good morning, Hermione," Ginny whispered, grinning broadly.
"What time is it?" Hermione asked, her voice thick with sleep. She looked around the dark room, "Ginny, the sun's not even up yet!"
"I know, come on! If we get up now, we'll be able to see the sunrise from Stoatshead Hill!" she said enthusiastically.
Hermione groaned, rubbing her eyes before reluctantly pulling the light quilt off and getting out of bed.
"See you downstairs!" Ginny said as she left her room.
Hermione rolled her eyes lightly as she pulled clothes out of her trunk. As much as Hermione knew she should be annoyed with Ginny right now for waking her up so early, she wasn't, not even a little bit. She liked that Ginny was waking her up to walk to see the sunrise, and couldn't help but find the girl to be quite endearing.
So much for not fancying her…
Once Hermione was dressed and downstairs, they took off on their journey. They walked quietly, not speaking much as the night sky gradually began to lighten. They got to the top of Stoatshead Hill just in time, and sat down in the soft grass and looked out over the rolling hills surrounding the village of Ottery St. Catchpole. The sun was just beginning to peak up over the highest hill, light spilling out across the valley.
"Wow…" Hermione breathed, taking in the beauty of it all. She turned to Ginny, "Thank you for getting me up for this, it's beautiful."
Ginny smiled proudly, "You're welcome. I'm glad you're getting to see this. I don't do it often, but every once in a while, I sneak out here early in the morning to catch the sunrise. It's a great way to start the day, that's for sure."
Ginny turned back to focus on the sunrise, but Hermione kept her eyes on Ginny. The light streaming out over the hills was hitting Ginny's face just right, and for the second time that morning, Hermione's breath was taken away by a natural beauty before her. She wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, pull her in closer to her, connect their lips, but she wasn't brave enough to do so. Suddenly, Ginny looked back at her, and smiled when she saw that Hermione was looking at her, but Hermione quickly diverted her attention back to the sunrise.
Coward…
They sat quietly, watching the sun rise until it was completely up above the hills. Again, Hermione noted how comfortable she was around Ginny, even if it was in silence. She just felt good when she was around her. Nervous, yes, but overall, she found that she felt safe around Ginny.
"Hey, fancy going into the village?" Ginny asked.
Hermione was a bit shocked, as the Weasleys rarely went into the village, "Really?"
"Yeah, I've got to pick something up at the paper shop."
Hermione nodded, "Alright. I'd love to watch you interact with Muggles."
Ginny rolled her eyes and gave a small smile, "I interact with you just fine, don't I?"
"Am I a Muggle?" Hermione asked, drawing her wand out of her pocket.
"You know what I mean. You were raised by Muggles, so I think I get how most Muggles are."
"Wow, now I'm really excited to see you with Muggles," Hermione laughed.
"Glad I can provide some sort of entertainment for you, Hermione," Ginny smiled as she stood up, offering her hand to Hermione. Hermione took it, and Ginny pulled her to her feet. Hermione ignored the feeling of her hand in Ginny's and let go, following Ginny down the hill.
The walk into the Ottery St. Catchpole was short, and they soon found themselves entering the paper shop. It was quite small, but packed full of all sorts of different items. Hermione followed Ginny as she wandered around, taking in all of the "Muggle artifacts" as she called them. Hermione wondered what Ginny was planning on buying, before she followed her to the front of the shop where an incredibly beautiful girl with long dark hair and vivid green eyes was standing behind the counter. She must've been right around their age, and her face lit up when she saw Ginny approach her.
"Hi there, may I help you?" the girl asked with a smile.
"Hello. Yes, I – " Ginny started.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" the girl asked, her eyes seemingly drinking in Ginny's cute, freckled face. Something in Hermione's stomach twisted.
"I don't think so, why?" Ginny asked.
"You look really familiar… Do you have brothers? Twins? With red hair, just like yours? Well, the same color. Not quite as long and pretty, though…" the girl said, her smile growing at Ginny.
"Yes, that would be Fred and George," Ginny smiled back. Hermione's stomach twisted further.
