AN: I know I've been neglecting this fic a bit as I've been super busy with work and an October fan fiction challenge that I'm doing as well, BUT I just couldn't help but get an update out for this story. I'm not sure there will be another one until after October, but I have been very into writing whenever I get the time to do so lately, so never say never! :)
Chapter 89
Hermione POV
Hermione woke as she had the past week at the Burrow – alone. She didn't mind it though, as it allowed her to get in some uninterrupted reading or some quality time with Harry and Ron, depending on if the boys were awake or not. Every morning since the wedding, Katie and Ginny had been training together. It was so good for Ginny, having Katie around, and Hermione loved seeing the two of them together. The best thing about Katie was that she was extremely perceptive and never overstayed her welcome, knowing to allow Hermione and Ginny time together without her around. She often spent that time with Harry, planning for the upcoming Gryffindor Quidditch season, or with Ron, eating him under the table to ensure that she ate enough to maintain her energy levels for trainings with Ginny. Just in a few weeks post-Hogwarts, it seemed that Katie had learned so much about what it'd take to be a professional Quidditch player, and Hermione was thankful that she was around to share those skills with Ginny.
Hermione let out a small groan as she sat up in Ginny's bed, stretching her arms up over her head. This was clearly offensive to the sleeping mound of fluff at the foot of the bed, as both Crookshanks and Arnold, who spent each night cuddled up together, shot her a nasty look before jumping from the bed and scurrying out into the hall. Hermione rolled her eyes lightly at this – they were both so dramatic.
After she was showered and dressed for the day, Hermione made her way down to the kitchen, where Mrs. Weasley was preparing breakfast. They immediately fell into their usual routine, as Hermione stepped in to help cook alongside her. Even though breakfast could be completed with magic, Mrs. Weasley had always spoken how much she enjoyed cooking for her children by hand, and Hermione, who'd grown up in a Muggle household, thoroughly agreed, and enjoyed the quality time spent with the older woman. Then, arguably her favorite moment of every day occurred, as Ginny and Katie returned from their morning run. The quintessential professional, Katie always managed to keep her racerback tank top on, no matter how sweaty she got, but Ginny strolled in the back door with only her trainers, athletic shorts, and sports bra on, her t-shirt hung casually around the back of her neck.
"Honestly, Ginny, must you do that every morning?" Mrs. Weasley asked a bit exasperatedly as she shot a disapproving look at her daughter.
"I told her, Mrs. Weasley…" Katie said, shaking her head in faux-disappointment.
Ginny rolled her eyes at the two of them, tossed her t-shirt on the kitchen table and approached Hermione.
"I'm sure there's someone here who does appreciate my outfit…" she said, kissing Hermione on the cheek.
Hermione blushed and smiled at the girl, turning into her and gently pushing her away with a hand against her tight stomach. She felt her entire body react to the feeling of Ginny's sweaty muscles beneath her fingertips, and tried mightily not to let her face give just how much she was enjoying herself.
"Enough, Ginny, go on and get showered. Breakfast will be ready any moment," Mrs. Weasley said, shooing Ginny out of the kitchen.
"Yeah, what are you thinking? You could've gotten sweat in the eggs!" Katie exclaimed playfully as she grabbed Ginny's shirt from the table, pushing Ginny towards the stairs as they both laughed.
Mrs. Weasley sighed and returned to the sausages she was browning.
"Sorry about that, Molly," Hermione apologized a bit nervously.
"Oh, don't worry about it, dear. The older Ginny gets, the more she seems to become like Fred and George… All that confidence and bravado…" she said, shaking her head. Though, Hermione could see a hint of a smile on the woman's lips. "Really, I should be apologizing to you, seeing as you'll likely be dealing with her for a lot longer than I will be."
Hermione smiled at this, touched that Mrs. Weasley thought of her relationship with Ginny being one that would last long term. She certainly hoped that was the case, as she couldn't imagine her life without her.
"As long as I'm with her, I'll be just fine," Hermione responded genuinely. Mrs. Weasley smiled.
