Ti Amo

The vague strains of a funeral march were playing through Hermione's mind. Today was the day she and Ginny had set aside to tell Harry and Ron. At that thought, a sickening thump signalled the start of her stomach's gymnastics routine. A fresh wave of nausea swept through her and she dashed for the nearest bathroom and collapsed over a toilet, retching.

The coolness of the stone felt good against her cheek, combating the fever of her vomiting. She had slumped on the floor, arm still clasping onto the sterile ceramic bowl.

This is definitely not a good sign...

"Mione? Are you in here?" a disembodied voice called, breaking the sickly silence.

"Yeah Gin."

Footsteps clicked across the stone floor, bringing Ginny to the thin wooden door.

"Hey, can I come in?" The soft tone comforted Hermione, and she could almost feel the warmth and security of Ginny's arms around her.

A metallic swish and the door swung open, revealing the figure of a pale Hermione on the ground, drained. Ginny fell to her knees, and grabbed her, enveloping her in bear hug.

"Poor Mione. What's wrong, honey?"

Hermione cringed slightly through her tears at the endearment. Ginny knew she didn't like soppy nicknames, but sometimes they slipped out.

"Harry....Ron...."

Ginny understood instantly. Hermione had been dreading telling her two closest friends, but had insisted they be informed first.

"I suppose...we don't have to tell them today. If you really don't want to."

A small sigh of defeat escaped Ginny. Another day of pretending and lying, being on guard in case someone saw them.

"No."

Hermione stood up and braced her shoulders, her face set.

"We are going to tell them today. I can't be frightened of it forever, or I'll never get to hold you... kiss you without being terrified of being caught. Today. After dinner. I've got to do this, now or never. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives together."

Ginny sniggered at the cliché, and pulled herself up off the ground. She laced her fingers together with Hermione's, pushing her against the open door of the cubicle.

"Well we aren't going to get caught now... so what about that kiss you just promised?"

"Is that all you heard? Out of everything I said? Oh great, I have a one-track minded girlfriend."

Ginny's raised an eyebrow.

"But that's why you love me? Right?"

The beginnings of a smile quirked at the edges of Hermione's mouth.

"Yuh huh," she said leaning over, aching to taste the glossy red lips in front of her.

"Must you always do that in my line of vision?"

Hermione groaned slightly as she recognised the foreign accent, and realised she hadn't remembered to lock the door to the bathroom.

She leant to the side, whispering in Ginny's ear. "No prizes for guessing who that is..."

Ginny echoed Hermione's frustrated noise and pulled away from the warm embrace.

"Siria. Wonderful to see you", she spat out, still having not forgiven her for the 'Virginia' remark a few days ago.

"I'm sure the pleasure is all yours." A smile was playing on her lips.

"How do you manage to do that? Is it a spell or something?" Hermione inquired.

"Manage what? To keep walking in on you two? Just...luck... I suppose."

"But this must be about the fifth time in less than a week."

Siria shrugged, not really caring what deductions Hermione came to.

"Look, great to see you and all that, but I would like just a little time alone with Hermione, so would you lock the door on your way out?"

"Ah, sorry. Can't. Last class is over, meaning this room is now in full use."

Ginny swore under her breath. Hermione looked horrified.

"You mean I missed a whole class? Oh no...I've got to get the notes. What was the homework? I'll need to go apologise to Professor McGonagall. I'll see you later Gin." And, with a quick peck, she was gone to rectify the damage.

"Hermione, I'm in your Transfiguration class. I have the work..."

Siria's shouting was in vain, as Hermione was already out of earshot. She turned back to Ginny.

"Well... goodbye then."

Ginny tossed a quick 'bye' and slouched out of the bathroom in search of the prefect. These last few days were very trying. Aside from Siria barging in on them constantly, and Hermione's panic attacks, she had to cope with the extra homework the teachers were piling on because of the OWLs. She couldn't understand the reasoning behind this. Weren't they supposed to be studying, and not spending all their time writing pointless essays on the most trivial of topics? Anyway, the exams weren't for 2 months yet.

