Chapter 66
Ginny POV
Ginny had spent the past week in absolute bliss. She'd taken her final exams, and they'd gone well. Now she was free to prepare Hermione for her O.W.L.s, go to meals with Hermione, fly a bit with anyone who was interested, and spend any and all extra time she had with Hermione. She knew it must look like something had developed between the two of them to anyone on the outside looking in, but when questioned about it, they both denied anything other than them getting back to their close friendship. It wasn't that they wanted to necessarily hide the relationship, they just didn't want to share it just yet. Of course, Katie and Demelza knew, and it didn't take too long for Hermione to figure that out.
"Katie keeps smiling at me whenever we're together… What's that about?" Hermione asked one day as she sat beside Ginny at dinner.
"Maybe she fancies you?" Ginny said, not looking up from her steak and kidney pie, but not fully able to keep the smirk from forming on her lips.
"Ha ha," Hermione replied sarcastically, "But really, she's always got eyes on us, and – "
"Maybe it's because you're suddenly not staring daggers at her every chance you get?" Ginny suggested, giving Hermione a genuine look.
Hermione didn't even entertain that, "I've already apologized for my coldness to her over the past year, so that can't be it either. Look, she's doing it again! As is Demelza!"
Ginny looked down the Gryffindor table to where Hermione was motioning and saw that yes, both Katie and Demelza were looking at them with proud mum smiles on their faces.
"Ginny…" Hermione said scoldingly.
"Yes?" Ginny responded as innocently as she could.
"Do they know?"
Ginny looked down at her steak and kidney pie, avoiding Hermione's eyes.
"Ginny!"
"Alright, I'm sorry! They found out the night of the Quidditch Cup Final. I tried to go with the plan we set up, but uh…"
"What?"
"Well, I had some of your face paint smudged on my face and I couldn't really excuse that away…" Ginny said, blushing slightly, but smiling at the memory.
Hermione was trying to look at her scoldingly, but it appeared she couldn't help but smile too.
"They won't tell anyone," Ginny assured Hermione, "Really, they won't. They're just glad to see me happy, that's all. They knew I'd been pining after you for the longest time."
"Oh yeah? You talked to them about me?"
"Well, Katie more than Demelza. I figured it'd be weird to talk to my ex about someone else."
Hermione nodded, "How do you feel about seeing Demelza with another girl?"
"Honestly? I'm happy for her. Like I said, our relationship was nice, but it was my first relationship with a girl. It was more out of convenience and honestly, you prompting me, that I was with her. She was great, we just weren't the perfect fit, you know? I think Katie is much better for her," Ginny said while grinning over at the pair who were now preoccupied with each other.
"You don't find it odd that they aren't public with their relationship?" Hermione asked.
Ginny shook her head, "Nope. Katie wants to keep it between the two of them the best they can, and Demelza seems completely fine with that. However they want to do their relationship is fine by me, it's not my relationship," Ginny shrugged.
"But you'll be fine going public with our relationship, once we decide to do so?" Hermione asked.
"Of course! Are you kidding? I can't wait to be able to say that I've got the distinct honor of being with the smartest and fittest girl at Hogwarts," Ginny responded, her crooked grin in full effect.
Hermione smiled and blushed, which was Ginny's desired effect, "So why not now, before we go back home for the summer?"
It was Ginny's turn to blush now, "Well, like I said, I like keeping you all to myself. And uh… I mean, I assume you'd be willing to come stay at the Burrow this summer before school starts back up?"
"Yeah…? Why would that effect us going public with our relationship?"
Ginny blushed further, "I uh – I just don't think we'd be able to share my room this summer if my mum were to find out about us… And if we go public and Ron, Harry, and the twins find out, she'll definitely know… I don't want to stay apart from you when you're at the Burrow, that's all…"
Hermione was quiet, she appeared to be thinking.
"And that's not to say that I expect anything or plan on doing anything that you're not ready to do! It's not that at all, at all. I just – I don't want you to stay in a different room when you come to visit. Is that… Alright?" Ginny asked, hesitating at the look of focus on Hermione's face.
"Of course that's fine Ginny, I completely agree. I don't want to sleep anywhere but where I've slept the past two summers. I just appreciate how much you've thought about it, that's all," Hermione said, smiling at the redhead next to her.
