Where Our Paths May Lead (Chapters 4-6)
part 1
Here is part 2. I do hope those that take the time read this are enjoying it as much as I am enjoying writing it.
--------------------------Chapter 4
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The room of requirement had become a warm, welcoming place. The walls a warm beige, the floor a thick carpet. A bed, a crib, a changing table fully stocked, a small bathtub made for an infant, a change of feety pajamas (infant size) and probably thanks to Hogwart’s house elves four bottles filled with milk in a small refrigerator. The bed had a thick, plush bedspread, the pillows pristinely fluffed and in the corner a warm crackle from a fireplace was the only thing to bring light to the room. Both witches upon entering pretty much had the same thought. A warm bed, a crib for Teddy, something for him to eat, something to clean to change him into, and basically a sanctuary for the two, where no one could find them. The room of requirements gave them just that.
“Hermione” Ginny softly spoke “let me take Teddy”. As she said this she reached up to wipe the tears from Hermione’s cheeks with her thumbs, then softly traced down the other witch’s cheek. “I got him, I promise. Let me help you Hermione”
Hermione looked at Ginny at her touch, her caress on her cheeks. She handed Teddy over to Ginny and watched her take Tonk’s and Lupin’s son away. She watched as Ginny started to take off Teddy’s diaper and then laughed a bit as Ginny gagged at the sight and smell. Getting up Hermione walked over and softly nudged Ginny out of the way. “The trick is to do it fast and think about something else.”
Ginny watched with a mixed look of gratitude and disgust as Hermione made quick work of Teddy’s dirty diaper and bum.
“Get me that washcloth over there” Hermione spoke softly as she lowered the now not crying Teddy into the warm waters of the bath. She didn’t care that her arms got soaked from the waters as she held him securely in the bath. Then with her other hand she took the washcloth Ginny brought over.
Ginny stood watching the scene for a few seconds before her brain registered ‘Hermione needs washcloth. Get washcloth’. Then she went behind Hermione to pull up the witch’s already soaked sleeves. But still better late than never. Ginny didn’t stop to think about the tingling she felt when touched Hermione’s skin. She just did what felt natural for her. Then after fixing Hermione’s sleeves she moved to kneel beside the tub beside her.
Hermione stiffened just for a few seconds when she felt Ginny slide behind her. She stopped breathing when she felt the breath of her best friend on the back of her neck. She didn’t want to think about the feelings that her best friend’s actions stirred in her. Hermione was not stupid, nor was she blind. She knew exactly what her reactions were. She just chose to force them down. This was her best friend and even worst her best friend’s girl friend and maybe more, the way the rumors were going, plus the way Harry talked about he and Ginny. She tried to get her voice to say anything to try to cover up for her reactions but her brain was not functioning. Ginny was the first to say something, but it wasn’t to her.
“Oh, I see! You just wanted to get your Aunty Hermione wet.” Ginny spoke to Teddy in a playful voice and then went to make tickly fingers on Teddy’s tummy. Teddy giggled as Ginny’s fingers reached his tummy. The two played like that for a few minutes.
The few minutes might have been hours, because Hermione could only just watch, laugh with them enjoying that side of Ginny, and loving Teddy’s laughter. It wasn’t till Hermione saw both she and Teddy were getting pruney that it was time to get him out of the tub. “I am sorry you two but” she spoke this to Teddy avoiding Ginny’s eyes all together. “it is time to get out or poor Teddy will become as wrinkled as a raison.” She then zerberted Teddy’s tummy who giggled.
Ginny had a warm, soft fluffy towel at the ready. She was slow on the washcloth but a Weasley learns from their mistakes. She took Teddy from Hermione and started drying him off. “I thought I saw some pajamas”
Her words were halted as Hermione approached the two waving a blue feety pajamas for Teddy with a great big frog on the chest. The two got a new diaper on him and after a few miscalculations managed to get the pajamas on him with all the buttons snapped on in the correct order.
Hermione drew her wand after taking a bottle from the frig and heated it up quickly to the perfect temperature. She watched Ginny yawn and took Teddy from her. “Ginny, why don’t you go to sleep. I can feed him and tuck him in.”
Ginny must have had one of her stubborn looks on her face because Hermione quickly shut her up. “Ginerva Weasley, if I have to force you down on that bed, tie you down to it in order for you to sleep, I will. Don’t mess with me.” As soon as her threat left her lips, Hermione silently wished for a hole to open up underneath her and swallow her whole and then much to her dismay the room of requirements provided a pair of softly padded handcuffs which made a slight clink noise as it hit the ground. Hermione did the only thing she could do. She played like she didn’t notice and focused her attention on Teddy who was happily drinking away from the bottle “I swear I don’t think Harry fed him at all today with the way he is eating.” She knew he had. She had seen Harry feeding Teddy in the common room earlier, but it was something to say to distract from what she said earlier.
Ginny tried hard to bite back the laughter that was bubbling inside her. She enjoyed the way her friend was turning three different shades of red. It wasn’t often she was given such a gift such as this. To be able to tease the Hermione Granger, smartest witch of her age probably smartest witch to come out of Hogwarts. Ginny stopped that thinking. Nothing was going to distract her from her gift. With a smile she walked over to the bed and picked up the pair of handcuffs and dangled them on her finger as she looked at Hermione. “I think I will call you on your bluff.” with that she stood at the edge of the bed smiling at her best friend giving her most innocent smile.
Hermione nearly choked and if she was standing, her legs might have given out on her. She recognized Ginny’s playful expression. She knew she was being toyed with but the images that popped in her head, she knew she shouldn’t have. “Ginny” she softly growled mimicking her tone that she reserved only for Malfoy “Do not test me. You are lucky I am feeding Teddy and have my arms full”
Hermione didn’t notice that Teddy had fallen asleep. Ginny did and she walked over to Hermione, her eyes never leaving her friend’s as she bent down to carefully take him from her. “Well, we will have to fix that.” She carried him to the crib, her back to Hermione totally missing the emotions that flashed through the other witch’s eyes. By the time Ginny turned back to Hermione, she had managed to get them masked. “Now, Hermione” walking over to the edge of the bed “I am testing you.” Ginny knew she should let it pass. She had a slight bit of warning bells going off in her head but she chose to ignore it. This was the first time she was able to play, laugh, relax in a really long time and she wanted this.
Hermione rose and walked toward Ginny. She knew she shouldn’t but she was a Gryffindor and Gryffindors do not back down from a challenge. “Last chance to climb into bed” She warned removing her shirt refusing to go to bed with a wet shirt on because really that just feels nasty.
Ginny’s eyes roamed over Hermione’s skin and it occurred to Ginny for the first time just why the warning bells were going off in her head. She looked at Hermione the way she should only be looking at Harry. Her eyes widened in realization. Quickly she dove under the covers while at the same time dropping the cuffs on the floor. She would have thrown them but that might have woken Teddy.
Hermione silently thanked and at the same time cursed whatever god answered her prayer to have Ginny back down from their game. She slid under the covers on the other side.
Both lied there with their eyes closed but neither asleep. They just lied there thinking, listening to the other’s breathing, praying that the other is asleep while the wood in the fireplace crackled and sizzled, creating an atmosphere that definitely was not for sleeping. When one opened their eyes to take a peek the shadows played and danced along the walls almost sensually which caused one witch to look at the other but never at the same time. It was going to be a long, long night.
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Chapter 5
Molly Weasley had lived with her family in peril for so long that when she got word that Ginny hadn’t reported to the Gryffindor dorm room, and hadn’t shown up for breakfast. The first thought was something happened. She kicked herself for letting her daughter stay and help with repairs. She had lost her son Fred, and now..well now something happened to her baby girl.
She floo powdered directly into McGonagall’s office. “Molly!” the older witch rose from behind her desk looking clearly surprised. “I wasn’t expecting you to visit. Is everything okay?” McGonagall took one look at Molly and knew something was definitely not okay. “What is wrong?” She was starting to get worried. Had the ministry missed some death eaters and was another Weasley hurt? She had not gotten over Fred’s death. Sure he was a pain in her backside but he brought light into her house and she would miss him dearly.
Molly spoke shaking “We need to find her. I was told that Ginny didn’t sleep in her dorm room and she wasn’t there for breakfast.” She looked at the Headmistress who had become her friend and one of the Weasley’s closest ally. “Minerva, I can’t lose another child. I cant see another one in my family get hurt because I was not there to protect them”
Minerva walked over to an item on the desk. “The only ones that left the castle grounds were Potter, Ronald…seems like they would be leaving together.” She checked and went through the list of those leaving and entering the grounds.
McGonagall and Molly both jumped as Mrs. Tonks burst into her office through the door followed by a very nervous Professor Flitwick. “See here!” he shouted to her. “you need the password! You can’t just…”
Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by McGonagall. “It’s okay. Dromeda, “ she spoke looking at the other worried witch “What do I owe this visit? Is everything alright?”
Mrs. Tonks was beside herself “First Ted, then Nymphadora, then my son-in-law…and now my grandson! I can’t find him anywhere!” She was sobbing now. Molly and Minerva both tried to comfort her. “We will go find them. Peeves!” McGonagall called, there was a bit of laughter and a sound of someone getting a raspberry. Then a flash and Peeves was before them.
