Chapter 81
Hermione POV
Hermione wasn't sure she'd ever been more mortified in her entire life. She honestly couldn't imagine a worse situation. Madam Pince, who was known for being tightly wound and exceptionally stern to begin with, was as rigid as a board as she marched ahead, undoubtedly leading them to Professor McGonagall's office. Hermione glanced over at Ginny, who was still trying to retie her tie as they walked.
"You're off by a button on your shirt…" Hermione whispered nervously.
"Thanks…" Ginny muttered, hastily moving her attention from her tie to her shirt.
Hermione looked down at her own uniform, ensuring that everything looked as it should, as Madam Pince came to a halt in front of them. They'd finally arrived at their destination, and Hermione could feel her heartrate increase as her eyes flicked from Ginny to Madam Pince, who had turned to give the two of them another severe and disillusioned look before rapping curtly on the large wooden door of Professor McGonagall's office.
"Irma? What has you calling at this hour?" Professor McGonagall asked as she opened the door.
Madam Pince stepped aside to reveal Hermione and Ginny. Neither of them could bear to make eye contact with Professor McGonagall.
"I caught these two making use of the Restricted Section in an inappropriate manner just a moment ago. It is well after hours, and Miss Granger was clearly abusing her Restricted Section privileges, which have now been revoked."
The word alone was horrible to hear, but the tone in which it was said was far worse. Of course, she expected there would be some sort of penance for what they'd done, but pairing that with the knowledge that she'd broken the trust of Madam Pince, an adult that she'd created a strong relationship with over the past few years, was borderline devastating for Hermione.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips as she eyed Ginny's still unevenly buttoned shirt, "I see. I will take it from here. Thank you for bringing them to me, Irma, and my apologies on behalf of Gryffindor House for their behavior this evening."
Madam Pince gave a curt nod to Professor McGonagall, shot another disapproving look at Hermione and Ginny for good measure, and departed down the hallway in the same rigid march.
"Ladies, come in," Professor McGonagall stated flatly, turning to walk back into her office. Hermione and Ginny exchanged nervous glances before following their Head of House. Professor McGonagall's office was simply, yet tastefully decorated, and there was a lit fireplace warming the room, which momentarily offered an inviting feeling to Hermione, but that was short-lived once she took in the look on Professor McGonagall's face as they sat down across from her at her desk.
"Miss Granger… Miss Weasley… Which of the two of you would like to explain to me what you were doing in the Restricted Section of the library at this hour?"
Hermione felt her entire face heat up, and didn't have to look to know that Ginny's face surely matched her red hair at the question. Then, in a small, quiet voice, Hermione heard Ginny respond.
"We were spending time together, Professor…"
Professor McGonagall looked at Ginny, glanced at her uneven buttons once more, and then looked at Hermione. She took a deep breath and steepled her fingers before she spoke again, "I see… Ladies, I have seen the brightest of minds make the most foolish of decisions when it comes to matters of the heart… However, I would have thought that the two of you would have at least been smart enough to not get caught, after hours, in a location that had been made available to you based on earned privileges…" Her gaze moved to Hermione, and Hermione felt her face blush even further, "I believe that for now, your embarrassment has been punishment enough, but if it were to happen again, I can assure you there will be consequences. Have I made myself clear?"
Both girls nodded.
"Miss Weasley, you are dismissed. Please, be sure to fix your uniform before you return to Gryffindor Tower," Professor McGonagall instructed to Ginny.
Ginny stood up from the chair, but hesitated, looking at Hermione.
"Miss Granger will be quite alright, Miss Weasley. I'm quite confident that she can manage to get herself back to Gryffindor Tower without your assistance. Now, if you don't mind, please leave us so I can speak with my Prefect in private."
Ginny gave Hermione one last worried look, before turning and exiting the office. Hermione watched her walk out, then turned and blushed yet another shade darker at the stern, yet sympathetic look that Professor McGonagall was giving her.
"Miss Granger, do you still have the ambitions that we discussed at the end of last term? Head Girl, high marks on your N.E.W.T. exams, a profession at the Ministry of Magic?"