"So, how are you feeling about your final year at Hogwarts? How do you feel about your N.E.W.T.s?"
A wave of anxiety flew through Hermione at the mention of the tests, but she forced herself to remain calm, "I feel ready for both my final year at Hogwarts and my N.E.W.T.s. I know both will be quite difficult, but I've worked hard in making sure I'm prepared, and I'm looking forward to my next step beyond Hogwarts."
Mrs. Weasley's smile widened, "I know that you are, dear. I'm so happy for you, and proud that my daughter is with someone who is so ambitious and hard working. You've been an excellent role model for her, despite her still turning into her wild older brothers…" she chuckled as she shook her head again.
"Thank you, Molly, that means a lot to me…"
Mrs. Weasley beamed across at her, "It means a lot that you chose my daughter to be with. I'm sure that you could've had your pick of any girl, and yet, you chose our Ginny."
"You know, she's pretty incredible in her own right. Yes, on the outside she can be a bit bold with her confidence and nerve, but she's also incredibly sweet and thoughtful. I went through something difficult at the end of last term that I'm still not quite over, and she was amazing in how she took care of me. And she's always been like that – not just with me, but with all of her friends too. You and Arthur have raised an exceptional young woman, Molly, and honestly, I feel honored to be with her."
Mrs. Weasley had tears in her eyes as she pulled Hermione in for a tight hug.
"Oi, what's going on in here?" Ron asked as he and Harry entered the kitchen, both with significant bedhead. "Is breakfast ready yet?"
"Don't be rude, Ron!" Katie said as she strolled in behind them in a clean change of clothes and her wet, clean hair neatly plaited.
"Alright, just because you're Ginny's honorary big sister or whatever the two of you are calling it doesn't mean you're mine… You can't boss me around like you do her…" Ron said as he sat down grumpily at the kitchen table.
"Well, can your Quidditch captain boss you around? Because she's right, you're being quite rude to the two people who are taking time to make us breakfast… One of whom is your saint of a mum…" Harry pointed out as he sat beside Ron, attempting to flatten his unruly dark hair.
"Not you too?" Ron whined, laying his head in his arms on the table.
Katie and Harry exchanged a grin before Katie approached Hermione and Mrs. Weasley.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" she offered.
"Oh no, dear, we're almost ready. Where's Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I insisted on showering first as Superstar up there takes longer showers than I do. I find once you're in your own flat and paying your own utilities, you cut back on things such as long showers pretty quick," Katie grinned, "She should be out any minute though."
Just as Katie finished speaking, Ginny bounded down the stairs, her long wet hair soaking her t-shirt. Hermione wondered if she'd worn white on purpose.
"Is this outfit appropriate for a meal, Mum?" Ginny asked in faux-sincerity.
"Ginny…" Katie warned, beating Mrs. Weasley to it.
"Yeah Ginny, be nice to our mum! She's a saint, after all…" Ron added to the eye roll of just about everyone.
After breakfast, Katie and Ginny managed to convince Ron to come out and player Keeper for them in the orchard. Harry and Hermione were sitting in the grass together, enjoying the hot August weather and watching the spectacle unfold before them. Though there was a bit of arguing at first between Ron and Ginny, Katie had managed to smooth it out quickly, and was teaching Ron some of the drills that she'd watched the Keepers go through at the many tryouts she'd attended in July. While Katie was busy with Ron, Ginny was flying hot laps around the orchard, pushing herself to go faster with every pass.
"Harry, can I ask you something?" Hermione asked, her eyes locked on Ginny.
"Go for it," Harry responded. He was watching Ron and Katie with an amused smile on his face.
"I've learned a lot about Quidditch over the past few years, but I know I'll never know as much about it as someone who actually plays it. How good is she, really?"
"Ginny? She's really talented, Hermione."
"Do you think she'll have any trouble getting teams to notice her? I mean, she hasn't been on the Gryffindor house team for very long. Compared to Katie's time on the team – " Hermione paused at Harry's smile, "What?"