“Headmistress calls and I am here, so now it is time to cheer!” He singsonged and when he got a look from the headmistress he stopped only to bend over and study the group of crying witches from between his legs.
“Peeves! Enough, I need you to fetch me Potter. I saw him enter the grounds late last night. Do it now” She ordered and then watched Peeves give her a salute though it wasn’t the respectful kind but she knew he would do as he was ordered to do.
After a few minutes Harry showed up at Dumbledore’s old office, well McGonagall’s new office. He showed up, with Ron in tow munching on a sausage. Ron dropped the sausage when he saw his mother crying and ran to her “What’s wrong? Is it dad?” Ron pulled out his DA coin, he had given one to his father after the battle so that way they would make sure no other Weasley would get hurt. They would be there to protect each other. Ron got his father but his father heard Molly’s cry over the coin, the next thing they new Arthur was there, stepping out of the floo with five aurors all had their wands drawn.
Minerva first tried to quiet the roar of conversations as the growing number was getting ready to take arms. The first attempt failed. But the second attempt “EVERYONE QUIET!” That worked. Everyone quieted and looked at Minerva who continued in a softer, calmer voice. “We know that Ginny hasn’t left Hogwart’s grounds. There would have been a record and no Ronald, there is no way to get around it.” She silenced the youngest Weasley’s son just as he opened his mouth. She knew what he was going to ask. “Dromeda, I am sure your grandson is okay. Potter told me he left Teddy in the care of Ginny and Hermione. Both I might add are very capable of taking care of themselves. We will look for them here…” then added quickly “CALMLY. We will not scare anyone else. The last thing I need is for others to have a full blown panic attack.”
In the room of requirements the three slumbered on. Teddy had woken up before the sun even started to rise. Hermione had rose from bed to feed him and sing him back to sleep. Ginny had woken up immediately feeling the shift in bed and the loss of warmth. She had listened to Hermione sing a bit off key but it was a sweet song. It made Ginny smile. The only response she got to her smile was when Hermione slid back into bed and told her “Not a word or you might find your bat bogie hex being done on you” The two drifted into sleep but it was not a peaceful sleep.
Hermione’s dream had been that Bellatrix was back and trying to torture not her but Ginny like she had done to her at the Malfoy Manor. In her sleep she had drifted and turned covering Ginny with her body, holding her protectively.
Ginny’s dream was no dream at all but memories twisted. Hermione was fighting to hold her close, to keep her from running to her death. She felt the pain and anguish of losing Harry all over in the dream but then it twisted and Hermione was fighting to hold her close to prevent her from running to Harry. The pain and anguish turned and shifted into anger, confusion. She tackled Hermione and punched her viciously, laughing darkly at her best friend’s screams of pain. Ginny did not hold Hermione back as they slept, instead her hands clenched the blankets covering them.
Through the halls the group spread out and checked every dorm room, every classroom, every washroom, every corner of the grounds. The more they searched, and didn’t find them the more the frantic Molly, Mrs. Tonks, Ron, Harry Arthur, now joined by a very panicked George, Bill and Fluer. Minerva and the aurors were the only ones that seemed to be keeping a cool mind. They knew the protections placed around Hogwarts. They knew they were okay, they just needed to find them.
It was Harry that remembered the room of requirements. “Wait! Professor!” he said as he looked to McGonagall. “We haven’t checked the room of requirements. Neville and the others were able to hide out there and escape detection from the Carrows.”
Minerva pointed a finger at Harry “Potter, that is a very good idea. I will go check that out right now.” with that she turned only to be followed by the group that seemed to be wanting to push or carry her to the room.
Harry spoke up again clearly puzzled “But Professor. How will you find it?”
Minerva smiled “Potter, don’t forget us teachers, we know this school better than you. The room of requirements will always show itself to the headmistress or headmaster. We just simply have to order it to” The group moved like a noisy herd of elephants, plus one singer. Jeeves had seen the group, watched them and thought it would be great fun to give them music to go along with their marching.
As they approached where the door would be McGonagall cleared her throat “Okay, play time is over, show yourself” She spoke seriously to the wall and then to the group’s surprise a door appeared. The panicked group burst through the door. They saw the room warm, their eyes traveled to all that was in that room. Mrs. Tonk’s eyes settled on the crib and to her relief, her sleeping grandson. The other’s shifted their gaze to the bed. Molly was upset at Ginny for scaring her so. “GINERVA!” She shouted waking Teddy who was immediately picked up by Mrs. Tonks. The others stood staring, gaping except for Molly and it was as if in slow motion, as soon as Molly shouted Ginny’s name she sat up in a panic pulling a half naked Hermione up with her who for her part was still half asleep but waking quickly.
Ginny hadn’t even remembered Hermione’s attire or lack there of, or how she got that way, at least for a minute. Hermione looked at all of the panicked faces and rose from the bed not remembering her state of dress or lack there of or how she got that way, reaching for her wand. “What happened!?” Concern clearly etched across Hermione’s features as she cleared the hair from her face.
Ginny rose from the bed much to the other’s relief kind of, fully dressed. Ron and Harry were still wondering why Hermione was half naked in bed with Ginny and sleeping on top of her. Her cheeks were slightly red as she tried desperately not to take in Hermione in just her jeans and a black bra. She bent down and picked up Hermione’s shirt from the floor and handed it to her.
Hermione took the shirt and it was then she just realized she was standing in front of Ginny’s parents, the headmistress, Harry, Ron, George, Fleur, Bill, Mrs. Tonks and some other men she had never seen before, not to mention Peeves who much to Hermione’s regret had started singing a totally different song about her and Ginny sharing a bed. It was not for innocent ears that is for sure. Just as she put on her shirt trying to act like it was the most perfectly natural thing to do she heard Ron not even noticing he had gone over to the bed.
Ron had seen something glimmer in the light. He walked over and picked up the padded cuff. “Mom? What are these?” he asked turning to look at Molly.
“Those err uh…” she looked over at Ginny and Hermione. George for the first time since Fred’s death actually started laughing followed by Bill, and Fleur. Arthur for his part was torn between laughing, blushing, giving a good talk to Ginny, then Hermione, then also feeling sorry for Harry and his son. Molly was still trying to process all that she had seen and was preparing to blow a fuse but was momentarily thrown by her son’s question and how to explain it to him.
Minerva guided the aurors, Mrs. Tonks, Teddy and Peeves (who was now singing louder and more raunchier adding a few lewd noises into the song), out of the room shutting the door behind her. Truth be told Minerva saw the cuffs and Hermione’s appearance, well there were few things that wanted to make the mighty McGonagall flee. This was one of them.
Ron listened to Peeve’s song and then slowly got the picture. Harry hadn’t said anything. He just stood there looking from Hermione and Ginny. Ron’s face turned red and he launched himself at Ginny “You stupid bit” he didn’t get to finish that comment, one he was caught quickly by his father but the other part Hermione cast a silencing spell on him.
Her eyes flashed angrily. “Ronald Weasley before you go off half cocked and say something you will regret I suggest you listen. I know how this looks but nothing happened. We needed a place to change, bathe and take care of Teddy…and well honestly both Ginny and I were tired.”
Molly looked to her daughter and saw something flash in her daughter’s eyes that did not go with Hermione’s statement. For the first time since Molly met Hermione, she wondered if she was lying to her. She would talk to the girls but without the others. “Ron, you heard her. Now you need to calm down. Hermione although I appreciate you protecting my daughter’s feelings, might I suggest you do it without magic next time.”
Hermione took that as a warning, she had crossed a line and felt like going near tears. She felt anger at anyone calling Ginny that. But she did not think and because of it she now was worried she hurt her second family even more. She quickly released Ron from her spell, even though it was harmless, she knew she had done wrong. “I am sorry Ronald. I just did not want you to say something you would regret.”
Ronald narrowed his eyes at Hermione. He was tired of being bested by a girl. He could have any woman he wanted, and seeing the way Hermione was looking at Ginny, it was clear to him she did not want him. “Well, to bad you didn’t think the samething. Don’t ever talk to me again Hermione. We are through as friends or anything else.” With that he left the room slamming it hard in it’s wake.
Harry watched the whole exchange. He knew Hermione more than anyone. They both knew each other so well that it was impossible for the other to pull the wool over the other’s eyes. He saw the flicker of emotions in Hermione’s eyes, but he also saw that she was being honest, nothing happened. The earlier flicker showed that something very could have easily happened and Hermione wanted it to. That was one glimpse. The other was the immediate guilt for having those thoughts. She was fighting her feelings. He knew she would not hurt him or do anything disrespectful as that. After Ron left he saw the devastation that crossed her eyes. It wasn’t the loss of a boyfriend he realized but the loss of a friend a door closing that she never wanted closed. Harry looked to Hermione “I will talk to him.” then he walked over to Ginny and placed a kiss on her cheek. With that he left.
