First Kiss

First Kiss

Ginny stood before the locked door and sighed, hearing the faint sounds of sobbing on the other side.

"Hermione...Hermione, it's me, Ginny. Please let me in."

The miserable cries quieted somewhat, but no answer was forthcoming.

"Please? I brought you some dinner...Mum was worried when you wouldn't come down..." Ginny listened for a few seconds but her inquiry was met with silence. Praying that her friend had been too upset to jinx the door, she pulled out her wand and murmured 'Alohamora'. The door produced a satisfying click and Ginny entered, carrying a plate of nondescript sandwiches.

Hermione was lying face down on the bed, shoulders heaving as she cried into the pillow. Ginny's heart twisted at the sight and a fierce anger against her brother suddenly surged upward. Hermione and Ron's bickering had moved into a stormy on-again-off-again relationship in the past year, but every 'off-again' was the result of a vicious argument instigated by Ron. It was never her brother whose heart was broken, Ginny thought angrily, only poor Hermione. Her best friend deserved better, much better...someone who truly cared for her...someone who understood her...Ginny stopped her train of thought abruptly, ashamed. Regardless of what her feelings towards Hermione were, it wasn't fair to either her brother or her best friend to act on them in any way. It was far better to ignore her feelings, repress them, and settle for just being there for Hermione. Like now.

Ginny left the unwanted dinner on the floor and moved to the bed, sitting next to her friend and stroking her hair softly. "It's all right, I know he didn't mean it...everything will be OK..." she recited softly, the comfort lay in her tone more than simply the banal words. Hermione rolled over, eyes shining with tears. Ginny almost sighed, but caught herself. She had wanted Hermione for years, ever since she realised that boys just didn't hold her interest. The flame-haired girl looked sadly at her friend.

"Why...why do we always end up screaming at each other?" Hermione whispered. "We were such good friends...shouldn't that make this...us...easier?"

Ginny thought privately that what made Ron and Hermione good friends was their opposite natures, and while that had provided a spark, would not give Hermione the stability she craved. When Hermione was with Ron, she was always the sensible one, the adult, and while Ron probably never thought about it, this restricted Hermione. She couldn't be herself...she couldn't relax the way she did when it was just her and Ginny...Hermione continued into the silence,

"Sometimes I hate him...but most times I don't feel anything anymore...I mean, I still care about him, but I certainty don't love him...I'm not really attracted to him anymore...sometimes I wonder why I bother...I think we were just meant to be friends..."

Ginny's heart leapt but she quashed any lingering hopes ruthlessly. She had heard this kind of talk from Hermione before and it never went anywhere. In spite of this, and her desperate attempts to be fair, she replied

"Perhaps you two should let it go. If it's only hurting you, then maybe it would be better if you were just friends."

Just friends. The continual agony of Ginny's life.

"Perhaps..." Hermione acknowledged sadly. "He doesn't understand me at all...not like you...you always understand me..."

Ginny smiled, pleased with the compliment. At least I can be a good friend.

Hermione fell silent again and Ginny took this opportunity to lay next to her, pulling her into a platonic hug. Even so, the warmth of Hermione's body so close to hers sent thrills coursing through Ginny's body. This is innocent...just friendly...just friendly...Ginny repeated to herself, unable to repress a shiver as Hermione snuggled in closer, her breath warm on Ginny's neck.

"Why does this feel better than when Ron holds me?"

Ginny froze. No...it couldn't...she couldn't mean...Hermione was still murmuring to herself, too softly for Ginny to catch more than the odd, meaningless word. Boy...hurting...warm...red...words that could mean anything.

Until she kissed her.

Soft, butterfly kisses along her neck.

Ginny's brain promptly shut down and she gasped, realising her innermost hopes might not be in vain. Taking this for encouragement, Hermione raised her head so they were face to face. Ginny stared into the older girl's face trying to read the emotions, and was surprised and delighted to read lust in those beautiful eyes. No...she's vulnerable...I couldn't take advantage...but she's here...and it's real...

All of Ginny's unspoken objections died in that instant.

Her lips were soft and tasted faintly of honey, with a tinge of salt from her earlier tears.

Ginny moaned deeply in the back of her thought as the kiss deepened, tongues gently teasing as they explored the taste of each other's mouths. Hermione's hands were buried in Ginny's flame-like hair, while Ginny gently stroked Hermione's sides, their bodies pressed tightly together. Ginny moved her hands upwards, hardly daring to reach for the firm breasts so close to hers, unwilling to spoil this moment. They finally broke apart, gasping for air and looked at each other in silence.

Ginny's heart was pounding madly as she struggled for control. Was she going to say it was all a terrible mistake? Was she angry? - when Hermione reached out and gently stroked her face.

"I've wanted this for so long," she said softly, tenderly. "You're so beautiful Ginny."

Ginny couldn't form a response; it seemed as if everything in her had exploded in dazzling lights. Misreading the silence, Hermione's face contorted in fear and she pulled away. "I-I'm sorry...I shouldn't - Oh, God..."

"Shut up and come here," Ginny replied roughly, the lust taking hold as Hermione's words sunk in.

Ginny hooked one leg over Hermione, pulling her closer and bent to kiss her again, their hair mingling as their mouths met, bodies intertwined. Bolder now, Ginny reached for Hermione's firm breasts and caressed them softly - so different from a boy's touch, this feminine coupling - as yet, through the thin shirt, feeling the firm nipples. Desire spasmed through her as Hermione's back arched and she clutched at Ginny harder, but the younger girl fought the urge to rip her clothes off and touch and taste every inch of that delicious body. But not yet. They had time.

Wonderingly, hesitantly, Hermione returned Ginny's caress, delighting in the feel of a body so similar, yet so different to her own. Tuned in to each other's sensations in a way only two women could be, they met each others gaze and read the mutual choice. They both wanted so much more...but they would savour this time. This first kiss.