"Can I just say how much I love the two of you together? Blimey Hermione, with how stubborn and thick the two of you insisted on being our fifth year, I wasn't sure you'd ever end up together," he laughed.
Hermione blushed and nudged Harry with her elbow.
"Seriously though, I like seeing you like this. It's nice that you're so concerned about and interested in her future in Quidditch. Now, regarding Ginny's likelihood of attracting attention from teams and scouts, I guarantee she'll have no issues. I have no doubt she would've been on the house team from her second year on had she not had such an undividable trio of Chasers ahead of her. At the time, I thought Gryffindor would never see a trio as good as Angelina, Alicia, and Katie ever again, but then Ginny and Demelza joined forces with Katie and well, I'm not sure anything will ever beat the bond the three of them had."
They both looked up as Katie was now guiding Ginny on how to shoot on Ron in a way that would be beneficial to him. Ginny's face was skeptical, as if she'd never considered the idea of not just trying her hardest to score, especially against Ron, but she was also clearly eating up everything Katie was saying as well, eager to improve however she could.
"Honestly Hermione, I'm not sure she's even begun to tap into her true potential yet, either," Harry admitted, "I think with Katie gone, she's really going to step up and come into her own. At least I hope she does. Three Quidditch Cups in a row doesn't sound too bad, does it?" Harry grinned.
"What about you? Have you put any thought into playing Quidditch professionally?"
Harry shook his head, "It's not for me, no. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy playing it now, for the pride of the team, the pride of Gryffindor, but playing professionally? I'm not so sure I'm not one Bludger to the head away from being unable to cast the simplest of spells. If you haven't noticed, my career in Quidditch so far hasn't exactly been injury free…"
Hermione's heart clenched at this as her mind began to race. Harry was right, he had endured many injuries due to Quidditch over the years. And he wasn't the only one. She looked up at Ginny again, who was now trying to get Ron off balance so he'd have to stretch to make the save. Of course, Ginny's injuries hadn't come from official Quidditch games, but they'd still happened while she was playing Quidditch. Quidditch was dangerous, it just was. Hermione knew this, but had tried to push her worries about it down since it was clear how much Ginny loved it. But with Harry not wanting to play because of what the injuries could mean for him long-term… If Ginny wasn't going to worry about things like that, she certainly would have to.
The two of them were quiet as they watched Ginny fly. She was now streaking towards the makeshift hoops at the end of the orchard, a determined look on her face as she closed in on Ron. She flew right at him at full speed until he eventually bailed out and dipped beneath the level of the hoops. She scored easily, tossing her long red hair back as she laughed in triumph.
"What in the bloody hell was that?" Ron yelled angrily as he flew back up to the height of the hoops.
"What are you doing dropping out like that? She obviously wasn't going to hurt you, Ron!" Katie shouted back, clearly amused.
"Obviously? You don't know her like I do, Katie! She would've flown me right through me if she thought it'd give her a goal!"
Ginny smirked, "He's not wrong."
Ron motioned wildly to Ginny, "See? She's mental!"
Harry laughed as Katie tried to calm Ron down and Ginny flew around the orchard.
"I had her do that on purpose, Ron. You've got to be ready for anything coming at you," Katie explained calmly as Ron glared at Ginny.
Harry shook his head and laughed as he turned back to Hermione, "You know, she's not as reckless as she appears. Ginny is one of the most meticulous and calculated players we've got on the team. Yes, she's willing to take risks, but not before she's thought it through. You don't have to worry about her doing something she shouldn't."
He was looking at her softly now, surely having noticed how tense Hermione had gotten over the course of the conversation.
"I trust Ginny… It's everything else that I don't trust."
Harry nodded slowly, "That's fair. There's a lot of unpredictability in Quidditch. But she's passionate about this, and talented. And so dedicated. When all is said and done, she might be one of the best players in the league. Just because I don't want to play professionally, doesn't mean she shouldn't want to."
Suddenly, Ginny appeared in front of them, grinning.
"Our Keeper's coming along nicely, don't you think, Captain?"