“Good bloke he is” George jumped in after watching him go. “I don’t think I would have been so nice seeing my girlfriend rumored soon to be wife in bed with my best friend.” He couldn’t help but poke. “And Ginny? My little sister using cuffs….I think Fred and I were a bad influence.” Ginny was about to hit him when Molly stopped her and him. “George I am happy that you find this so amusing, why don’t you go find something to do with your father, Bill and Fluer.”Arthur took that as his cue and started to usher everyone but Molly, Hermione and Ginny out quietly closing the door behind them.
Molly walked to the bed and set down on the corner. She tried not to let her eyes drift to the tangled sheets. “Hermione dear..your shirt is inside out and backwards.” Her voice was soft. Yelling would come later. Right now she needed to be calm so the girls would talk to her. “Sit down, so we can talk”
Hermione blushed and fixed her shirt, much to her dismay Ginny tried to help. Quickly she slapped Ginny’s hands away earning a look from Molly. “Mrs. Weasley, I promise on everything dear to me nothing happened.”
Ginny sat down where the pillow she slept on was. She tried to not remember waking up to Hermione on top of her. She tried to not remember how Hermione looked when she first woke up, that even still waking up was ready to fight if needs be. Fight half naked and half asleep. Ginny almost chuckled but earned another look from her mother that clearly stated that would not be a good idea.
Hermione sat down first beside Ginny but then when Molly looked at her she quickly rose and moved to another part of the bed. But there she could see the cuffs and that brought back thoughts of what could have happened last night. So she rose and moved to sit near Molly but then thinking being in arms reach of the mother who just found you in bed with her daughter, that wasn’t a good idea. Eventually Hermione pulled up a chair and sat clear out of the way of Molly’s reach and far enough away that maybe her body would stop responding to Ginny’s presence.
Ginny’s eyes at that moment as if reading Hermione’s thoughts traveled down the other witch’s body and to her nipples which were becoming a bit noticeable. Ginny tried so hard to pull her eyes away but it was like fighting against gravity. It wasn’t till she heard her mother clear her throat and Hermione cross her arms over her chest that she realized her staring had been noticed. She looked downward quickly.
Molly at first watched Hermione play musical seats affectionately. She had grown to care deeply about Hermione very much like she would a daughter. She had just assumed that Hermione and Ron, but looking at the interaction between Hermione and her daughter, she had gotten that completely wrong. “I am going to offer this advice. Girls, I am going to be blunt about this. You need to listen to me. If there is something going on between you two, you need to figure it out. If there isn’t and all of this was purely innocent, then do not worry. But if there is more, there is nothing wrong with that. I need to stress though that you need to be upfront and honest with Harry, and Ron if there is. I will stand by you two and support you both, but be honest.” She watched the girls nod “And for scaring me Ginerva, consider yourself grounded for a whole month. You are coming home with me and you will stay at home, no company” she added that last part to Hermione. “So if you two need to talk, you should do it now.” She remained sitting.
Hermione and Ginny both were processing their emotions and thoughts until the words grounded came up. Ginny’s face reddened very much like Ron’s when he was about to fight for something “Mom! I didn’t do anything wrong! It wasn’t my fault you chose to get all worried and fly off the handle” Then her eyes widened a bit as she thought about having the other conversation she knew had to come in front of her mom.
But before Molly could say anything Hermione interrupted Ginny. “Ginny, she had every right. I am sorry Mrs. Weasley for adding to your worry and pain. “ Hermione kept her eyes on Mrs. Weasley as she spoke “I will never be able to express how very sorry I am for all of your pain and I am grateful for your love and protection. “
Ginny was about to interrupt but she saw tears beginning to threaten to escape Hermione’s eyes. She started to walk to Hermione but the other witch rose quickly and stepped behind the chair keeping space between them, needing the space to be able to say what she as going to say. “Hermione” Ginny’s voice was soft like a touch and it caused the other witch to close her eyes briefly.
It was then at that moment that Molly was becoming just fully aware of how deep those budding feelings went between Hermione and her daughter. She remained quiet, patient, letting Hermione finish what she had to say, judging by how hard Hermione was breathing, it was something hard and big.
Ginny must have sensed it to because she too stopped talking. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, slightly tightening her eyes stayed riveted on Hermione wanting desperately to hold her, to soothe the pain in the other witch’s eyes.
Hermione continued after much effort. “I think it would be best if, I left. I had been offered a job in another part of England. I was planning on turning them down because I didn’t want to leave you all. I wanted to be close. But I was being selfish. Ron, well he deserves someone that can love him like he wants, and Harry, well he has been through so much. Then you Ginny…I…we…You deserve an easy life, a good one. No more trauma.” Hermione debated about stopping there but she had always been upfront and held nothing back. She wouldn’t start now. She really didn’t want to do this in front of Molly but if this was her only chance she would take it. “Ginny, I know you felt what I felt last night and what could have happened. I saw it in your eyes. I am sorry, it should have never happened. I can’t believe I almost betrayed my best friend and made my other dearest best friend betray her love. I am sorry, both of you” Hermione didn’t want to see or hear Ginny’s reaction. If Ginny had fought for her, or even just simply said stop, she would have. But she was doing what was best for Ginny, best for the Weasleys, best for Harry, best for Teddy and best for Ron. So for the first time ever in her whole life. She did something that was very ungryffindor. She ran.
Ginny stood motionless for a few seconds. It happened again. Someone else made a decision for her and took the choice away from her, what she could handle or couldn’t handle. First she was shocked, then she was angry. Hurt would come later, but right now she decided she would embrace anger “Mom, I never asked for anything. I need to go after her. Please let me. I promise you can ground me twice as long and I will take it happily, just please let me go after her.” To ask that of her mom though she tempered her anger, clamped down or tried desperately to. She failed at that because Molly could read her daughter like a book with large writing with big colorful pictures.
Molly had absorbed everything said and looked to her daughter. Her heart broke with the thought of Hermione leaving them. Hermione belonged in their family. She was a Weasley and the thought her not being there, no longer being a part of their family, it was like losing another daughter. She blinked back the tears. “your father can help you with that. But I need to ask honey, do you know what you are going to say? Do you know what you want?” She didn’t know of any other way to tactfully ask that. “you are so young. You have one more year in Hogwarts, you don’t even know what you want to do or be. If you go after her, what are you going to say. Hermione don’t go because?”
Ginny ran her hand through her hair. She was wasting time. The longer she stayed the more distance Hermione put between them. She knew though her mother would not let her go unless he was honest. “I don’t know mom. I just know when she cries it rips me up. In the battle she was ready to die for me and killed to protect me. She took one spell that was meant for me. She saved me from running to my death and I hit her. She still held. I know that if I am without her it sits wrong with me. I want her in my life as a friend and I don’t know if I want…I know I reacted. We both know that..I mean you caught me, I can’t believe you caught me” The last said a little bit softer, her embarrassment shining through.
Molly finished for her daughter “Staring? Yes, dear you were staring.” she finished a bit amused but also worried for her daughter. So much had been on her daughter’s plate and to be facing a hard future. She loved Hermione but she was still worried for her daughter and worried that maybe she would be confusing lust for something else so she said it. “Ginny, you need to be sure you aren’t confusing lust for something else. You may not know this about me but when I was your age I had this friend and she and”
Ginny stopped her mom rather quickly from finishing that sentence feeling a bit queasy from the thought “mom, I get what you are saying. I honestly don’t know. I don’t have answers I just know I can’t let her go. Can’t we figure out the rest later? Isn’t life long enough to do that?”
Her mother interrupted “Ginny but what about Harry? What about Teddy? Are you sure you want to risk that?” She would stand by her daughter no matter what, but she had to present all the angles to Ginny.
Ginny shook her head “Harry he is sweet, and I love him, I do but he wants what I don’t. He wants to take care of me mum! Me!” Seeing how Molly scrunched her nose, Ginny knew she understood. “He didn’t care about what I want, where I see myself. He wants me to finish my year at Hogwarts and then stay home and be pregnant. That is fine for others but it’s not for me. How can I love someone that loves an idea more than he loves me? I got to find me before I can love someone like that back. Wouldn’t I be living a lie if I did that?”
Molly smiled at that a bit, feeling relieved. “Your father had the ministry put a trace on you all after the battle. We didn’t want you all going off again into danger without us knowing and stepping in to do our job and protect you. This includes Harry and Hermione. If you ask him, he will let you know where she is. Now best go and don’t you forget you owe me two months and I expect you to home with her before midnight or I am coming to get both of you”
Ginny nodded and gave her mother a bone crushing hug “Thank you” she shouted as she raced out the door to find her father.
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Chapter 6
Hermione apparated with her small well used bag in the forest she, Ron and Harry had camped out earlier when they had inadvertently crossed paths with Ted Tonks, on the run and the last time they saw him alive. She pulled out a tent and started setting up the normal charms out of habit. It was during the fifth charm she stopped mid spell and sank to the ground. It was then she allowed herself to cry. Everything felt so wrong, leaving but her staying would cause so much pain for everyone she cared about. She felt like her whole soul was being ripped out. She disliked herself for her feelings, her reactions to Ginny. She disliked herself that she didn’t stay and fight. But who would she be fighting against. Her brother, her best friend. He had no family but the Weasleys, her and she hated herself that every fiber in her being wanted to stay and find out just what this was with Ginny she was feeling. She was in a lose lose situation, so to save those she cared about from any pain and grief she would stay away. She hated herself most for that.
