A week into the term, Hermione was starting to settle into a routine. Between classes, Head Girl duties, and homework, she kept pretty busy, which made missing Ron and Harry easier. She'd already written to them this week about how things were at Hogwarts with McGonagall as head mistress. They'd written back informing her that Auror training was a lot more like school than they'd anticipated.
Things with Ginny were surprisingly normal. They hung out in the common room and did their homework together, walked to their shared classes together, met up for meals, and spent their down time with Hermione listening to Ginny gossip or talk about Quidditch, like any friends would. You'd never guess that a mere week ago, Hermione had confessed her feelings to Ginny who in turn admitted to actually wanting to kiss Hermione. Whatever that meant. As far as she knew, Ginny and Harry were still going strong, though she didn't mention him much.
That particular evening, Ginny lay across the couch in the common room with a book propped up on her stomach. Hermione sat on the floor with her back leaning against the end of the couch where Ginny's feet were, taking notes for her history of magic essay.
"I scouted the Hufflepuff tryouts yesterday," Ginny announced as she shifted to sit up against the arm rest behind her. "There's this new girl that tried out for chaser that was really good."
Hermione's ears perked up at that, "New girl? Like a first year?"
Ginny snorted, "No, seventh year. Apparently, she was homeschooled until now."
"Oh, you mean Taylor?" Hermione added as casually as she could.
She looked up to see that Ginny's book was now laying open on her stomach, but her eyes were on Hermione with one eyebrow cocked in curiosity, "You know her?"
Hermione sat up a little straighter and shrugged, "Not really. We bumped into each other on the train, but we only spoke for a moment." She lowered her head in an attempt to hide the warmth she felt creeping up her neck as she remembered the gorgeous blond.
"What did you two speak about, then?" Ginny's voice had a sharp edge to it.
"Not much. She didn't mention Quidditch, just that she was new and had been sorted into Hufflepuff. She seemed nice, though," Hermione busied herself with her notes, hoping that her tone was casual.
"I'm sure," Ginny grumbled just loud enough for Hermione to hear. She didn't bring Taylor up again after that. In fact, she didn't talk much more that evening and was even a little short with Hermione when they said goodnight. Hermione chalked it up to exhaustion.
The next afternoon, Hermione found herself in her favorite place in the school, the library. As she weaved through the stacks looking for an additional text to help with her essay, she turned a corner and bumped right into another person. The stack of books they were holding tumbled onto the floor, and Hermione immediately dropped down to help retrieve them.
"I'm so sorry—" but her words were cutoff when she looked up to see Taylor's blue eyes staring back at her.
"We've got to stop meeting like this," the blond smirked as she took the books out of Hermione's grasp and stood up. "Actually, I take that back. Bump into me as much as you want if it means seeing you more often."
Hermione would be permanently red before long at the rate that she'd been blushing recently, "How about we find ways to see each other that cause less bruising?"
"That might rule out quite a few of my favorite pass times," Taylor replied.
Hermione's eyes widened as the heat in her cheeks reached full inferno. Taylor took a step back from her and held up her hands palms out in front of her, "Whoa, that came out wrong. I meant, I like sports."
She noticed a red tinge to the blonde's tan cheeks that made her relax a little, "Well, I can't say I share that same sentiment. It's always been books for me." Hermione gestured to the rows of bookshelves around them.
"I think studying at the same table could be a bruise-free date, don't you think?" Taylor's flirty smile returned.
Her stomach did somersaults at the word "date," but she tried her best to gloss over it, "Uhm, sure. My favorite spot's just in the back over here." Hermione started moving in that direction, and Taylor fell into step next to her.
"How come I haven't seen you in class," Hermione asked as they took seats across from each other at Hermione's preferred table. "I have a few classes with Hufflepuffs, but you aren't in any of them."
"You were looking for me, were you?" Taylor winked at her then followed it up with a shrug. "They want me to sit for a few tests before I matriculate in fully. I have to show them that my magical education up to this point is adequate enough to dignify them accepting me late, especially since I don't have O.W.L.S."