"Yes Professor, of course."
Professor McGonagall nodded and paused for a moment, bringing her steepled fingers to her pursed lips before continuing, "I was young once. I understand that you care very much for Miss Weasley, and she very clearly adores you."
Heat rushed to Hermione's cheeks again, but she managed a small smile at the slight warmness now coming from Professor McGonagall's voice and expression.
"I am not saying to limit your time together… However, I am advising you to use the intelligence that I know you both to possess to make wiser decisions. I do not want to have the two of you brought to me in this way again, do you understand?"
"Yes Professor, I'm so sorry about this. I promise, it won't happen again," Hermione apologized genuinely.
Professor McGonagall nodded, "Thank you Miss Granger, I do believe you. You may go, have a good rest of your evening."
Hermione got up from her chair and made her way to the large wooden door of Professor McGonagall's office.
"Miss Granger?"
Hermione turned to face Professor McGonagall, "Yes, Professor?"
Again, there was warmness radiating off of Professor McGonagall's softened face, which was odd, as it was usually so tight and serious.
"I am delighted for you and Miss Weasley. I have noticed over the past few months how close the two of you have become, and how happy you seem to make one another. I have heard that Miss Weasley has been doing exceptionally well in her classes, and you appear to be less tightly wound than you have been the previous five years that you've attended Hogwarts. Overall, it seems that the two of you are remarkable influences on one another, outside of this incident, of course…" she smiled knowingly at Hermione, "And I am happy for the two of you, truly."
"Thank you, Professor," Hermione managed with another small smile.
"Have a good evening. I will see you in class tomorrow."
"You as well, Professor, thank you," Hermione said, before finally exiting the office, finding Ginny waiting for her right outside the door.
"What'd she say?" Ginny asked, a worried look on her face as they began to walk towards Gryffindor Tower.
"She said…" Hermione sighed, "Ginny, I'm no longer a Prefect…" she said solemnly.
"What?" Ginny gasped, stopping in her tracks. "Hermione I'm so – " she broke off as she saw the smile on Hermione's face and shook her head in disbelief. "Are you honestly joking at a time like this?"
Hermione laughed lightly and nodded, "Everything's alright. She just reminded me of the goals I've set for myself and that we really do need to be more careful."
Ginny nodded, "I suppose she's right… Sorry about all of this, Hermione."
Hermione stepped closer to Ginny, unbuttoning and buttoning the girl's still misbuttoned shirt, "There's no need for you to apologize, Ginny. I'm sorry. I knew better, I just couldn't stop thinking about being with you in the Restricted Section…" she straightened Ginny's crooked tie before patting it gently and offering the girl a small smile and sighing, "Hopefully I can get back into the good graces of Madam Pince, I do feel awful about betraying her trust."
"I can't imagine she'll be mad at you for too long. I doubt she's ever had a student come through just as obsessed with books as she is. Who else will she discuss the proper organization of books with?" Ginny said, grinning.
Hermione shook her head amusedly, "Come on, you. Let's get back to the common room." She took Ginny's hand, pulling her in the direction of Gryffindor Tower.