Ginny apparated in a forest but didn’t see anything. Just the forest. She walked around and then she heard it. A quiet muffled scream of anguish. She walked around where she heard that brief cry. She felt Hermione near. She didn’t know how she felt this but she felt it. Why couldn’t she see her. The more she walked the angrier she got as she thought about all the decisions made for her supposed well being. The anger started to mix with frustration, and pain of Hermione running, then she saw it. A slight shift in the air. “Smartest witch of her time, maybe but I am not slouch.” Pulling her wand she started casting some counter spells taught to her by her uncle who was a charm breaker. Little by little Ginny was able to lift the charms revealing the tent they had bought for Bill as a wedding present. Then her eyes rested on Hermione who was leaning against a tree, looking out over the water. She looked weak. Hermione was never weak. This further upset Ginny and before she noticed she was racing up on the other witch.
Hermione first heard then felt someone running to her, turning her forcefully and pinning her back to the tree she was leaning on for support. She reached for her wand not yet noticing who it was only to have it quickly disarmed. She stomped hard on her assailant’s foot and heard the grunt of pain, her eyes widening as she recognized that grunt and then looked directly into Ginny’s fiery gaze. “Ginny” was all she got out.
To say Ginny had worked herself up into a bit of a tiff was the understatement of the century. Ginny silenced Hermione with one look that dared the witch to say anything else. Hermione stopped talking after that. “You lay all of that on the line and you leave. YOU LEAVE and make a decision as to what I want. Did you bother to ask what I wanted? NO! I am sick and tired of everyone thinking I am weak and fragile. It was Neville, Luna and I taking on the death eaters, Snape, the Carrows, the ministry. We took their punishments even for other students. I survived and kept fighting! I never stopped! You want to know why? Because it was the right thing to do! Because I was strong enough to keep fighting. Before that Harry made the decision for me that I couldn’t handle his future. I knew full well! I am not some dimwit twit with her head up her ass! I was a big part of the fight against the Death Eaters and Snape yet when it came to fighting along side more skilled duelers I get told that I am to young, to fragile to fight when I had been doing it all year without them! Then after the battle Harry was once again making decisions for my future, being a parent with him with Teddy, marrying him, letting him take care of fragile ole me. Did he ask me once if I wanted that? Did has ask me once of my wants and plans? Did he even ask me if I wanted to marry him!? NO!”
Hermione stopped fighting against Ginny’s strong grip. She listened letting Ginny pour out all that she wanted to say. She got swept up with Ginny’s emotions lost a bit in her fiery gaze, she even found herself outraged along with Ginny. Ginny kept going.
“Then you. The ALL MIGHTY ALL KNOWING HERMIONE GRANGER DECIDES THAT SHE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR ME! NO! You left! You are not allowed to leave Hermione. I watched you once leave!” she continued no longer yelling but still just as firm after noticing Hermione flinch. “but I knew, I knew you were coming back, I understood why you left, I understood the need to go. I don’t understand this Hermione and I am not letting you leave us..me again. Hermione I fight for what I want and I want you to hear me when I say I am NOT letting that happen.”
Hermione was trying to find her voice. Her body reacted to the power and conviction behind Ginny’s words and the fact that during the whole exchange Ginny used her body to pin her against the tree, not just her hands. She wasn’t the only that started noticing this.
Ginny’s eyes darkened, her breathing increased but she didn’t move away. She was not letting Hermione budge and if Hermione was going to apparate, Hermione was going to take her with her. It didn’t matter that she was pressing all of her body against Hermione’s and it didn’t matter that her body noticed her body pressing against Hermione. All that mattered that Hermione gets her point. But the close proximity momentarily robbed her of any speaking abilities.
“Ginny” Hermione stopped noticing how much desire was laced around that name. She stopped and tried again praying to whatever higher being to give her strength to will herself to control her growing hunger. “Ginny, you an…” she stops again realizing she was about to do it again. Tell Ginny what is best for her, and what the other wizard is feeling. “What do you want Ginny?” She really had not meant that to come out how it did but her growing desire was getting harder to control.
Ginny’s breath caught at the question and her eyes traveled to Hermione’s lips. “What I want” she licked her own lips which had become a bit dry. When did the temperature start to rise. “what I want” she tried again. “What I want Hermione is for you to come home with me now. Stay with me and I want to figure this out. Then once we have it figured out, then I want to make a decision.”
Hermione was about to argue she saw so many bad ideas with this. So she started to voice it. “Ginny, I don’t think that is the best idea. Don’t you feel..it can’t be just me, it’s not just me” she asked, then told. Then when Ginny just arched a brow she corrected herself “Are you feeling this?” Dear gods her body felt like it was on fire where Ginny was pressed against her, which was pretty close to everywhere. She didn’t think there was even space for air between their bodies. It was turning her body into one great big nerve ending.
Ginny chuckled softly and whispered “I am not dead Hermione and even if I was I think I would still be able to feel this. Like I if I move this way” Ginny shifted some and Hermione’s breath caught as she bit back a moan. “I feel your breasts rub with mine, and when I shift like this”
Again Ginny shifted and it caused Hermione to tuck her hands behind her own back as she felt she was fighting a losing battle with her self control. She tried so many images in her head, Snape running around naked, some charm spells that she never seemed to get right. Nothing was working “Ginny, I need you to give me space…. now” It came out a whisper, a shaky one at that.
Ginny pressed closer sliding a leg between Hermione’s. “If you apparate again Hermione, I will find you and you will regret it” She didn’t want to move, part of it being she was enjoying Hermione’s reactions. The other being she was terrified the other witch would run. “your word, Hermione”
Hermione’s legs nearly buckled as she felt part of Ginny press against the more intimate part of her. She didn’t even realize Ginny was speaking so when she got her eyes to focus and noticed the way Ginny was looking at her it was then she realized she missed something “what?”
Ginny’s body was screaming at her to take Hermione, but she fought it. Her first time would be only with love no matter how bad she wanted it and she never wanted anything as bad as she wanted Hermione. “No apparating” Seeing Hermione nod she stepped back and immediately regretted it. The cold that touched her body had nothing to do with the environment’s temperature. The loss was actual physical pain.
Hermione crossed her arms hugging herself, still leaning heavily against the tree, her eyes shut as she tried to cool her body. It took a bit for both of them to recover. Hermione was the first to speak “Ginny, I cant be close to you. I am being honest here. I don’t know if I can control myself. Maybe I should stay away for a few months, just to get things back to the way they were.”
Ginny was back against her pinning her against the tree before she even had a chance to exhale. But she didn’t speak instead she claimed Hermione’s lips with her own. Hungry would be the best way to describe her kiss. She devoured, licked, nipped, pulled, and ravaged Hermione’s lips. For the first half second of the kiss Hermione didn’t respond but dear god she couldn’t help herself. God forgive her, Harry forgive her. She returned the kiss Ginny gave her with just as much hunger and need. She was tired of fighting, she was tired of the struggle and for just a few minutes she would allow herself to take something just for her. Take what Ginny was giving her and give back in everyway she could.
Hermione melted feeling Ginny’s hands move up into her hair, then down the back of her neck as her lips felt like it was being tasted, savored committed to memory and she was sure she would never allow another’s lips to touch hers because no one could kiss her like Ginny was she would stake her life on it. Her hands moved down Ginny’s back to her ass, pulling her closer. Both started moving against each other moaning into each other’s mouths, each devouring the sounds of pleasure, it wasn’t until they heard the loud clearing of a throat that they realized they were not alone.
Ginny sprang back from Hermione and Hermione willed her eyes to focus, though when she did see what she saw she closed her eyes. Twice in one day, only this time things weren’t innocent. “Mrs. Weasley…I a” Hermione stopped herself. She didn’t feel sorry and she felt Ginny’s eyes on her. She wouldn’t do that. She cleared her throat “Mrs. Weasley, I am sorry for you catc” How the hell do you apologize to the mom for feeling up her daughter and damn well getting to the point to throw her on the ground and take her until she passed out. “Mrs. Weasley I..”
Molly had recovered from what she had walked in on, but rules needed to be set. “Dear, best to stop right there. You are going to dig a hole for yourself. Pack up your things. You are coming home. Both of you”
Hermione and Ginny went about packing up the tent and putting it back into the mini handbag avoiding eye contact not ready to see all the emotions and desire that both knew filled them. Once they were done Molly walked up to the two and took their hands apparating with them back to the Burrow. Once inside she spoke quickly and quietly to the girls. “It is late. Ginny, go wash up and get to bed. Hermione you can stay in Bill’s old room.” She saw Ginny about to argue and gave her a you really should know better look which silenced her daughter.
Ginny wanted to kiss Hermione again and the way Hermione was looking at her, the feeling was mutual. “Mom, can I have a quick word with Hermione?”
Molly snorted “You’ve had enough words for tonight. Upstairs! March.” Once she saw her daughter slowly but obediently go up the stairs she turned to a very nervous Hermione who looked like she was trying not to fidget. “ Hermione? You and I need to sit and talk.”
