Brown Eyes and Peaches

Another piece of parchment wasted, crumpled, thrown across the table with a mutter of frustration. Hermione dug around the bag at her feet for yet another piece, smoothed it out hurriedly over the tabletop and dipped her quill. She was getting quite fierce about this, and had been at this sporadic behavior for nearly an hour. Pick up parchment, dip quill, stare at parchment, glance at Common Room fire.

Well... not at the fire per say, but rather the fiery red-head who sat perched on a chair close to it, watching Hermione with lazy eyes and a half-smile. 'Has she no -- no shame!?' Hermione had thought all that afternoon. The Common Room was empty as usual on a perfect, warm, beautiful Spring afternoon. Except for Hermione, and Ginny, who seemed to be incredibly persistent these days at un-nerving and creeping out the poor frazzled witch. Hermione of course, didn't understand why she did this; these long moments of glassy stares, sometimes in the middle class for crying out loud! Following Hermione around silently at times and smiling at her in a sort of smug, knowing manner. She just... didnt get it. They used to talk so much, and be such good, close friends and now it seemed like Ginny had just... gone cold, in a way. It was utterly perplexing.

Hermione sighed.

Ginny sighed.

Hermione turned back to her paper quickly, cursing under her breath and wishing the younger girl would just... go out and play with the rest of her little 5th year friends. Hermione was busy. She had things to do; papers to write, all sorts of things to study for, and of naturally (well, being their best friend and all), adding to that were Ron and Harry's constant love-life drama. Harry was confused about his sexuality, Ron was confused about girls, they were both confused about love in general and of course, what good was it coming to Hermione about all this!? Sure, she knew spells and potions and all this wonderful schoolwork, but love was not her medium, and love was not in books, and love was just ridiculous and time wasting and not worth the effort.

The more Hermione thought about it, the more frustrated she became. She pushed her chair away from the table so violently that her ink spilled over her current piece of blank parchment, across the tabletop, all over her quill, and dripped down the side on her bag. But she didn't care.

She took only a moment to gather herself, setting a stern face and straightening her shoulders, then marched right over to Ginny, who looked not the least bit surprised, and smiled up at her like they went through this every day.

Hermione was fuming, and opened her mouth to speak... only to find that she had nothing to say. She half-glared at Ginny, who stared at her calmly, and flipped her hair over her shoulder. The older girl blinked, and studied Ginny for a moment... her pale, fine skin and soft brown eyes... Ginny really was becoming a lovely young lady. Finally she spoke.

"So Gin, are you still hanging out with Malfoy?" she asked coldly. Ginny had been rumored to actually date Malfoy last year. A lot of people scoffed. They were worlds apart, after all. But Ginny came back late sometimes with little cuts that she'd ask Hermione to cover up for her with a blush, and Hermione knew she did have a thing for Malfoy, but it didn't last long. Nothing could last long with that slimy little weasel.

Ginny flinched a little, and blinked. It seemed the question was un-expected.

"Oh, Draco?" she drawled casually, trying to hide her surprise. She had picked up some 'class' (or so Draco called it, the git.) from him, and had been much more aloof and mysterious since they stopped seeing each other. Of course, she was still happy, naive little Ginny to some people... to most people, really.

"No," she said, and peered down for a moment to examine her nails, then looked back up at Hermione with a sort of amused half-smile. "Why?"

Hermione snorted, and flipped her messy, unruly hair over her shoulder with impatience. "Because you're being a prat, Gin, that's why. Staring at me all the time, what the bloody hell is wrong with you!?"

She didn't mean for it to come out so... harshly. But enough was really enough, and Hermione swallowed a dreadful feeling of guilt at Ginny's perplexed and curious expression and told herself she needed to be firm and stop avoiding this.

"Oh," Ginny said quietly, casually. It was infuriating. Hermione crossed her arms over her chest to avoid balling her hands into fists and stared at the redhead with an angry scowl. Ginny chuckled. "I'm being a prat, am I?" she chimed sweetly, then stood up, which caught Hermione completely off-guard, such an abrupt and fluid movement it was, and circled the chair to stand in front of her. They were almost the same height - Ginny was just a touch smaller.

Brown eyes met Brown eyes and Ginny smiled. Hermione felt pale and surprised. What had gotten into her old friend? Concern swept over her and replaced anger, and she sighed, dropping her arms to her sides and avoiding the cool gaze of the youngest Weasley.

"Ginny, is everything alright? We don't talk anymore," she said softly, fidgeting with a loose string on the collar of her robe.

There was a long pause, and Hermione heard Ginny inhale a slow breath. When she looked up again, Ginny was leaning over the back of the puffy armchair she was sitting in a few moments ago, elbows propped along the back, chin resting in her palms.

Hermione watched with anticipation, un-willingly noticing the fine figure Ginny sported under her sweater and short, pleated skirt; her legs were long and slim and well-muscled, her hips were small, her shoulders were small, everything about Ginny was very endearing.

Hermione felt a tinge of jealously, and, even worse, a tinge of admiration. She was glad the younger girl wasn't looking at her... she hated when people saw her blushing, and she was painfully aware of herself blushing.