Ginny grinned back, "I mean, I am known to have a thought or two in my head every once in a while."
Hermione lightly nudged Ginny and laughed, something that Ginny had recently loved to make Hermione do.
Once they finished their dinner, they headed out to the lake to do some O.W.L. prep out in the nice weather. The next two weeks would be filled with OWL exams, and Ginny knew Hermione was not going to be able to focus on much else during that time, so one last trip to the lake until after her O.W.L.s were over felt perfect.
After Ginny was done quizzing Hermione on absolutely everything she wanted to be tested on, they sat side by side with their backs against a large tree, looking out over the lake as the sun began to set.
"How are you feeling?" Ginny asked.
"Nervous, but ready," Hermione nodded confidently.
"I know it's something that you willingly do, but I'm really proud of you for taking your studies so seriously. It's something I've always admired about you, even when I was younger. I think that's why I try to take my classes somewhat seriously. Well, at least more seriously than Ron, Harry, and the twins."
"Doesn't take much…" Hermione said under her breath, and the two laughed, "Thank you though, Ginny. I'm proud of myself too. I think in the end when I can get a job where I can really make an impact on the Wizarding World, it'll be all worth it."
"Are you feeling like you've finally caught up to everyone else your age? You know, in terms of missing those first eleven years?"
Hermione looked at her in minor shock, "You remember? You remember that conversation we had?"
"Of course I do. That was the first conversation we had where I felt like I was more than just Ron's little sister to you. Of course I remember, Hermione," Ginny said seriously, but with a smile.
Hermione was looking at her as if she was seeing her for the first time, her eyes glistening lightly, "Yes, I do feel as if I've caught up. And yes, at that point you were more than just Ron's little sister."
Ginny wanted to kiss Hermione so badly it hurt, but there were far too many people around out enjoying the early June weather to do so.
"Come on, let's get you back to your dormitory. You've got your first O.W.L. exam first thing in the morning, and you'll need plenty of rest."
Ginny hopped up and offered a hand to Hermione, pulling her up as well. Then they picked up Hermione's books and set off back to the castle.
The next two weeks dragged on for Ginny because of how busy Hermione was with her O.W.L.s. They'd still had meals together and Ginny had made sure she was available for any "emergency study sessions" as Hermione was calling them to quickly refresh Hermione's mind on whatever O.W.L. exam she had coming up the following day, but other than that, they hadn't spent much time together. Well, not in the way that Ginny would've like to be spending time with Hermione. She understood though, Hermione's OWLs were important, and it did give Ginny some time to spend with her other friends before they went their separate ways for the summer.
"So other than working for your dad again, any other plans?" Ginny asked Ritchie as she, Colin, Ritchie, and Demelza all walked down to the Quidditch pitch together.
"Not really. Just training for Quidditch trials. Fred and George said I need to add more muscle," he said, a bit worried.
Ginny laughed, "I can tell you for a fact that neither of them ever seriously trained for Quidditch, so that's a laugh that they're giving you that advice. They're not wrong, it wouldn't be a horrible idea to physically train for the trials as well as flying, but I can't believe they said that."
"They're really serious about me not ruining the Gryffindor Beater legacy, or whatever…" Ritchie explained.
Ginny laughed again, "You mean taking out our own players with Bludgers? Please, feel free to discontinue that."
All four laughed as they arrived at the pitch. Colin headed up into the stands so he could get some action photos, and Demelza, Ritchie and Ginny began warming up. It was a beautiful mid-June day. The sun was out, but it wasn't too hot. After about half an hour of training, they were joined by Katie.
"How's it going?" she called as the three flew down and dismounted their brooms beside her.
"Great! I've been playing Keeper and Demelza here can't stop scoring," Ginny said.
"Fantastic," Katie said, grinning at her girlfriend.
"And Ritchie here has been training as a Chaser as well, and he's not half bad already!" Demelza added.
Ritchie shrugged, "I figured I'd take Ginny's route and train for as many positions as possible, so if I don't make Beater maybe I can squeeze in as the reserve?"
"Trying to suck up to the potential new captain of the Gryffindor side?" Katie asked, smirking.