"Yes! Those were their names. Very funny boys, but unfortunately, they were wasting their card tricks and charm on me…" she said, eyeing Ginny.
Ginny's eyebrows lifted just slightly, "Oh?"
The shop girl nodded, "I'm Eleanor, and you are?" she asked, extending her hand across the counter to Ginny.
"Ginny," Ginny responded, taking and shaking Eleanor's hand. Another sharp twist in Hermione's stomach, and it felt as if it were working her way up to her heart now.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ginny," Eleanor said, still smiling blatantly at Ginny.
"Likewise. This is Hermione," Ginny said, motioning to Hermione. Eleanor did not extend her hand to Hermione, nor did Hermione step forward to take it in the instance that it had been offered. They both just nodded at one another, before Eleanor turned her attention back to Ginny, her smile reappearing instantly.
"So, Ginny, are you a footballer?"
"I – What?" Ginny asked, clearly confused.
"A footballer? Do you play football?" Eleanor asked.
"Uh – I…" Ginny looked to Hermione for help, but Hermione just raised her eyebrows and looked away.
"Do you play any sports?"
"Oh, uh, yeah! I do. Why do you ask?"
"You just look like you do. You've certainly got the body to be a footballer…" Eleanor said, her eyes raking over Ginny's body as her smile almost appeared to be hungry now.
That was enough for Hermione. She stepped forward and grabbed Ginny's hand, lacing their fingers together.
"Come on, we don't want to be late, do we? Nice meeting you, Eleanor," Hermione said to a visibly shocked Eleanor.
As Hermione pulled Ginny out of the shop, she was surprised to find that Ginny didn't pull away or let go, but kept her hand in Hermione's.
"So, I guess I won't be paying for these sweets, then?" Ginny said, holding up a bag of chocolates.
"What – When did you pick those up?" Hermione asked.
"When you were staring daggers at Eleanor…" Ginny smirked as Hermione blushed. She let go of Hermione's hand and walked back a few steps to set the bag of chocolates down outside the shop, then headed towards the road that would take them back to the Burrow as Hermione followed.
"What's football?" she asked, looking over curiously at Hermione.
"It's a sport that's somewhat similar to Quidditch. It's on the ground, there are more players per team, and there's only one ball," Hermione explained.
"Huh, sounds boring."
"Compared to Quidditch, doesn't everything?"
"Well, yeah…" Ginny agreed with a smile. "So, what did you think of Eleanor?"
"I think she fancied you and wasn't afraid to show it…" Hermione muttered a bit angrily.
"Clearly…" Ginny chuckled, "But besides that? Did you think she was fit?"
Hermione looked at Ginny, studying her face, before turning back to face the road, "She's not really my type…"
Ginny raised her eyebrows, "Really? I thought she was quite pretty."
Hermione paused, "I don't care much for dark hair…"
Ginny nodded, but didn't respond. Hermione glanced over and saw that she had a light smile on her lips.
"So did you actually take me there to get sweets, or did you know she'd be there?"
"I mean, Fred and George had gone on and on about the beautiful shop girl that found their card tricks to be 'almost as good as magic'…" she said, rolling her eyes at her brothers' antics. "I guess I wanted to see for myself what their taste was, and what you thought of her."
"So it wasn't just so you could go flirt with a beautiful girl?" Hermione asked, a hint of anger still present in her tone.
Ginny stopped walking, "No, it wasn't. First of all, I had no idea she fancied girls. Second, I didn't flirt with her, she flirted with me. Regardless, would it be a problem if that had been the reason?" she asked.
Hermione stopped to face her, but didn't respond.
"Hermione, are you jealous?"
"No, I'm not. I just – "
"Come off it, Hermione. As soon as that girl's eyes wandered lower than my face you were pulling me out the door. Are you really saying you weren't at all jealous?"
"Of course not!" Hermione insisted, glaring at Ginny.
Ginny laughed, "Whatever you say!" she turned and started walking back towards the village.
"Where are you going?" Hermione called out, following after her.