TBC
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Here is part 2. I do hope those that take the time read this are enjoying it as much as I am enjoying writing it.
--------------------------Chapter 4
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The room of requirement had become a warm, welcoming place. The walls a warm beige, the floor a thick carpet. A bed, a crib, a changing table fully stocked, a small bathtub made for an infant, a change of feety pajamas (infant size) and probably thanks to Hogwart’s house elves four bottles filled with milk in a small refrigerator. The bed had a thick, plush bedspread, the pillows pristinely fluffed and in the corner a warm crackle from a fireplace was the only thing to bring light to the room. Both witches upon entering pretty much had the same thought. A warm bed, a crib for Teddy, something for him to eat, something to clean to change him into, and basically a sanctuary for the two, where no one could find them. The room of requirements gave them just that.
“Hermione” Ginny softly spoke “let me take Teddy”. As she said this she reached up to wipe the tears from Hermione’s cheeks with her thumbs, then softly traced down the other witch’s cheek. “I got him, I promise. Let me help you Hermione”
Hermione looked at Ginny at her touch, her caress on her cheeks. She handed Teddy over to Ginny and watched her take Tonk’s and Lupin’s son away. She watched as Ginny started to take off Teddy’s diaper and then laughed a bit as Ginny gagged at the sight and smell. Getting up Hermione walked over and softly nudged Ginny out of the way. “The trick is to do it fast and think about something else.”
Ginny watched with a mixed look of gratitude and disgust as Hermione made quick work of Teddy’s dirty diaper and bum.
“Get me that washcloth over there” Hermione spoke softly as she lowered the now not crying Teddy into the warm waters of the bath. She didn’t care that her arms got soaked from the waters as she held him securely in the bath. Then with her other hand she took the washcloth Ginny brought over.
Ginny stood watching the scene for a few seconds before her brain registered ‘Hermione needs washcloth. Get washcloth’. Then she went behind Hermione to pull up the witch’s already soaked sleeves. But still better late than never. Ginny didn’t stop to think about the tingling she felt when touched Hermione’s skin. She just did what felt natural for her. Then after fixing Hermione’s sleeves she moved to kneel beside the tub beside her.
Hermione stiffened just for a few seconds when she felt Ginny slide behind her. She stopped breathing when she felt the breath of her best friend on the back of her neck. She didn’t want to think about the feelings that her best friend’s actions stirred in her. Hermione was not stupid, nor was she blind. She knew exactly what her reactions were. She just chose to force them down. This was her best friend and even worst her best friend’s girl friend and maybe more, the way the rumors were going, plus the way Harry talked about he and Ginny. She tried to get her voice to say anything to try to cover up for her reactions but her brain was not functioning. Ginny was the first to say something, but it wasn’t to her.
“Oh, I see! You just wanted to get your Aunty Hermione wet.” Ginny spoke to Teddy in a playful voice and then went to make tickly fingers on Teddy’s tummy. Teddy giggled as Ginny’s fingers reached his tummy. The two played like that for a few minutes.
The few minutes might have been hours, because Hermione could only just watch, laugh with them enjoying that side of Ginny, and loving Teddy’s laughter. It wasn’t till Hermione saw both she and Teddy were getting pruney that it was time to get him out of the tub. “I am sorry you two but” she spoke this to Teddy avoiding Ginny’s eyes all together. “it is time to get out or poor Teddy will become as wrinkled as a raison.” She then zerberted Teddy’s tummy who giggled.
Ginny had a warm, soft fluffy towel at the ready. She was slow on the washcloth but a Weasley learns from their mistakes. She took Teddy from Hermione and started drying him off. “I thought I saw some pajamas”
Her words were halted as Hermione approached the two waving a blue feety pajamas for Teddy with a great big frog on the chest. The two got a new diaper on him and after a few miscalculations managed to get the pajamas on him with all the buttons snapped on in the correct order.
Hermione drew her wand after taking a bottle from the frig and heated it up quickly to the perfect temperature. She watched Ginny yawn and took Teddy from her. “Ginny, why don’t you go to sleep. I can feed him and tuck him in.”
Ginny must have had one of her stubborn looks on her face because Hermione quickly shut her up. “Ginerva Weasley, if I have to force you down on that bed, tie you down to it in order for you to sleep, I will. Don’t mess with me.” As soon as her threat left her lips, Hermione silently wished for a hole to open up underneath her and swallow her whole and then much to her dismay the room of requirements provided a pair of softly padded handcuffs which made a slight clink noise as it hit the ground. Hermione did the only thing she could do. She played like she didn’t notice and focused her attention on Teddy who was happily drinking away from the bottle “I swear I don’t think Harry fed him at all today with the way he is eating.” She knew he had. She had seen Harry feeding Teddy in the common room earlier, but it was something to say to distract from what she said earlier.
Ginny tried hard to bite back the laughter that was bubbling inside her. She enjoyed the way her friend was turning three different shades of red. It wasn’t often she was given such a gift such as this. To be able to tease the Hermione Granger, smartest witch of her age probably smartest witch to come out of Hogwarts. Ginny stopped that thinking. Nothing was going to distract her from her gift. With a smile she walked over to the bed and picked up the pair of handcuffs and dangled them on her finger as she looked at Hermione. “I think I will call you on your bluff.” with that she stood at the edge of the bed smiling at her best friend giving her most innocent smile.
Hermione nearly choked and if she was standing, her legs might have given out on her. She recognized Ginny’s playful expression. She knew she was being toyed with but the images that popped in her head, she knew she shouldn’t have. “Ginny” she softly growled mimicking her tone that she reserved only for Malfoy “Do not test me. You are lucky I am feeding Teddy and have my arms full”
Hermione didn’t notice that Teddy had fallen asleep. Ginny did and she walked over to Hermione, her eyes never leaving her friend’s as she bent down to carefully take him from her. “Well, we will have to fix that.” She carried him to the crib, her back to Hermione totally missing the emotions that flashed through the other witch’s eyes. By the time Ginny turned back to Hermione, she had managed to get them masked. “Now, Hermione” walking over to the edge of the bed “I am testing you.” Ginny knew she should let it pass. She had a slight bit of warning bells going off in her head but she chose to ignore it. This was the first time she was able to play, laugh, relax in a really long time and she wanted this.
Hermione rose and walked toward Ginny. She knew she shouldn’t but she was a Gryffindor and Gryffindors do not back down from a challenge. “Last chance to climb into bed” She warned removing her shirt refusing to go to bed with a wet shirt on because really that just feels nasty.
Ginny’s eyes roamed over Hermione’s skin and it occurred to Ginny for the first time just why the warning bells were going off in her head. She looked at Hermione the way she should only be looking at Harry. Her eyes widened in realization. Quickly she dove under the covers while at the same time dropping the cuffs on the floor. She would have thrown them but that might have woken Teddy.
Hermione silently thanked and at the same time cursed whatever god answered her prayer to have Ginny back down from their game. She slid under the covers on the other side.
Both lied there with their eyes closed but neither asleep. They just lied there thinking, listening to the other’s breathing, praying that the other is asleep while the wood in the fireplace crackled and sizzled, creating an atmosphere that definitely was not for sleeping. When one opened their eyes to take a peek the shadows played and danced along the walls almost sensually which caused one witch to look at the other but never at the same time. It was going to be a long, long night.
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Chapter 5
Molly Weasley had lived with her family in peril for so long that when she got word that Ginny hadn’t reported to the Gryffindor dorm room, and hadn’t shown up for breakfast. The first thought was something happened. She kicked herself for letting her daughter stay and help with repairs. She had lost her son Fred, and now..well now something happened to her baby girl.
She floo powdered directly into McGonagall’s office. “Molly!” the older witch rose from behind her desk looking clearly surprised. “I wasn’t expecting you to visit. Is everything okay?” McGonagall took one look at Molly and knew something was definitely not okay. “What is wrong?” She was starting to get worried. Had the ministry missed some death eaters and was another Weasley hurt? She had not gotten over Fred’s death. Sure he was a pain in her backside but he brought light into her house and she would miss him dearly.
Molly spoke shaking “We need to find her. I was told that Ginny didn’t sleep in her dorm room and she wasn’t there for breakfast.” She looked at the Headmistress who had become her friend and one of the Weasley’s closest ally. “Minerva, I can’t lose another child. I cant see another one in my family get hurt because I was not there to protect them”
Minerva walked over to an item on the desk. “The only ones that left the castle grounds were Potter, Ronald…seems like they would be leaving together.” She checked and went through the list of those leaving and entering the grounds.
McGonagall and Molly both jumped as Mrs. Tonks burst into her office through the door followed by a very nervous Professor Flitwick. “See here!” he shouted to her. “you need the password! You can’t just…”
Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by McGonagall. “It’s okay. Dromeda, “ she spoke looking at the other worried witch “What do I owe this visit? Is everything alright?”
Mrs. Tonks was beside herself “First Ted, then Nymphadora, then my son-in-law…and now my grandson! I can’t find him anywhere!” She was sobbing now. Molly and Minerva both tried to comfort her. “We will go find them. Peeves!” McGonagall called, there was a bit of laughter and a sound of someone getting a raspberry. Then a flash and Peeves was before them.