Harry laughed, "Oh yeah! All I've ever dreamed of is having a Keeper who dives out of the way screaming when a Chaser comes near them."
Ginny laughed, "What about you, Hermione? See anything you like?"
Hermione couldn't help but smile at the signature crooked smile that had spread across Ginny's lips. However, Ginny's smile faltered when she undoubtedly noticed that Hermione's smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked, furrowing her brow.
Hermione quickly shook her head, "Nothing! It's just getting a bit hot out here in the sun." It wasn't a total lie, but she couldn't tell Ginny she was worried about her playing Quidditch professionally. That was ridiculous. She'd just have to get over it. Or at least get far better at hiding it.
Katie flew over and hovered beside Ginny, "She's right, it is getting far too hot. How about we go down to the creek you've told me about, Ginny?"
Ginny smirked, "Not a bad idea. Hermione loves the creek, don't you, Hermione?"
Hermione blushed lightly and nodded.
"What about us?" Ron asked as he too flew up and joined the two girls.
"Yes, you and Harry are of course included in the 'we' I mentioned," Katie said, "Let's all go change and head out in about ten minutes?"
They all agreed and headed back to the Burrow to change. Hermione and Harry hung out in the kitchen, as they hadn't completely soaked through their clothes in sweat like the other three had. Once Ron, Katie, and Ginny met them downstairs, they set off for the creek.
Even though it was hot, the walk to the creek was still quite nice. The countryside surrounding the Burrow truly was beautiful, with its rolling hills and various wildflowers scattered all over the place. Thankfully, they arrived at a calm and quiet creek with no Muggles in sight. It wasn't that Hermione didn't want to be around Muggles, of course she'd have no problem with that, she just didn't trust Ron not to say something that would give them away.
Ron and Harry immediately began splashing around in the creek while Katie, Ginny, and Hermione waded in a little way away from them. As the weather hadn't been too hot so far during Hermione's stay at the Burrow, this was her first trip to the creek this year. She couldn't help but think of her first trip last year with Ginny, shortly after her birthday. Certainly nothing like that would occur this trip, but perhaps once Katie left they could return without the boys.
"So Katie, have you heard from Demelza since you've arrived at the Burrow?" Hermione asked.
Katie nodded, "Yeah, she sent me a letter just yesterday actually. She was wanting to know if I'd heard back from any of the teams I tried out for yet. She's very invested in where I end up," Katie smiled.
"Of course she is. I'm sure she'll have a massive moral struggle if you end up on any team other than the Tornados. Think she'll still root for you if you play against Tutshill?"
"Knowing how obsessed she and her father are with the Tornados, I'm honestly not so sure," Katie grinned.
"How is her father doing?" Hermione asked.
"From the sounds of it, a bit better actually. He goes in to St. Mungo's every other week for a potion and to get checked out, but Demelza said he's been in a good mood since she's gotten home."
Hermione smiled, "That's sweet."
"It is, yes, but I'm wondering if that'll make it harder on her to go back to school in a few weeks."
Ginny winced, "I can't imagine classes without her… I'd feel like Hermione, only having Ritchie and Colin like she's just got Ron and Harry…"
"What about Ron and Harry?" Ron asked, splashing around as he high-stepped his way over to the girls.
"Since when have you become so nosey?" Ginny asked, splashing Ron with a handful of water.
It was obviously the wrong move.
The next few minutes encompassed an all-out water war between the boys and the girls, in which Hermione spent most of the event huddled behind Ginny or Katie trying not to get drenched by the cold creek water. After Ginny dunked Ron beneath the water one too many times, the boys called for a truce, and they all headed back to the Burrow.
"Mum?" Ginny called out as Mrs. Weasley hurried out the back door once they arrived in the back garden.
"Your school letters came while you were out! Ginny, your O.W.L.s!"
Ginny looked at Hermione, nerves clearly reflected in her bright brown eyes, before jogging forward to grab the stack of letters from her mum. It looked as if Ginny's was the largest by far, but Hermione noticed that her letter also seemed to be a bit heftier than either of the boys'.