"I'm going to go get my sweets and let Eleanor know that you and I aren't actually together, even though that's what you so tactfully led her to believe…"
Hermione's stomach twisted again and heart began to race. She jogged after Ginny to catch up with her, "Ginny, stop!"
"I'm afraid I can't, Hermione! Can't let those chocolates to melt in the sun!" she called over her shoulder, beginning to jog further away from Hermione now.
Hermione broke into to a run and finally caught up to the younger girl, grabbing her hand, "Ginny Weasley, stop this instant!" Hermione shouted, pulling her around to face her.
Ginny raised her eyebrows, a smirk pulling at her lips, "Make me."
Before she knew what she was doing, Hermione pulled Ginny into her and crashed their lips together. She felt Ginny smile into the kiss, which only spurred Hermione on more, as she opened her mouth and ran her tongue along Ginny's lip. Ginny very willingly obliged, opening up and allowed Hermione's tongue entrance into her mouth, their tongues very quickly becoming acquainted with one another. Hermione thought of the cherry pit from the day before as Ginny's tongue masterfully rolled around her own, before suddenly stepping back from Ginny, putting a hand to her mouth.
"I – I'm sorry. I shouldn't have – "
"Hermione, it's fine… Really, it's okay. We can keep this between you and me, I promise not to tell anyone if you don't want to…" Ginny said earnestly, taking a step towards Hermione.
Hermione took a few steps back this time, and shook her head, "I can't… This was a mistake…"
"Hermione…" Ginny said softly, her eyes looking at Hermione imploringly.
Hermione shook her head again, "I'm sorry Ginny…"
Ginny looked at her sadly, then nodded, "Okay… It's alright… I'm sorry too…"
They walked back to the Burrow in silence, and not the comforting kind of silence Hermione had been experiencing with Ginny lately. It was awkward, and almost suffocating. Hermione wanted Ginny, really wanted Ginny, but she just couldn't do it. What if it ruined her relationship with Ginny or Ron or the whole Weasley family? What if she realized halfway through that she didn't actually fancy girls? What if she realized she really did fancy girls, but didn't know what she was doing or how to satisfy Ginny? There was so much uncertainty, and Hermione just couldn't handle it.
Once they got back to the Burrow, Hermione turned to Ginny, "I think I should stay in Bill's old room tonight…"
"Oh Hermione, you don't have to do that… I know I shouldn't have taken you to the paper shop or escalated the kiss, but I promise I won't do anything like that again… I'll drop this whole thing, you don't have to move rooms…"
"It's not you… I just… I don't trust myself…" Hermione admitted before walking inside and heading upstairs to begin moving her things.
They spent the rest of the day apart. Hermione wasn't sure what Ginny was up to, but she kept to herself in Bill's old room, reading and preparing for the upcoming school term. Later that evening, she heard a soft knock at the door.
"Just letting you know there's dinner for you downstairs. I already ate, so you can eat alone, if you want…" she heard Ginny say through the door, "I'm going to head out to the orchard to get some flying in, it'll be a bit before I'm back."
Hermione heard Ginny's steps fade away. After a few minutes, Hermione headed downstairs to eat, then spent a few moments in the garden, taking in the sky as it transitioned from day to night. She hated that she felt so paralyzed by this whole situation with Ginny. After the kiss today, she knew she physically wanted the girl, but she was just so worried at all of the factors that went with it, and it was exhausting. Was this what Ginny meant when she said it was painful to deny yourself what you want?
Once it got completely dark, Hermione headed upstairs to get ready for bed. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, then went back to Bill's old room to change and settle in to read. After a while, she heard Ginny walking past to get to her room. She listened as she walked up the creaky steps to the bathroom, then back down moments later, before she closed the door to her room.
Hermione scrunched up her face in frustration and covered it with her hands.
Why can't I just let go? Ginny obviously is more than willing to at least kiss me, so why not just enjoy that and see where it goes? What's the harm in that, really?
Hermione lay in her bed for a few more minutes, mentally arguing with herself about the entire situation, before she finally got up. Before she lost her nerve, she quickly left the room and walked down the hall to Ginny's room. She took a deep, settling breath, then opened the door, finding herself face to face with Ginny.