“Headmistress calls and I am here, so now it is time to cheer!” He singsonged and when he got a look from the headmistress he stopped only to bend over and study the group of crying witches from between his legs.
“Peeves! Enough, I need you to fetch me Potter. I saw him enter the grounds late last night. Do it now” She ordered and then watched Peeves give her a salute though it wasn’t the respectful kind but she knew he would do as he was ordered to do.
After a few minutes Harry showed up at Dumbledore’s old office, well McGonagall’s new office. He showed up, with Ron in tow munching on a sausage. Ron dropped the sausage when he saw his mother crying and ran to her “What’s wrong? Is it dad?” Ron pulled out his DA coin, he had given one to his father after the battle so that way they would make sure no other Weasley would get hurt. They would be there to protect each other. Ron got his father but his father heard Molly’s cry over the coin, the next thing they new Arthur was there, stepping out of the floo with five aurors all had their wands drawn.
Minerva first tried to quiet the roar of conversations as the growing number was getting ready to take arms. The first attempt failed. But the second attempt “EVERYONE QUIET!” That worked. Everyone quieted and looked at Minerva who continued in a softer, calmer voice. “We know that Ginny hasn’t left Hogwart’s grounds. There would have been a record and no Ronald, there is no way to get around it.” She silenced the youngest Weasley’s son just as he opened his mouth. She knew what he was going to ask. “Dromeda, I am sure your grandson is okay. Potter told me he left Teddy in the care of Ginny and Hermione. Both I might add are very capable of taking care of themselves. We will look for them here…” then added quickly “CALMLY. We will not scare anyone else. The last thing I need is for others to have a full blown panic attack.”
In the room of requirements the three slumbered on. Teddy had woken up before the sun even started to rise. Hermione had rose from bed to feed him and sing him back to sleep. Ginny had woken up immediately feeling the shift in bed and the loss of warmth. She had listened to Hermione sing a bit off key but it was a sweet song. It made Ginny smile. The only response she got to her smile was when Hermione slid back into bed and told her “Not a word or you might find your bat bogie hex being done on you” The two drifted into sleep but it was not a peaceful sleep.
Hermione’s dream had been that Bellatrix was back and trying to torture not her but Ginny like she had done to her at the Malfoy Manor. In her sleep she had drifted and turned covering Ginny with her body, holding her protectively.
Ginny’s dream was no dream at all but memories twisted. Hermione was fighting to hold her close, to keep her from running to her death. She felt the pain and anguish of losing Harry all over in the dream but then it twisted and Hermione was fighting to hold her close to prevent her from running to Harry. The pain and anguish turned and shifted into anger, confusion. She tackled Hermione and punched her viciously, laughing darkly at her best friend’s screams of pain. Ginny did not hold Hermione back as they slept, instead her hands clenched the blankets covering them.
Through the halls the group spread out and checked every dorm room, every classroom, every washroom, every corner of the grounds. The more they searched, and didn’t find them the more the frantic Molly, Mrs. Tonks, Ron, Harry Arthur, now joined by a very panicked George, Bill and Fluer. Minerva and the aurors were the only ones that seemed to be keeping a cool mind. They knew the protections placed around Hogwarts. They knew they were okay, they just needed to find them.
It was Harry that remembered the room of requirements. “Wait! Professor!” he said as he looked to McGonagall. “We haven’t checked the room of requirements. Neville and the others were able to hide out there and escape detection from the Carrows.”
Minerva pointed a finger at Harry “Potter, that is a very good idea. I will go check that out right now.” with that she turned only to be followed by the group that seemed to be wanting to push or carry her to the room.
Harry spoke up again clearly puzzled “But Professor. How will you find it?”
Minerva smiled “Potter, don’t forget us teachers, we know this school better than you. The room of requirements will always show itself to the headmistress or headmaster. We just simply have to order it to” The group moved like a noisy herd of elephants, plus one singer. Jeeves had seen the group, watched them and thought it would be great fun to give them music to go along with their marching.
As they approached where the door would be McGonagall cleared her throat “Okay, play time is over, show yourself” She spoke seriously to the wall and then to the group’s surprise a door appeared. The panicked group burst through the door. They saw the room warm, their eyes traveled to all that was in that room. Mrs. Tonk’s eyes settled on the crib and to her relief, her sleeping grandson. The other’s shifted their gaze to the bed. Molly was upset at Ginny for scaring her so. “GINERVA!” She shouted waking Teddy who was immediately picked up by Mrs. Tonks. The others stood staring, gaping except for Molly and it was as if in slow motion, as soon as Molly shouted Ginny’s name she sat up in a panic pulling a half naked Hermione up with her who for her part was still half asleep but waking quickly.
Ginny hadn’t even remembered Hermione’s attire or lack there of, or how she got that way, at least for a minute. Hermione looked at all of the panicked faces and rose from the bed not remembering her state of dress or lack there of or how she got that way, reaching for her wand. “What happened!?” Concern clearly etched across Hermione’s features as she cleared the hair from her face.
Ginny rose from the bed much to the other’s relief kind of, fully dressed. Ron and Harry were still wondering why Hermione was half naked in bed with Ginny and sleeping on top of her. Her cheeks were slightly red as she tried desperately not to take in Hermione in just her jeans and a black bra. She bent down and picked up Hermione’s shirt from the floor and handed it to her.
Hermione took the shirt and it was then she just realized she was standing in front of Ginny’s parents, the headmistress, Harry, Ron, George, Fleur, Bill, Mrs. Tonks and some other men she had never seen before, not to mention Peeves who much to Hermione’s regret had started singing a totally different song about her and Ginny sharing a bed. It was not for innocent ears that is for sure. Just as she put on her shirt trying to act like it was the most perfectly natural thing to do she heard Ron not even noticing he had gone over to the bed.
Ron had seen something glimmer in the light. He walked over and picked up the padded cuff. “Mom? What are these?” he asked turning to look at Molly.
“Those err uh…” she looked over at Ginny and Hermione. George for the first time since Fred’s death actually started laughing followed by Bill, and Fleur. Arthur for his part was torn between laughing, blushing, giving a good talk to Ginny, then Hermione, then also feeling sorry for Harry and his son. Molly was still trying to process all that she had seen and was preparing to blow a fuse but was momentarily thrown by her son’s question and how to explain it to him.
Minerva guided the aurors, Mrs. Tonks, Teddy and Peeves (who was now singing louder and more raunchier adding a few lewd noises into the song), out of the room shutting the door behind her. Truth be told Minerva saw the cuffs and Hermione’s appearance, well there were few things that wanted to make the mighty McGonagall flee. This was one of them.
Ron listened to Peeve’s song and then slowly got the picture. Harry hadn’t said anything. He just stood there looking from Hermione and Ginny. Ron’s face turned red and he launched himself at Ginny “You stupid bit” he didn’t get to finish that comment, one he was caught quickly by his father but the other part Hermione cast a silencing spell on him.
Her eyes flashed angrily. “Ronald Weasley before you go off half cocked and say something you will regret I suggest you listen. I know how this looks but nothing happened. We needed a place to change, bathe and take care of Teddy…and well honestly both Ginny and I were tired.”
Molly looked to her daughter and saw something flash in her daughter’s eyes that did not go with Hermione’s statement. For the first time since Molly met Hermione, she wondered if she was lying to her. She would talk to the girls but without the others. “Ron, you heard her. Now you need to calm down. Hermione although I appreciate you protecting my daughter’s feelings, might I suggest you do it without magic next time.”
Hermione took that as a warning, she had crossed a line and felt like going near tears. She felt anger at anyone calling Ginny that. But she did not think and because of it she now was worried she hurt her second family even more. She quickly released Ron from her spell, even though it was harmless, she knew she had done wrong. “I am sorry Ronald. I just did not want you to say something you would regret.”
Ronald narrowed his eyes at Hermione. He was tired of being bested by a girl. He could have any woman he wanted, and seeing the way Hermione was looking at Ginny, it was clear to him she did not want him. “Well, to bad you didn’t think the samething. Don’t ever talk to me again Hermione. We are through as friends or anything else.” With that he left the room slamming it hard in it’s wake.
Harry watched the whole exchange. He knew Hermione more than anyone. They both knew each other so well that it was impossible for the other to pull the wool over the other’s eyes. He saw the flicker of emotions in Hermione’s eyes, but he also saw that she was being honest, nothing happened. The earlier flicker showed that something very could have easily happened and Hermione wanted it to. That was one glimpse. The other was the immediate guilt for having those thoughts. She was fighting her feelings. He knew she would not hurt him or do anything disrespectful as that. After Ron left he saw the devastation that crossed her eyes. It wasn’t the loss of a boyfriend he realized but the loss of a friend a door closing that she never wanted closed. Harry looked to Hermione “I will talk to him.” then he walked over to Ginny and placed a kiss on her cheek. With that he left.