Hermione nodded, "Well, if you need any help, I have some time in what is usually a very busy tutoring schedule."
Taylor chuckled, "Before I take you up on that offer, I must know why your tutoring schedule is suddenly clear. Didn't have to do with client complaints, did it?" she teased.
"Of course not," Hermione rolled her eyes. "The boys I usually help didn't come back to do 7th year with me."
"Ah, yes, the famous Golden Trio. Even homeschool kids have heard of you three," Taylor's smile widened so that the dimples in her cheeks looked like parenthesis around her mouth.
"Really?" Hermione asked incredulously.
The tall blonde smiled playfully in return, "Okay, not really. It's all about the 'Famous Harry Potter' out there, but I did ask around about you."
Hermione pretended to be more interested in her notes than her next question, but she knew she was red all the way to the tips of her ears now, "And what did you find out?"
"Hemione Granger, muggleborn, brightest witch of her age, best friend of Harry Potter, and fierce defender of house elves," Taylor responded proudly. "Also, girlfriend of one Ron Weasley according to a few sources, but that bit seemed more like gossip."
She laughed at the addition, "Well, it's partially true. I was Ron's girlfriend, but I'm not anymore."
Taylor leaned in a little closer, "I can't say I'm sorry to hear it. Anyone else in your life currently?"
"No," Hermione said matter-of-factly but couldn't stop the sharp pain in her chest as her mind instantly wandered to Ginny. "Why are you so interested?"
The girl across from her leaned back in her chair and rested her hands behind her head, "Because everything I learn about you is interesting. It makes me want to learn everything I can," she returned to her previous position leaning over the table. "Can I ask you a personal question?"
"You can ask. . ." Hermione replied, indicating she reserved the right not to answer.
Taylor stared at Hermione intently, "From what I've heard, the two of you had been circling around dating for years. Why did it end?"
Hermione let her eyes drop to the table. So far, she'd only come out to her family and closest friends unless you counted her experience in Australia. Taylor was practically a stranger. However, the vibes the other girl was giving off were indicating that she wouldn't at all mind Hermione's sexuality, so she decided to go for it, "It's really hard to maintain a relationship with a bloke when you realize you're gay."
It looked like Taylor was hiding a satisfied smile, "See? Everything new I learn is just so very interesting."
"Tell me about you," Hermione was eager to get the spotlight off of her. "Ginny told me that you made the Hufflepuff Quidditch team in quite an impressive manner. That's pretty high praise coming from her."
"Who's Ginny?" Taylor asked, cocking her head to the side.
Damn, the blush had returned, "She's Ron's younger sister, and Harry's girlfriend. We came back for our 7th year together. Ginny's the captain of the Gryffindor team."
Taylor simply nodded in acknowledgement, "Well as I said, I love sports. This will be my first official Quidditch team, but I've played a lot of pickup games. I love flying."
"Another sentiment we don't share," Hermione teased.
The corner of Taylor's mouth twitched, "I've heard you have a thing for Quidditch players, though."
"I like really good Quidditch players," Hermione replied, echoing a conversation she'd had in her 6th year. Her mind once again wandered back to Ginny, whose Quidditch prowess rivaled that of even her boyfriend. She shook the thoughts away and focused on the girl in front of her. They were flirting, right? Hermione knew this was uncharted territory for her, but she was pretty sure this was flirting. She should lean into it. Distract herself with a pretty girl like Ron said. Wait, was she taking advice from Ron, now?
"Come to my first game, and I will confirm that I am, in fact, a really good Quidditch player," Taylor said with a low growl. Yup, definitely flirting.
Hermione tried not to melt under the other girl's stare, "Seeing as you'll be playing Gryffindor, I don't have much choice but to be there. However, I'll make sure to look out for these amazing Quidditch skills you've been boasting about. I'll reserve judgement until then."
Taylor simply smiled and responded with, "Trust me, I'm not worried," before she opened a book and started taking notes.