"No! No, I was just… Well, okay yeah…" Ritchie admitted, laughing.
"Well, you're wasting your time then talking to me about it," Katie added.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, her brow furrowing, "You really think Angelina won't consider you?"
"Well, first of all, it's not Angelina's choice. She and Professor McGonagall make the decision together. And I just got back from talking to them, and I let them know I don't want the position."
"What? Why not?" Ginny demanded.
"I didn't think it'd be right, me deciding if my girlfriend gets to be on the team or not," Katie said, shooting a smile at Demelza.
"Wait, what? Did you tell them?" Ritchie asked, confused.
"I did," Katie said proudly, "I told them it wouldn't be right for me to be forming a team when my girlfriend would be a candidate for a starting spot. I didn't want there to be any push back next year or doubt that Demelza deserved to be on the team when she undoubtedly makes the team this fall. Seeing as we'll be out by then, I'm sure there would've been a lot of talk about it, and we can't have that surrounding the team as we go for the Quidditch Cup again next year."
"You'll be out by then? You mean…" Ginny paused as she looked from Katie to Demelza and back to Katie. Both had huge smiles on their faces, "You're going public with your relationship?"
Katie and Demelza nodded, and Katie walked swiftly over and pulled Demelza into a kiss.
Ritchie whistled, and Ginny laughed happily. Colin scrambled down from his spot in the stands to join the group.
"What's going on? You're kissing out in the open, are you telling people now? I haven't told anyone in months, in months! I still won't say anything, I know it's not mine to tell, but are you telling people?"
Demelza and Katie laughed and nodded, "Yes, we're done keeping it a secret. She's been patient long enough," Katie said, smiling down at Demelza who was beaming up at her proudly.
"I'm so happy for you two," Ginny said, hugging them.
"Group hug!" Ritchie shouted as he pushed Colin towards the girls and wrapped his long arms around the whole group, squishing them all together.
"Agh, you're sweaty Ritchie, and you stink!" Ginny whined.
"Deal with it!" he replied, squeezing everyone in tighter as they all laughed.
Once they separated, they headed up to Gryffindor Tower to cleaned up before dinner, Katie holding tight to Demelza's hand. As they walked, Ginny smiled at her two friends, so proud of them.
After the O.W.L. exams had finished, Ginny had managed to spend just about every waking moment with Hermione, which she absolutely loved. And no, not just because Hermione was an exceptional kisser, she just loved being able to actually be around Hermione again. They'd wasted so much time, this past year especially, and it was great just simply being around the girl.
It had been interesting maneuvering the relationship around Harry and Ron, but luckily, they were less perceptive than Ginny had originally thought. It also helped that Ron was completely distracted by Lavender, and Harry was trusting enough to just take Ginny at her word every time she denied the relationship.
"Come on, really Gin, there's nothing going on there? Even after she said she'd broken up with Juliette, nothing?" Harry asked one day as they were walking back from the Quidditch pitch.
"Really. We discussed it, and we both agreed we'd be better off just working on our friendship for the time being."
"That's some self-control the two of you have got, then…"
"Yeah…" Ginny agreed, hoping her face wasn't betraying her as she fought to keep the smirk from her lips. Self-control was the very last thing she was excelling in these days, that was for sure.
As Harry and Ginny climbed through the portrait hole, they were immediately greeted by Hermione, waiting with a stack of books.
"Ready?" she asked Ginny.
"Ready for what? What is there left for you to learn, Hermione? Exams are over, can't you just relax?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Hey, she's got a lot of goals Harry! And as her friend, it's my obligation to help her achieve those goals. Yes, I'm ready, let's go," Ginny said as she stepped back through the portrait hole ahead of Hermione.
"Laying it on a little thick, are we?" Hermione asked as they descended the stairs to Gryffindor Tower.
"He's getting suspicious… I think as long as I deny it, he'll believe me, but he's definitely on to us."
"Hmmm… Maybe I can help from my end too. He's known I've fancied you for ages, but I think he'd believe anything I tell him as well."
"Wait…" Ginny stopped walking as she turned to look at Hermione, "You spoke to Harry about me?"
"Of course I did Ginny. Who else was I going to talk to about it, your brother?"
