Like a Flower

The wind rattled the Gryffindor common room windows as a storm raged outside, trying to break in. Howling as if it comprehended it wouldn't succeed, but kept on smashing anyway, crashing, searching for flaws in the solid defence.

Hermione shuddered involuntarily.

'Thank God I stayed here,' she thought to herself.

Most of the year was trapped in Hogsmeade - the storm had prevented them from returning and now they would have to spend a night in the crowded, smelly Three Broomsticks pub. The only Gryffindor sixth years left were Seamus, who was up in his dorm studying for a potions exam; and Lavender, who was sick with a bad cold in the hospital wing. All the shrieking younger students had gone to bed and a duvet of silence had descended, smothering noise as it went.

Hermione was sitting in front of the blazing fire reading, with a cup of steaming tea on the armrest, her woolly dressing gown wrapped tightly around her waist.

'Something is missing,' she wondered vaguely; but for some reason she always had that feeling, so it was dismissed and promptly forgotten.

'I really should go up to bed.'

This thought was only fleeting, though, because it was warm and cosy by the fire. Sleep had other ideas though and started to invade her mind. Hermione stood up suddenly stretching, attempting to throw off the thrall of drowsiness.

The dancing flames of the fire threw shadows ceaselessly onto the red and gold drapes hanging on the walls. It occurred to Hermione that the common room looked magnificent by the light of a fire - solid oak doors leading to the dorms, dark furniture worn by years of use, the golden light from the fire complementing the deep crimson of the walls.

It seemed as if the common room was the only place left alive. The silence crept in from the corridor outside and the rooms above, echoing ominously, whispering that there was nothing left.

Hermione turned to the window, to convince her doubting mind that everything was still there. Outside thunder and lightening were competing as to who could be the stronger. A sudden crash made her jump. She gasped, amazed at the effect thunder and lightening can have on....

'Oh sorry - I didn't mean to disturb you.'

Hermione spun around, as if hit, and came face to face with the pale, freckled countenance of Ginny Weasly.

'Ginny, you frightened me - could you at least give a little warning when you are going to sneak up on someone?' she spluttered, angry at being seen to be taken aback by something as stupid as bloody thunder and lightening.

Ginny's face fell and her shoulders drooped, embarrassed. Hermione instantly felt guilty. Shouting at Ginny was like purposely crushing a flower, a sin.

'Sorry - I'm a little edgy. I'm worried about Harry and Ron.'

'So am I, that's why I can't sleep. I really hope they got a room somewhere.'

Ginny was only wearing her pyjamas and was shivering, despite the heat. Instinctively Hermione gently pulled her closer to the fire and sat her down. Her hands went straight out, gratefully grabbing warmth. Hermione idly leant over the back of the chair and played with Ginny's red gold hair, so unlike her own. It fell like water through her fingers, so soft it left barely any touch.

'You feeling any warmer, Gin?'

Ginny nodded. Hermione moved round, pulled a chair up and sat equally as close to the fire. She could now see Ginny's face. It was flushed. Hermione started to wonder if it was from the heat but her train of thought was cut off by a quiet voice.

'Thanks Mione.'

'For what?'

'Just for always being there, always standing by me; even when Ron and Harry ignore me, you never do.'

'Ah...that's fine Ginny.'

'Where on earth did that come from?' she thought.

'It's just that...sometimes it feels like you are the only person who sees me. To most people, it's like I don't exist. Like I'm worth nothing.'

Hermione looked up sharply at Ginny. Her features were downcast, and a tear had managed to trickle out of the corner of her eye. She put her hand up and rested it on Ginny's shoulder.

'Ginny, you are NOT worth nothing. It is just the way guys sometimes are. They don't realise they ignore you. To them it's all Quidditch and making loud bangs.'

A sob escaped her mouth. The trickle of tears continued. Hermione reached out her other arm and held Ginny. Ginny, feeling the homeliness of another person's arms around her automatically moved towards Hermione and curled up on her lap in a little ball. Hermione stroked her back and made soothing noises. Soon her sobs became less regular Ginny looked up, her face tear stained and hair messy. She reached out for another hug wrapping her arms around Hermione's neck.

Hermione felt so much pity for the girl holding onto her. She was so downtrodden, destroyed before she had even had her time to shine.

'Ginny is so perfect - she's pretty and modest and smart. Why can't she succeed?' she thought, hugging her tighter.

'It's not fair,' pondered Hermione aloud.

'What's not fair?' The muffled question came from somewhere in Hermione's hair.

'Just no one realises what a wonderful person you are, and they leave you thinking that you are nothing. It's wrong.'

Ginny withdrew her face.

'I'm wonderful?'

Hermione looked properly for the first time into Ginny's teary brown eyes. They were filled with pain and hurt, but a spark of ...something was shining in them now.

'Yes you a...'

Hermione was cut off by Ginny leaning in and brushing her lips against the older girl's. To Hermione it was like a feather, dusting across her mouth. Had she imagined it?