"D'you ever think about girls, 'Mione?" Ginny inquired, as if it was like asking 'So 'Mione, how're you doing with school?'. There was no hesitation, no regret. Just casual, natural.

Hermione openly gaped at the other girl, astonished, confused and shocked. She blinked.

"E-Excuse me?" she stammered. Perhaps she didn't hear Ginny quite right. Girls? Romantically?? Hermione, think about girls!?

"I mean, d'you think about girls?" she repeated curiously, still not turning around... shifting her weight from one foot to another, hips swaying with the movement. Hermione blushed and looked away.

"I mean, you must notice at least some of them, right?" Ginny turned around, and Hermione, in an effort to hide her embarrassment, stalked quickly back over to the table, picked up her spilled things and began rummaging in her bag for something that wasn't there... she just wanted the distraction. "Surely you notice how many pretty girls are here, don't you?" Ginny continued, walking lazily towards Hermione.

"Er... n-no. No, I don't Ginny. I d-don't look at girls," Hermione muttered quickly. "Why bother? I'm n-not pretty, I don't... I'm not concerned with --"

But she stopped short as Ginny's hand met her shoulder. She could sense a smile curled on those pink lips behind her. She felt eyes burning into her neck. What the bloody HELL had gotten into Ginny??

And better, what the bloody HELL had gotten into her?!

"Oh... hmmm...." Ginny didn't remove her hand. Hermione was growing uncomfortable and embarrassed. "Well, you should look sometimes, pick up a few tips, you know? Maybe Ron'll go after you instead of Lavender. She doesn't pay him any mind."

Relief swept over her, and Hermione cursed herself for thinking sweet little Ginny was... well... hitting on her, in some strange, subtle way.

"Oh... Ginny no, I'm not... er... I'm not really interested in a --"

But Ginny cut her off again and abruptly pulled on Hermione's shoulders so that the two girls were facing eachother. Hermione's face burned a furious red, and she couldn't hide it this time. With a grin, Ginny wrinkled her nose at the older girl and said;

"Oh, come on Hermione. Let me play with your hair and makeup for a bit, would you? It wouldn't hurt, it's Saturday, after all."

"I-I er... I have a-a p-paper... M-Monday... paper..." she muttered, trying to make sense of her words, trying to pull her gaze away from Ginny's eyes, but Ginny was soon leading her up to the dorms like she hadn't heard a word of protest, chattering cheerfully about what would look good with Hermione's brown eyes.

Before she knew what was really happening, Hermione was sitting on the edge of Ginny's bed, with Ginny bustling around her looking for this and that, giggling occasionally or flashing a bright smile at Hermione, who was pale and confused, and felt downright awkward about the entire afternoon.

Fourty-five minutes later, Hermione still sat upon the edge of Ginny's bed, after the younger girl had found that a subtle, peach flavored lip gloss, a light brushing of mascara, and just a teeny bit of blush made Hermione look very nice, and was now perched behind her, chattering away happily about home-life, and what they'd be doing this summer; how her Dad had gotten a raise, how her Mum picked up some exotic recipes, and Bill would be visiting.

"Ow!" Hermione yelped, and blinked watery brown eyes.

"Oh! Sorry," Ginny replied. In her excited talk, Ginny had pulled Hermione's hair a bit with her brush. "Sorry...," she repeated softly, and Hermione nodded.

She was enjoying herself, though she was hesitant to admit it. She liked listening to Ginny talk, and Ginny even invited her over for the summer... though she visited often, always before school started. It was a comfortable release from a stressful week or two of Ginny being so... strange.

The younger girl started in again at Hermione's tangles, which were incredibly persistent, but Ginny insisted on braiding her hair into something fancy, like she saw in some Muggle magazine that her Dad brought home. She thought it was amusing. Hermione thought it was strange, but she was having fun, and didn't protest.

Ginny was silent for a long time after that, and when she started braiding Hermione's hair again, she asked timidly.

"So... do you ever think of girls, Hermione?"

Hermione blinked and flushed a deep red again. Damn it... why, why, WHY did she have to bring that up again? They were having such a good time, to.

"Er... I thought I - I told you earlier -" Hermione started to say, but Ginny cut her off in a tone of frustration.

"NO Hermione, I mean," she sighed, and tugged at a persistent tangle in Hermione's long brown hair, smoothing it out and continuing braiding. The older Gryffindor felt the bed shift with Ginny's movement, as the younger leaned forward slightly. Her breath was on Hermione's back. It made the hairs on her arms prickle.

"I mean... do you think about girls, like girls think about boys?" her tone was soft, just above a whisper, timid and shy, like the Ginny she knew.

Hermione was... taken aback, and silent for a long moment, with brows furrowed in thought and confusion.

"I -- er... no," she said quietly. Well, not until this morning, at least. She never really thought about anyone, but Ginny somehow broke through that mental barrier. Hermione told herself it was just the strange morning; she'd be fine by tomorrow. Let Ginny have her fun.