"Well I spoke to him as well, for a long time… Was he just in the middle of this the whole time?"
Hermione shook her head, smiling, "Oh Harry. He's such a good friend. I made him swear not to say anything to anyone."
"So did I. I mean, I can see how that's him being a good friend, but he could've also let us each know how we were feeling and we wouldn't have wasted this whole year…" Ginny realized.
"True… Okay then, we can leave him in the dark a bit longer," Hermione said decidedly.
Ginny laughed, "You've got it. Alright, where to tonight? Library again?"
"Of course. No one has been in there since the O.W.L. exams ended."
"After you," Ginny said, motioning for Hermione to lead the way.
They never dared to kiss while they were in the library, but it was a great location for the two of them to just spend some uninterrupted time together talking and making up for lost time. Of course, they'd always made time for a bit of snogging before returning to the common room, as Ginny had discovered that Hermione's knack for the Imperturbable Charm rendered just about any empty room safe for them to spend time in. It helped that most people had been spending their last days at Hogwarts outside in the beautiful weather as well. Ginny just didn't find the lovely June weather to be as alluring as Hermione for some reason.
As they left the library and headed to the End of Year Feast, a sudden overwhelming feeling of sadness began to creep into Ginny's chest. They'd made plans for Hermione to arrive at the Burrow on August 10th, the day before Ginny's 15th birthday. True, it was only a bit more than a month that they'd be apart, but Ginny knew it wouldn't be easy and that it would surely drag on forever. Now that she was with Hermione, she just couldn't comprehend the need to ever spend time apart from her.
They joined the rest of the Gryffindors at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, sandwiching themselves between Harry, Ron, and their friend group, and Demelza, Katie, and their friend group. All eyes had been on Katie and Demelza lately, who had publicly come out to an overwhelmingly positive reception. Who wouldn't react positively to them, they certainly were adorable.
As the Feast slowly came to an end, Gryffindor was announced as the House Cup Champions (to no one's shock), and tables cleared out as everyone went back to their dormitories to pack up their things if they hadn't already. Once Ginny was done packing, she went down the hall to check on Hermione. Fortunately, none of Hermione's dormmates were there, and it was just her and Crookshanks, she putting the finishing touches on packing up her trunk, while Crookshanks slept lazily on her bed.
Ginny sat beside the sleeping cat and pet him softly, waking him up. He seemed offended at first before he realized who had woken him, then he nuzzled closer to Ginny immediately and began to purr.
"You do realize he loves you more than he loves me at this point, right?" Hermione asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice, as she tried to rearrange her trunk one last time.
"Of course, how could he not?"
Ginny looked up to catch Hermione rolling her eyes as she smiled, Ginny turned her focus back to Crookshanks.
"Don't you?"
"Don't I what?"
"Don't you love me, Hermione?"
Ginny heard Hermione stop fussing over her trunk, and looked up to find Hermione staring at her. Ginny stopped petting Crookshanks and stood up, walking over to stand right in front of Hermione.
"Don't you love me, Hermione?" she repeated, softer this time, "If not, it's okay. But I've got to tell you, I love you."
Hermione looked up at her (as Ginny was now a full inch taller than Hermione), brown eyes delving into bright brown eyes, before she smiled softly and replied, "Of course I love you, Ginny."
With a swift flick of her wand, Ginny shut and locked the door to Hermione's dormitory before she wrapped her up in a kiss. It wasn't heated or deep, it was just driven solely by love, and it was by far Ginny's favorite kiss with Hermione to date.
As they pulled apart breathlessly, Hermione gazed up at Ginny, and all Ginny could see was the love and affection Hermione clearly had for her. She loved when Hermione looked at her like that. When she leaned down slightly to connect her lips with Hermione's again, they were interrupted by a jiggle of the door handle followed by a banging on the door.
"Why on earth would the door be locked?" Lavender's shrill voice pierced through the solid wooden door.
Ginny stepped back from Hermione, sat back down on the bed beside Crookshanks, and resumed petting him. Hermione wiped the corners of her mouth quickly and unlocked the door.
"I have no idea why it was locked, that's odd!" Hermione said as she opened the door for Lavender and Parvati.
They walked in, clocked Ginny on the bed, and looked at Hermione.