“Good bloke he is” George jumped in after watching him go. “I don’t think I would have been so nice seeing my girlfriend rumored soon to be wife in bed with my best friend.” He couldn’t help but poke. “And Ginny? My little sister using cuffs….I think Fred and I were a bad influence.” Ginny was about to hit him when Molly stopped her and him. “George I am happy that you find this so amusing, why don’t you go find something to do with your father, Bill and Fluer.”Arthur took that as his cue and started to usher everyone but Molly, Hermione and Ginny out quietly closing the door behind them.
Molly walked to the bed and set down on the corner. She tried not to let her eyes drift to the tangled sheets. “Hermione dear..your shirt is inside out and backwards.” Her voice was soft. Yelling would come later. Right now she needed to be calm so the girls would talk to her. “Sit down, so we can talk”
Hermione blushed and fixed her shirt, much to her dismay Ginny tried to help. Quickly she slapped Ginny’s hands away earning a look from Molly. “Mrs. Weasley, I promise on everything dear to me nothing happened.”
Ginny sat down where the pillow she slept on was. She tried to not remember waking up to Hermione on top of her. She tried to not remember how Hermione looked when she first woke up, that even still waking up was ready to fight if needs be. Fight half naked and half asleep. Ginny almost chuckled but earned another look from her mother that clearly stated that would not be a good idea.
Hermione sat down first beside Ginny but then when Molly looked at her she quickly rose and moved to another part of the bed. But there she could see the cuffs and that brought back thoughts of what could have happened last night. So she rose and moved to sit near Molly but then thinking being in arms reach of the mother who just found you in bed with her daughter, that wasn’t a good idea. Eventually Hermione pulled up a chair and sat clear out of the way of Molly’s reach and far enough away that maybe her body would stop responding to Ginny’s presence.
Ginny’s eyes at that moment as if reading Hermione’s thoughts traveled down the other witch’s body and to her nipples which were becoming a bit noticeable. Ginny tried so hard to pull her eyes away but it was like fighting against gravity. It wasn’t till she heard her mother clear her throat and Hermione cross her arms over her chest that she realized her staring had been noticed. She looked downward quickly.
Molly at first watched Hermione play musical seats affectionately. She had grown to care deeply about Hermione very much like she would a daughter. She had just assumed that Hermione and Ron, but looking at the interaction between Hermione and her daughter, she had gotten that completely wrong. “I am going to offer this advice. Girls, I am going to be blunt about this. You need to listen to me. If there is something going on between you two, you need to figure it out. If there isn’t and all of this was purely innocent, then do not worry. But if there is more, there is nothing wrong with that. I need to stress though that you need to be upfront and honest with Harry, and Ron if there is. I will stand by you two and support you both, but be honest.” She watched the girls nod “And for scaring me Ginerva, consider yourself grounded for a whole month. You are coming home with me and you will stay at home, no company” she added that last part to Hermione. “So if you two need to talk, you should do it now.” She remained sitting.
Hermione and Ginny both were processing their emotions and thoughts until the words grounded came up. Ginny’s face reddened very much like Ron’s when he was about to fight for something “Mom! I didn’t do anything wrong! It wasn’t my fault you chose to get all worried and fly off the handle” Then her eyes widened a bit as she thought about having the other conversation she knew had to come in front of her mom.
But before Molly could say anything Hermione interrupted Ginny. “Ginny, she had every right. I am sorry Mrs. Weasley for adding to your worry and pain. “ Hermione kept her eyes on Mrs. Weasley as she spoke “I will never be able to express how very sorry I am for all of your pain and I am grateful for your love and protection. “
Ginny was about to interrupt but she saw tears beginning to threaten to escape Hermione’s eyes. She started to walk to Hermione but the other witch rose quickly and stepped behind the chair keeping space between them, needing the space to be able to say what she as going to say. “Hermione” Ginny’s voice was soft like a touch and it caused the other witch to close her eyes briefly.
It was then at that moment that Molly was becoming just fully aware of how deep those budding feelings went between Hermione and her daughter. She remained quiet, patient, letting Hermione finish what she had to say, judging by how hard Hermione was breathing, it was something hard and big.
Ginny must have sensed it to because she too stopped talking. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, slightly tightening her eyes stayed riveted on Hermione wanting desperately to hold her, to soothe the pain in the other witch’s eyes.
Hermione continued after much effort. “I think it would be best if, I left. I had been offered a job in another part of England. I was planning on turning them down because I didn’t want to leave you all. I wanted to be close. But I was being selfish. Ron, well he deserves someone that can love him like he wants, and Harry, well he has been through so much. Then you Ginny…I…we…You deserve an easy life, a good one. No more trauma.” Hermione debated about stopping there but she had always been upfront and held nothing back. She wouldn’t start now. She really didn’t want to do this in front of Molly but if this was her only chance she would take it. “Ginny, I know you felt what I felt last night and what could have happened. I saw it in your eyes. I am sorry, it should have never happened. I can’t believe I almost betrayed my best friend and made my other dearest best friend betray her love. I am sorry, both of you” Hermione didn’t want to see or hear Ginny’s reaction. If Ginny had fought for her, or even just simply said stop, she would have. But she was doing what was best for Ginny, best for the Weasleys, best for Harry, best for Teddy and best for Ron. So for the first time ever in her whole life. She did something that was very ungryffindor. She ran.
Ginny stood motionless for a few seconds. It happened again. Someone else made a decision for her and took the choice away from her, what she could handle or couldn’t handle. First she was shocked, then she was angry. Hurt would come later, but right now she decided she would embrace anger “Mom, I never asked for anything. I need to go after her. Please let me. I promise you can ground me twice as long and I will take it happily, just please let me go after her.” To ask that of her mom though she tempered her anger, clamped down or tried desperately to. She failed at that because Molly could read her daughter like a book with large writing with big colorful pictures.
Molly had absorbed everything said and looked to her daughter. Her heart broke with the thought of Hermione leaving them. Hermione belonged in their family. She was a Weasley and the thought her not being there, no longer being a part of their family, it was like losing another daughter. She blinked back the tears. “your father can help you with that. But I need to ask honey, do you know what you are going to say? Do you know what you want?” She didn’t know of any other way to tactfully ask that. “you are so young. You have one more year in Hogwarts, you don’t even know what you want to do or be. If you go after her, what are you going to say. Hermione don’t go because?”
Ginny ran her hand through her hair. She was wasting time. The longer she stayed the more distance Hermione put between them. She knew though her mother would not let her go unless he was honest. “I don’t know mom. I just know when she cries it rips me up. In the battle she was ready to die for me and killed to protect me. She took one spell that was meant for me. She saved me from running to my death and I hit her. She still held. I know that if I am without her it sits wrong with me. I want her in my life as a friend and I don’t know if I want…I know I reacted. We both know that..I mean you caught me, I can’t believe you caught me” The last said a little bit softer, her embarrassment shining through.
Molly finished for her daughter “Staring? Yes, dear you were staring.” she finished a bit amused but also worried for her daughter. So much had been on her daughter’s plate and to be facing a hard future. She loved Hermione but she was still worried for her daughter and worried that maybe she would be confusing lust for something else so she said it. “Ginny, you need to be sure you aren’t confusing lust for something else. You may not know this about me but when I was your age I had this friend and she and”
Ginny stopped her mom rather quickly from finishing that sentence feeling a bit queasy from the thought “mom, I get what you are saying. I honestly don’t know. I don’t have answers I just know I can’t let her go. Can’t we figure out the rest later? Isn’t life long enough to do that?”
Her mother interrupted “Ginny but what about Harry? What about Teddy? Are you sure you want to risk that?” She would stand by her daughter no matter what, but she had to present all the angles to Ginny.
Ginny shook her head “Harry he is sweet, and I love him, I do but he wants what I don’t. He wants to take care of me mum! Me!” Seeing how Molly scrunched her nose, Ginny knew she understood. “He didn’t care about what I want, where I see myself. He wants me to finish my year at Hogwarts and then stay home and be pregnant. That is fine for others but it’s not for me. How can I love someone that loves an idea more than he loves me? I got to find me before I can love someone like that back. Wouldn’t I be living a lie if I did that?”
Molly smiled at that a bit, feeling relieved. “Your father had the ministry put a trace on you all after the battle. We didn’t want you all going off again into danger without us knowing and stepping in to do our job and protect you. This includes Harry and Hermione. If you ask him, he will let you know where she is. Now best go and don’t you forget you owe me two months and I expect you to home with her before midnight or I am coming to get both of you”
Ginny nodded and gave her mother a bone crushing hug “Thank you” she shouted as she raced out the door to find her father.
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Chapter 6
Hermione apparated with her small well used bag in the forest she, Ron and Harry had camped out earlier when they had inadvertently crossed paths with Ted Tonks, on the run and the last time they saw him alive. She pulled out a tent and started setting up the normal charms out of habit. It was during the fifth charm she stopped mid spell and sank to the ground. It was then she allowed herself to cry. Everything felt so wrong, leaving but her staying would cause so much pain for everyone she cared about. She felt like her whole soul was being ripped out. She disliked herself for her feelings, her reactions to Ginny. She disliked herself that she didn’t stay and fight. But who would she be fighting against. Her brother, her best friend. He had no family but the Weasleys, her and she hated herself that every fiber in her being wanted to stay and find out just what this was with Ginny she was feeling. She was in a lose lose situation, so to save those she cared about from any pain and grief she would stay away. She hated herself most for that.