"I do... " Ginny said softly, her warm breath cascading against the back of Hermione's exposed neck as the younger girl gathered the braid into an elegant twist at the back of her head.

Hermione was dumbstruck. What were you supposed to say at a moment like this? What were you supposed to do?

Ginny however, was the first to speak again, leaving Hermione silently struggling with her own confusion.

"Girls are much better than boys, you know... they're soft and sweet," she paused, to brush her fingers gently along Hermione's skin and rest her hand on the older girl's shoulder. "Like you. You're soft and sweet, under all those books and that work."

The brown-haired girl turned a deep scarlet, and opened her mouth to say something... but Ginny continued. She weaseled her way around to stand in front of Hermione with a stupid grin on her face.

"D'you like Ron?"

So many questions... how could she answer these all at once? Ron? Gods no. Ron was her friend... she never thought of him like that. Well... there was the Yule Ball incident in their Fourth year, but Hermione had gotten over it quickly and convinced herself that boys just weren't worth it.

"R-Ron...? No... no, I never - I don't think Ron and I... I mean I'm not --" she stuttered. But wonderful outgoing Ginny cut in again before Hermione could gather her wits for a decent argument.

"I think you just need some practice. You haven't kissed yet, have you?" Ginny giggled... and leaned forward so that she was very close to Hermione again, staring into her eyes with a searching look. Still a brilliant red that wasn't the makeup Ginny applied, Hermione blinked. "W-w-what...? Kissed...? Er... "

But again, before she could really answer, Ginny had leaned even closer and pressed her lips against Hermione's. A shock ran through the older Gryffindor, and she wasn't sure whether to pull away or follow suit. However, instinct took over logic, and she closed her eyes, as Ginny did, and returned the kiss.

After a moment of confused bliss, Hermione tasted peaches, and abruptly pulled away from Ginny, blushing and feeling a little faint. Her heart was racing at least ten times its normal speed, she thought. Self-consciously, she brushed a fingertip across her wet lips.

"Oh... my lip gloss," she started to say, staring at her trembling finger. She looked up at Ginny, and cursed herself. She knew in the back of her mind she probably just made a huge git out of herself. Stupid Hermione not even knowing how to kiss.

Wait.

Since when did she not mind kissing Ginny Weasley? She pushed the thought from her head, and was surprised to see Ginny smiling at her shyly, a faint blush spreading over her cheeks.

"Sorry," the redhead said, and sounded nothing of the sort. Her light brown eyes flashed mischievously. "Couldn't help myself. You should probably get back to studying, eh?"

Hermione blinked back her now constant confusion, and nodded numbly. She got up from Ginny's bedside shakily and glanced around for a clock. They had missed dinner...that late already? Well, nothing to do about it now. The older girl straightened her robes, licked her lips, and was again caught off guard by the taste of peaches. She stood there for a moment, looking at her feet, then looked back up at Ginny, who was watching her quietly, a half-smile on her face.

"Thanks... er... for doing my hair, Gin."

"No problem 'Mione. Feel free to come back anytime. Your hair is great to work with, once you brush it out a bit."

Hermione nodded, and then left without another glance to Ginny. She knew that was more than an invitation to get her hair played with.

Back in the Common Room, Hermione had begun writing the essay that was due on Monday. But Ginny was still on her mind. It had been ten minutes since she left, and the boys should be back soon. Ginny had returned to the Common Room shortly after Hermione, and was lounging lazily in a chair by the fire, apparently asleep.

Brown eyes and peaches.

Hermione sighed softly.

A scrape at the portrait hole suggested some students were returning, and Hermione blushed, turning her thoughts back to her paper.

Voices floated her direction, and soon Ron and Harry stood to either side of her. She didn't look up.

"Hey 'Mione," came Ron's chipper, confidant voice. It had grown deeper since last year.

"H'Lo Ron... " she answered, and busied herself with her paper again.

"Hey Hermione," came Harry's softer, sullen voice.

"H'lo Harry," she answered.

"Hey... 'Mione. What'd you do with your hair?" A stifled giggle. She turned to see Ron grinning at her, trying not to laugh, and Harry looking mildly curious and smiling.

"Yah, it looks good. What did you do with it?" Harry echoed.

She spared a glance at Ginny, who opened an eye at her and grinned, then pretended to be asleep again. The 6th year blushed.

"Oh... er... Ginny did it for me... said I should take a break from my paper," she said softly, then glanced at Ron, who was still snickering, and managed her first disapproving scowl in hours. "What? You don't like it, Ron?"

"What? No, no, it looks good 'Mione, honest. Just... different." Ron shrugged helplessly, and chuckled. Harry smiled in his soft, approving manner and nodded silently.

Hermione smiled as well. "I'm going to have her do it again tomorrow, too," she said, feeling like the words didn't really come out of her mouth.

The boys just shook their heads at her and grinned, then went off to play a game or two of Wizard Chess. Hermione finished her paper, and eventually went to bed.

She dreamt of brown eyes and peaches... and woke up looking forward to getting her hair done again.