"Yes?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, come on Hermione, do you really expect us not to think anything of you and Ginny behind a closed and locked door?" Lavender asked.
"Leave them be, Lav, what do you care what they do?" Parvati asked casually as she sat down on her bed.
Lavender gave both Ginny and Hermione a look before going and sitting on her own bed as well.
"Will you be coming around to the Burrow this summer, Lavender?" Ginny asked innocently, knowing she hadn't been invited.
"No… Why would I?" Lavender asked affronted.
"Hmmm. Hermione will be," Ginny said trying to hide the smirk forming on her lips.
Hermione shot her a warning look, "As will Harry. I come to visit every summer as Ron and Ginny's friend, as does Harry," she said, stressing the words Harry and friend.
Lavender shook her head in disbelief, "I can't believe that you can stay over at their house and I can't!" she whined as she pouted on her bed.
"That's because I'm staying there as a friend, Lavender," Hermione said as she finally closed her trunk.
"That is certainly one perk to being a girl who fancies girls, you can play it off as friendship," Parvati mused and gave Ginny a smile. Ginny winked back.
"Ginny!" Hermione scolded.
"What? I'm not saying it about us, I'm just agreeing that Parvati has a point, that's all!" Ginny said with her signature crooked grin.
Parvati laughed as Hermione shook her head. Lavender crossed her arms and scowled.
"I'm telling Ron!" Lavender threatened.
"Good luck with that, you've got no proof," Ginny said as she stood up, "Well, I'm going to turn in. Goodnight you two! Goodnight my love," Ginny said as she planted a light kiss on Hermione's lips.
Hermione looked at her in shock, a hint of a smile on her lips, as Parvati laughed harder now and Lavender stared at them, her mouth wide open in a look of surprise and anger. Ginny gave the room a wink as she left, closing the door behind her.
The next morning came fast, and before she knew it, Ginny was on the Hogwarts Express in a compartment with Demelza, Ritchie, Colin, and Katie. Hermione had to do one final round of Prefect duties with Dean, so she wouldn't likely see her until they were at Kings Cross. Conversation was light as they mostly talked about their upcoming summer plans as the Hogwarts Express wound its way through the English countryside. Katie and Demelza had planned for Katie to visit Demelza and her dad in Herefordshire, Ritchie was going to continue working for his dad, and Colin had a goal to snap one hundred meaningful photographs over the summer. All Ginny could think about was how she could possibly make time pass by faster so she could make August 10th arrive sooner than later. After the past month they'd spent together, she couldn't believe that she and Hermione would now have to spend longer than that apart.
Once they arrived at Kings Cross Station, everyone said their goodbyes and loaded their trunks off of the train. Both her mum and dad were there waiting for Ginny and her brothers to get off the train, and they looked excited to see them. Harry said his goodbyes and headed off, as did Hermione. Just before Hermione ducked around a corner of the station, she shot a look at Ginny.
"Uh, I forgot to give Hermione back something! I'll be right back," Ginny announced to her family as she jogged away to follow Hermione. Ginny dashed around the corner and nearly collided with the brunette who was there waiting for her.
"Sorry, I just didn't want to say goodbye in front of your family since, you know, we're keeping this from them," Hermione explained, "Do you still think this is the right thing to do? I don't like lying to them…"
"I don't either, but I'd dislike not sharing a room with you much more," Ginny pointed out.
Hermione nodded in agreement, then stepped closer to Ginny, "We can do this. Just a little over five weeks. Then I'll be there for the rest of the summer, and most importantly, your birthday," Hermione said, smiling up at Ginny.
Ginny nodded, but wasn't able to form words as she fought back the tears forming behind eyes. One managed to escape, and Hermione gently wiped it away.
"I know, but we can do this. We can write to one another, weekly letters at least! Before you know it, I'll be there, okay?"
Ginny nodded again wordlessly.
"I promise, I'll make it worth it…"
Ginny looked into Hermione's eyes and saw something she hadn't seen before, and while she wasn't quite sure what to make of it, she knew she liked it.
"Deal," Ginny said as she smiled at the brunette, "I love you, Hermione."
"I love you too, Ginny. See you soon."
The two kissed, then parted ways for what would surely be a painfully slow five weeks of distance.