Ginny apparated in a forest but didn’t see anything. Just the forest. She walked around and then she heard it. A quiet muffled scream of anguish. She walked around where she heard that brief cry. She felt Hermione near. She didn’t know how she felt this but she felt it. Why couldn’t she see her. The more she walked the angrier she got as she thought about all the decisions made for her supposed well being. The anger started to mix with frustration, and pain of Hermione running, then she saw it. A slight shift in the air. “Smartest witch of her time, maybe but I am not slouch.” Pulling her wand she started casting some counter spells taught to her by her uncle who was a charm breaker. Little by little Ginny was able to lift the charms revealing the tent they had bought for Bill as a wedding present. Then her eyes rested on Hermione who was leaning against a tree, looking out over the water. She looked weak. Hermione was never weak. This further upset Ginny and before she noticed she was racing up on the other witch.
Hermione first heard then felt someone running to her, turning her forcefully and pinning her back to the tree she was leaning on for support. She reached for her wand not yet noticing who it was only to have it quickly disarmed. She stomped hard on her assailant’s foot and heard the grunt of pain, her eyes widening as she recognized that grunt and then looked directly into Ginny’s fiery gaze. “Ginny” was all she got out.
To say Ginny had worked herself up into a bit of a tiff was the understatement of the century. Ginny silenced Hermione with one look that dared the witch to say anything else. Hermione stopped talking after that. “You lay all of that on the line and you leave. YOU LEAVE and make a decision as to what I want. Did you bother to ask what I wanted? NO! I am sick and tired of everyone thinking I am weak and fragile. It was Neville, Luna and I taking on the death eaters, Snape, the Carrows, the ministry. We took their punishments even for other students. I survived and kept fighting! I never stopped! You want to know why? Because it was the right thing to do! Because I was strong enough to keep fighting. Before that Harry made the decision for me that I couldn’t handle his future. I knew full well! I am not some dimwit twit with her head up her ass! I was a big part of the fight against the Death Eaters and Snape yet when it came to fighting along side more skilled duelers I get told that I am to young, to fragile to fight when I had been doing it all year without them! Then after the battle Harry was once again making decisions for my future, being a parent with him with Teddy, marrying him, letting him take care of fragile ole me. Did he ask me once if I wanted that? Did has ask me once of my wants and plans? Did he even ask me if I wanted to marry him!? NO!”
Hermione stopped fighting against Ginny’s strong grip. She listened letting Ginny pour out all that she wanted to say. She got swept up with Ginny’s emotions lost a bit in her fiery gaze, she even found herself outraged along with Ginny. Ginny kept going.
“Then you. The ALL MIGHTY ALL KNOWING HERMIONE GRANGER DECIDES THAT SHE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR ME! NO! You left! You are not allowed to leave Hermione. I watched you once leave!” she continued no longer yelling but still just as firm after noticing Hermione flinch. “but I knew, I knew you were coming back, I understood why you left, I understood the need to go. I don’t understand this Hermione and I am not letting you leave us..me again. Hermione I fight for what I want and I want you to hear me when I say I am NOT letting that happen.”
Hermione was trying to find her voice. Her body reacted to the power and conviction behind Ginny’s words and the fact that during the whole exchange Ginny used her body to pin her against the tree, not just her hands. She wasn’t the only that started noticing this.
Ginny’s eyes darkened, her breathing increased but she didn’t move away. She was not letting Hermione budge and if Hermione was going to apparate, Hermione was going to take her with her. It didn’t matter that she was pressing all of her body against Hermione’s and it didn’t matter that her body noticed her body pressing against Hermione. All that mattered that Hermione gets her point. But the close proximity momentarily robbed her of any speaking abilities.
“Ginny” Hermione stopped noticing how much desire was laced around that name. She stopped and tried again praying to whatever higher being to give her strength to will herself to control her growing hunger. “Ginny, you an…” she stops again realizing she was about to do it again. Tell Ginny what is best for her, and what the other wizard is feeling. “What do you want Ginny?” She really had not meant that to come out how it did but her growing desire was getting harder to control.
Ginny’s breath caught at the question and her eyes traveled to Hermione’s lips. “What I want” she licked her own lips which had become a bit dry. When did the temperature start to rise. “what I want” she tried again. “What I want Hermione is for you to come home with me now. Stay with me and I want to figure this out. Then once we have it figured out, then I want to make a decision.”
Hermione was about to argue she saw so many bad ideas with this. So she started to voice it. “Ginny, I don’t think that is the best idea. Don’t you feel..it can’t be just me, it’s not just me” she asked, then told. Then when Ginny just arched a brow she corrected herself “Are you feeling this?” Dear gods her body felt like it was on fire where Ginny was pressed against her, which was pretty close to everywhere. She didn’t think there was even space for air between their bodies. It was turning her body into one great big nerve ending.
Ginny chuckled softly and whispered “I am not dead Hermione and even if I was I think I would still be able to feel this. Like I if I move this way” Ginny shifted some and Hermione’s breath caught as she bit back a moan. “I feel your breasts rub with mine, and when I shift like this”
Again Ginny shifted and it caused Hermione to tuck her hands behind her own back as she felt she was fighting a losing battle with her self control. She tried so many images in her head, Snape running around naked, some charm spells that she never seemed to get right. Nothing was working “Ginny, I need you to give me space…. now” It came out a whisper, a shaky one at that.
Ginny pressed closer sliding a leg between Hermione’s. “If you apparate again Hermione, I will find you and you will regret it” She didn’t want to move, part of it being she was enjoying Hermione’s reactions. The other being she was terrified the other witch would run. “your word, Hermione”
Hermione’s legs nearly buckled as she felt part of Ginny press against the more intimate part of her. She didn’t even realize Ginny was speaking so when she got her eyes to focus and noticed the way Ginny was looking at her it was then she realized she missed something “what?”
Ginny’s body was screaming at her to take Hermione, but she fought it. Her first time would be only with love no matter how bad she wanted it and she never wanted anything as bad as she wanted Hermione. “No apparating” Seeing Hermione nod she stepped back and immediately regretted it. The cold that touched her body had nothing to do with the environment’s temperature. The loss was actual physical pain.
Hermione crossed her arms hugging herself, still leaning heavily against the tree, her eyes shut as she tried to cool her body. It took a bit for both of them to recover. Hermione was the first to speak “Ginny, I cant be close to you. I am being honest here. I don’t know if I can control myself. Maybe I should stay away for a few months, just to get things back to the way they were.”
Ginny was back against her pinning her against the tree before she even had a chance to exhale. But she didn’t speak instead she claimed Hermione’s lips with her own. Hungry would be the best way to describe her kiss. She devoured, licked, nipped, pulled, and ravaged Hermione’s lips. For the first half second of the kiss Hermione didn’t respond but dear god she couldn’t help herself. God forgive her, Harry forgive her. She returned the kiss Ginny gave her with just as much hunger and need. She was tired of fighting, she was tired of the struggle and for just a few minutes she would allow herself to take something just for her. Take what Ginny was giving her and give back in everyway she could.
Hermione melted feeling Ginny’s hands move up into her hair, then down the back of her neck as her lips felt like it was being tasted, savored committed to memory and she was sure she would never allow another’s lips to touch hers because no one could kiss her like Ginny was she would stake her life on it. Her hands moved down Ginny’s back to her ass, pulling her closer. Both started moving against each other moaning into each other’s mouths, each devouring the sounds of pleasure, it wasn’t until they heard the loud clearing of a throat that they realized they were not alone.
Ginny sprang back from Hermione and Hermione willed her eyes to focus, though when she did see what she saw she closed her eyes. Twice in one day, only this time things weren’t innocent. “Mrs. Weasley…I a” Hermione stopped herself. She didn’t feel sorry and she felt Ginny’s eyes on her. She wouldn’t do that. She cleared her throat “Mrs. Weasley, I am sorry for you catc” How the hell do you apologize to the mom for feeling up her daughter and damn well getting to the point to throw her on the ground and take her until she passed out. “Mrs. Weasley I..”
Molly had recovered from what she had walked in on, but rules needed to be set. “Dear, best to stop right there. You are going to dig a hole for yourself. Pack up your things. You are coming home. Both of you”
Hermione and Ginny went about packing up the tent and putting it back into the mini handbag avoiding eye contact not ready to see all the emotions and desire that both knew filled them. Once they were done Molly walked up to the two and took their hands apparating with them back to the Burrow. Once inside she spoke quickly and quietly to the girls. “It is late. Ginny, go wash up and get to bed. Hermione you can stay in Bill’s old room.” She saw Ginny about to argue and gave her a you really should know better look which silenced her daughter.
Ginny wanted to kiss Hermione again and the way Hermione was looking at her, the feeling was mutual. “Mom, can I have a quick word with Hermione?”
Molly snorted “You’ve had enough words for tonight. Upstairs! March.” Once she saw her daughter slowly but obediently go up the stairs she turned to a very nervous Hermione who looked like she was trying not to fidget. “ Hermione? You and I need to sit and talk.”
TBC
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