She raised her hand to her lips, trying to mimic the touch, staring into the deep pools of melted chocolate before her. Ginny moved her hand away and leant in again. This time it was more like an explosion. Electricity flew from her mouth all over her body, making nerves tingle. Ginny's soft lips were caressing Hermione's. Hermione started to respond. She moved her hands from Ginny's back to her face, cupping it like a delicate bird, hoping it wouldn't fly away. Silk flowing across her lips. Knowing, learning, understanding. So fragile, the moment holding by a thread, she was afraid to do anything more, lest it might break. She could taste something...strawberry. Finally, Ginny pulled away and the spell was broken. Hermione was sitting, mouth slightly open, bewildered. Ginny blushed an even deeper red.

'Sorry...'

'That was...it was....'

Ginny scrambled off Hermione's legs. She hadn't even realised that Ginny was still sitting there. Thoughts flew through her mind.

'What the hell was that,' seemed to be the one that stuck most. Before she could ask, Ginny had opened the door to the girl's dorms and run up the stairs, leaving a confused Hermione sitting, mouth still open, in front of the fire. She gulped. What was going on...............and why on earth did it feel so right?

Hermione awoke up to the unwelcome feeling of Ron and Harry shaking her.

'Mione! Get up - You fell asleep studying again - GET UP - breakfast is soon!'

'Oh.... yeah....'

'Come on - Wake up.'

'Ok I'm awake.'

Hermione couldn't remember studying last night. She tried to remember.... and it all flooded back, like a dam had burst in her brain.

'Oh God...'

'What?'

'Nothing nothing - How was The Three Broomsticks?'

'Noisy, crowded, smelly and too hot.' replied Ron; his mouth twisted into a grimace.

'We survived though. You would not believe the amount of fleabites...'

Hermione drifted off, her mind on Ginny. She could still taste her lips, and her hands retained the heat from her face. Yet, she couldn't completely understand what happened. She stood up abruptly. Ron was still talking.

'So this hag. I swear she smelt like...Where are you going?'

'I have to find Ginny. She needed.... uh...help with her homework.'

With that she walked, as calmly as she could, towards the door.

'Ginny...Ginny. Wake up.'

The whispers mixed with Ginny's dreams, changing them.

'Come on - please wake up.'

This whisper was more urgent, and threw her out of the dream world. Her eyes opened and stared up at Hermione, blankly.

Seconds later, something clicked and blush crept up from her neck to her cheeks, spreading, chewing up her pale skin, swallowing her freckles.

'Look Hermione, I'm really really sorry about last night. It's that...you...I just.... I couldn't.'

'Ginny, I'm ok.... Ok?'

A smile broke out across Ginny's face and the worry vanished, the crease on her forehead gone. It brightened Hermione's mood, just to see the way her smile lit up the whole room. It was like lights had been switched on in her eyes. They glowed with pleasure. The blush had reduced to a rose patch on her cheeks.

'She looks so innocent and pure, like an angel,' flashed across Hermione's mind.

Ginny's kiss was lingering on her lips and she could still taste the strawberry lip balm she used. The memory was there, but dying slowly. She couldn't bear it, looking now at the girl who had left her sitting alone in the common room, and reached her hand up to Ginny's chin. Slowly, surely she drew her closer, tracing her jaw line with her thumb barely touching. Hermione could hear Ginny's breathing become a little erratic. She stopped and looked. Looked deep into Ginny's eyes, windows into her soul. Looked and saw the longing to be needed, the love and the rejection she felt. Hermione closed her eyes and moved the last distance, closed the gap. She was flying. It was kissing petals from a flower dancing on the air. The smell of Ginny, like sleep and fresh clothes, invaded her nostrils and the taste of strawberries made her taste buds overload. Hermione pushed the kiss deeper, running her tongue over her teeth and into Ginny's willing mouth. She immediately responded, touching her tongue off Hermione's. It caused sensations through Hermione's body; some in places she could have sworn were dead.

Ginny's hands started to roam, following the feminine lines of her body, stroking lightly with the tips of her fingers, moving from her hips to her bottom to her breasts to her back, finally coming to rest on her waist. Hermione felt somehow whole, like nothing could touch her now she was with Ginny, kissing Ginny. It was weird; she had never thought about her this way before. Never even considered the flame haired solemn little girl who, it hit her, had turned into an extremely beautiful woman. She had always been Ron's little sister, tagging along, to be pitied and humoured. But now...all that filled her mind was Ginny. Her hair, smelling of the tea tree shampoo she used, her lips, full and blood red, her curves, so clearly defined beneath her nightshirt. Hermione finally realised what was missing. It was Ginny.

Yes she had thought of girls that way, watched under half closed eyelids in the girls dorms, noticed when they used new perfumes, admired their shape beneath dark robes, but never Ginny. And never had she reached out and touched.

The barrier, which had stopped her, was gone now, smashed into pieces by one kiss. Hermione pulled back. She needed look into Ginny's eyes again. They were deep brown, with flecks of yellow, normally revealing her loneliness, now showing only love.

'Ginny...I think I love you.'

The silence was deafening, crashing around Hermione's ears. How could she have said that? How could she even know that she loved her? But it felt good and.... right sitting here staring at Ginny, noticing things like the tiny scar above her left eyebrow or the freckle on her lip. Every part of her face was perfect, as if carved exactly from the blueprint given by God. How could this perfection love her... there was no way...

Ginny saw the distress in Hermione's eyes. She hated to see it. She despised being the cause of it. Everything had changed the second she had looked up into Hermione's face and seen how much she cared. No one had ever cared that much.

'I know I love you.'