As they walked, Hermione thought about what had just happened. She'd taken Ginny to the Restricted Section, something she'd dreamed of doing for far longer than she'd care to admit, and not only that, she'd gotten them caught. Besides the embarrassment of not one, but two adult-figures that Hermione very much respected finding out that they'd been "making use of the Restricted Section in an inappropriate manner", she'd lost her hard-earned privilege of her very own key to the Restricted Section, something that she genuinely prided herself on. However, none of that was at the forefront of her mind, as all she could really think about was the fact that she'd nearly progressed their physical relationship that evening by moving to undo her uniform trousers. Yes, Ginny had stripped down to just her bra and pants in front of Hermione down by the creek over the summer at the Burrow, and just a few weeks ago Ginny had been completely nude while Hermione held her topless in the Prefects' bathroom. While both of the events had absolutely stirred up certain feelings within Hermione, they hadn't triggered the dam to break in terms of Hermione wanting to take the next step in their physical relationship. Somehow, being hidden away in one of her favorite, most secretive rooms in all of Hogwarts, a room where she'd never taken anyone else before, had done just that, and Hermione had found herself really wanting to be with Ginny. But now that she was thinking about it with a clearer mind, it seemed far too spontaneous. She'd gotten swept up in being in the Restricted Section with her, and had allowed her body to dictate what her brain should be in control of. She is the older, slightly more experienced of the two, and she should know better than to spring this on Ginny without properly talking to her about it first. Of course, she hadn't gotten Ginny's answer as to whether or not she was okay with Hermione unbuttoning her trousers this evening, as Madam Pince had emerged quite forcefully into the room, so for all Hermione knew, Ginny could've been more than ready to take that next step with her. Regardless, a conversation was necessary, and Hermione almost found herself feeling relieved that Madam Pince had interrupted the two of them before they'd gone too far.
Once they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady, Ginny gave the password and gestured for Hermione to enter first. They crossed through the deserted common room and climbed the stairs to the girls dormitories. Once they reached the landing, Ginny stopped and gave Hermione a sheepish grin.
"Well, I'm guessing that didn't go quite as planned?" she said quietly.
"Not exactly, no…" Hermione conceded.
"If it's any consolation, I had a great time before Madam Pince decided to join," Ginny grinned.
Hermione gave Ginny a serious look, "I think we should talk about what almost happened…"
"Alright," Ginny leaned against the wall across from the wall of dormitory doors.
"I'm sorry if what I did was too fast or pushed too far… I know nothing happened, but we were certainly headed there, due to me unilaterally deciding to take us there… And I… I apologize Ginny... I should've talked to you about this first…"
Ginny was staring at her, her brows furrowed slightly in what looked to be confusion, "Why are you apologizing? You don't even know what I was going to say…"
Hermione shook her head, "Even so, I shouldn't have just sprung that on you… We've discussed how important communication is and I just disregarded that completely…"
"Hermione, you didn't just spring it on me. I feel like we've been naturally progressing towards this for a while now, and that in itself is some sort of unspoken communication that we're ready to take on the next step, at least to me it is. I think about what happened in the Prefects' bathroom just about every night, and while I love how that evening turned out, it hasn't escaped me that it could've turned into something even more, and I've come to realize that I would've been okay with that had it gone that way. I'm okay, and I'm ready. Do you not feel the same?" Ginny asked, concern painting her voice as she spoke quietly.
"I – I am… I just… I don't want it to be like it almost was… I don't want it to be something that just happens…"
"Well, give me the date and time, and I'll put it in my calendar," Ginny said with her lopsided grin.
"Oh, you know what I mean. I obviously don't want it to be scheduled, but I don't want it to be a spur of the moment thing either… I – I want it to mean something… I mean, it's you, Ginny… It's us…" Hermione said softly, looking so intently into Ginny's bright brown eyes.
Ginny's eyebrows raised ever so slightly, and then her face softened, and she looked at Hermione both gently and seriously, "No matter where or when… I promise, it'll mean something Hermione…"
Hermione took in Ginny's sincere expression and smiled. She had been so concerned with the fact that she hadn't been properly looking after Ginny, and somehow the roles had reversed and Ginny was looking after her, reassuring her that it was all alright. This was just another moment in which Ginny made her feel so utterly safe and secure, and it made her heart swell in her chest.
"So… Middle of the Quidditch pitch, tomorrow night… How about it?" Ginny asked, her eyes sparkling as she grinned at Hermione.
Hermione shook her head and smiled, "I believe it'd be a bit too cold for that, seeing as it's the middle of January… But maybe once it's warmed up a bit…?"
Ginny chuckled, "I'm holding you to that…" she whispered as she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Hermione's lips. "I've got to get to bed, Quidditch practice first thing in the morning, but I'll see you after?"
"Of course. Goodnight, Ginny," Hermione said, placing another kiss on Ginny's soft lips before they moved towards their respective doors.
"G'night, Hermione."