Class, work, homework, revision...and no outlet to vent because of that interfering snob Siria...I just need a break

The beginnings of a headache were already making themselves known, throbbing slightly against her forehead.

Could this day get any worse...

Dinner came all too quickly for Hermione. She sat across from Harry and Ron, who were still in fits of laughter after recounting to her the events of Transfiguration, during which Neville had surpassed his previous record of incompetence by managing to mis-spell four pineapples into exploding over everyone. She tried to concentrate on the story but the words escaped her, flying straight over her head. White-hot fear had begun to settle in the pit of her stomach, and already she could feel the bile pushing at the back of her throat.

What happens if they don't believe us? Or reject us? Or hate us? Or never want to see us again, ever? What if they can't cope with this? This is a really stupid idea. Why do we have to tell them anyway? Because they have to know, that's why. But... I can't face losing two good friends.

"Or what if they accept us, and we are finally free?"

Hermione stared at Ginny in complete amazement.

"How did you know?"

Ginny flashed a quick, shy grin and ran her fingers down Hermione's arm, sending a jolt of electricity through her.

"It will be ok. I promise. Whatever happens, no matter what, I'll be here."

"I know Gin."

"Right, you two. What's going on? You've been acting really strangely lately. You're constantly hugging and stuff. Last year you were only barely friends. What's with the sudden turnabout?" asked Ron, not only shocking Ginny and Hermione, but Harry as well.

He and Ron had been wondering what was going on for a while, and had had many conversations centring on it, but never had they considered asking the girls straight out.

"Ron, you plonker!" exclaimed Harry.

"What? You want to know as much as I do!"

"Yes, but you're not supposed to just ask them.."

"Why not?"

"Because..errr...you can't..."

Hermione and Ginny watched on, a little surprised at Ron's bluntness, and that the boys had noticed something. Hermione felt Ginny's gaze on her, and she knew what it meant. She nodded, answering the silent question.

Harry and Ron were still bickering over the outburst.

"Bloody hell Harry, I just wanted to know. What's wrong with that?"

Ginny gave a cough, drawing the attention back to herself.

"Um...Hermione and I have something to tell you. We... well that is to say... have become... well... we realised...that..." Ginny shot a pleading look at Hermione, clearly begging for help.

"What Gin is trying to say is... you have to understand... well... you see we have...you know..."

"Hermione and I are..."

"Um..together..."

"Kind of..."

"Sort of..."

Harry's face creased into a frown. Hermione could almost see his mind working overtime to interpret the information. Within seconds the spark of realisation in his eyes had grown to a full-blown fire.

"So you and Ginny are together together?"

Hermione gave him a small smile.

"Yes. We are in love. And...," she reached for Ginny's hand for reassurance, "I don't care what you think. I really don't. I think you two deserve to be told, but if you aren't going to accept us, then... we can't be friends anymore."

Ginny was ecstatic to finally hear those words coming from Hermione's mouth. She had been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever.

"Wait a second. My little sister is gay? How the hell did that happen?"

"It happened when I realised that I am completely, utterly, head over heels in love with Hermione, and no amount of pretending I wasn't was going to change anything."

Ron frowned, glaring at the two of them and Harry was gaping, unable to speak, eyes now glazed over. Hermione gave Ginny's hand a quick squeeze, leaning over to whisper into her ear.

"I love you. I don't care what they say. I'm completely, utterly, head over heels in love with you too." Hermione repeated Ginny's declaration of love in a teasing tone.

"I'll talk to you later... I have to go."

The clatter of Ron's chair hitting the floor brought the girls back to reality. They both watched in dismay as Ron almost flew out the door with a mute Harry following him, seemingly oblivious to the crowd of students he was pushing through.

Hermione leaned back and closed her eyes.

"It could have been worse Mione."

"Yeah... I suppose."

But it could have been so much better.