"I wonder what could be in here…" Ginny said with her signature crooked smile as she handed Hermione her letter. "Congratulations, I'm so proud of you."
As soon as Hermione felt the letter, she knew what was inside. In all of the excitement of the wedding and being at the Burrow with Ginny, she'd completely forgotten about the possibility that she'd be assigned the role of Head Girl for her seventh year. She opened the letter to reveal a badge that read "Head Girl", and she held it in her hand. She felt the pride and relief flow throughout her body – she'd worked so hard for this.
"Wow! Congratulations Hermione!" Katie said with a smile as she patted her on the back. Harry gave her a smile, and Ron gave her a mumbled congratulations as well as he looked over his school list. Mrs. Weasley gave her a bone-crushing hug.
"How'd you do, Ginny?" Katie asked as Ginny stared at her letter with wide eyes.
"I got nine O.W.L.s…" Ginny said quietly. As she looked up at Hermione, and a wide grin spread across her lips as she laughed.
"Nine?" Ron yelled as Mrs. Weasley squealed and wrapped Ginny up in a hug. Katie ruffled her hair affectionately and Harry looked over Hermione's shoulder as she took the letter from Ginny and read it.
Harry grinned at Ron, "A few of these are O's as well mate, she's really got us beat!"
Hermione thought she was proud when she received her Head Girl badge just moments ago, but that was nothing compared to how proud she felt now. Ginny had gotten nine O.W.L.s. Though they had managed to get quite distracted during some of their studying sessions last year, most of the time Ginny had taken it very seriously, and all of that hard work had paid off. She'd passed every single exam she'd taken with at least an Exceeds Expectations, and had gotten three Outstandings, three. As Hermione smiled at Ginny who was still wrapped up in her mum's hug, she realized that she wasn't just proud of her, but she was extremely attracted to her for this as well. Her girlfriend had just earned nine O.W.L.s… How could she not be deeply attracted to that?
"What did you get O's in, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked Ginny before planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Charms," Ginny grinned.
"Oh, I just knew all of those nights the two of you spent studying out on Stoatshead Hill would pay off!" Mrs. Weasley gushed, moving now to hug Hermione again.
"Yeah… All that studying…" Ron snicked under his breath as he shot a knowing look at Ginny. "Ow!" he cried out as Harry elbowed him. All of this was missed by Mrs. Weasley, who still had Hermione wrapped up in a fierce hug.
"Oh, just wait until your father comes home tonight, Ginny! He'll be so proud!" Mrs. Weasley beamed at Ginny as she released Hermione. Ginny was now turning nearly as red as her hair.
"Thanks Mum… And thank you, Hermione. I couldn't have done any of this without you…" Ginny said with a genuine smile.
"Oh! You two!" Mrs. Weasley cried, pulling the two of them in together so she could hug them both.
"You'd think they'd just discovered a cure for Dragon Pox or something…" Ron said under his breath as he lumbered off towards the Burrow. Katie and Harry followed.
"I'm going to go send your father an owl at work, I just can't wait to tell him!" Mrs. Weasley beamed as she hurried off into the Burrow as well, leaving Hermione and Ginny alone in the back garden.
Ginny chuckled and ran a hand through her long red hair, "So... You haven't said anything yet… What do you think? Nine O.W.L.s and three Outstandings, not too bad huh?"
Ginny's maddeningly adorable crooked grin sent Hermione over the edge. She didn't respond verbally, but instead pulled Ginny in for a passionate kiss. She had one hand on Ginny's jaw, the other in her long red hair, and Ginny quickly wrapped her arms around her and lifted her slightly off the ground in response. They didn't get too carried away, as they were in the very visible back garden, but the kiss certainly didn't lack heat. After Ginny set her back down, they broke apart, each looking at each other as they caught their breath.
Ginny grinned, "So, what would you have done had I earned nine Outstandings?"
Hermione felt something surge through her body, "I think you'll find out once it's just the two of us in your room again…"
