Our Own Special Place

Our Own Special Place

Chapter 4

Ginny was flying through a clear blue sky holding tight to the Quaffle. The hoops were in front of her; there was no keeper. She hurled the bright red ball with all of her might. She felt the muscles in her arm flex and relax. A perfect goal, not through the center of the center hoop, but through the bottom left side of the left hoop, the ball whizzed over the golden edge about 5 inches away. That was her best shot; sneak it through the edge, even if there is no keeper. Practice that and no one will beat you.

The pitch was gone. She was still flying, but now over a strange and almost barren looking forest. She saw a stream cutting awkwardly through the forest. The stream had no banks, but rather a sharp drop on either side. As if an enormous hand had run its finger through the soft earth and made a trench to fill with water. She followed the stream, flying so low over the trees that her feet brushed the leaves. She knew that there was something important at the end of the stream. Something she needed desperately.

She saw ahead the trees stopped abruptly. She decided to land on the forest edge of the break so that she would not be seen approaching. Her feet hit the soft ground and her broom disappeared. She walked to the edge of the forest and saw a magnificent waterfall that seemed to originate and end in the same crystal clear pool that was fed by the stream. She thought idly that it would be fun to run naked through the field like the dancing rituals of her great, great grandmothers. Whooping at the sun and the clouds in her isolation. She was nearly naked when she spotted the weeping willow tree. She finished stripping as she walked towards it, then the tapping started. Like bone on glass. The meadow was slipping away; the tree had vanished. She would not get the thing that she desperately needed from under the tree.

Hermione was sitting, awake and naked in her bed reading from a huge book entitled Advanced Human Transfiguration. Ginny was sleeping peacefully next to her, making soft, sweet noises in her sleep. Ginny's arm was wrapped around the new duvet. A red one. The exact shade of her hair.

Hermione was studying her lover's naked shoulder when the tapping started. Ginny was stirring, sleeping peacefully no more. Hermione kissed the red head's cheek and put on her robe.

"Damn bird." Hermione thought as she opened the window. A great barn owl flew in. Hermione had never met this bird, and he seemed to have a collar around his neck. This was a rental post owl, but it did not carry her Daily Prophet. She removed the letter, and the bird flew off with a hoot.

"Baby, do you have to get that wretched newspaper every day?" mumbled Ginny sleepily.

"Actually, it's a letter for you Gin," Hermione's look of confusion was compounded by Ginny's.

Dear Ginny- Are you having fun with Hermione, dear? Sorry to send such an early owl, I know that when I used to stay at my friend's houses we stayed up all night talking about boys and love potions and what not. Anyway, just writing to let you know that your father and I will be there tomorrow at noon to pick you up, and we were thinking that maybe Hermione would like to come and spend the last bit of the holiday here with us. Harry is coming to stay in a couple weeks if Dumbledore gives the final OK.

So, anyway, we'll see you two girls tomorrow around noon. Do try and come stay with us for a while Hermione, you know that Arthur and I consider you and Harry to be two of our very own, dear.

Love and Kisses,

Mom

PS- Poor Erol is out of action for a while; flew into a wall on his way to London two days ago, poor dear. So we had Pigwidgeon go and rent this owl for our use until Erol is fit again. He's handsome isn't he? Fred and George offered to buy him for us, but I don't want to offend dear Erol.

Ginny had subconsciously pulled the covers up to cover her naked body as she read the words her mother had written. When Hermione realized that the letter was from Mrs. Weasley she leapt under the covers herself, glad there was no fireplace in her room. Too many times had she seen heads pop up unexpectedly in fires to deliver similar messages.

Ginny turned pale as she read the letter, and then she handed it to Hermione to read. Hermione turned more of a shade of green than anything else. Her stomach turned as she thought of Mrs. Weasley thinking of her as a daughter. Mrs. Weasley would hate her for what she had done this week with Ginny.

Hermione turned and looked at her lover. Ginny looked somewhat small and shaky in the large duvet that matched her hair.

"Well," Hermione said. "I think there is only one thing we can do."

Ginny nodded and gulped.

Dear Mum,

Thanks for the letter. That owl was beautiful; you should let the twins buy him for you. I think it might be better if you come a bit earlier than noon tomorrow. You see, Hermione's parents are going to be getting home around 1 o'clock, and Mione and I have something to talk to you and Dad about before they get home.

I think it would probably be better for us to decide about Hermione coming to stay after we all talk. We both want her to come, and she is all packed, but we should talk first.

I wish I could say more, but it is not right to put it in a letter. I'll wait until you get here tomorrow, but it is nothing bad. In fact, it is the best thing that has ever happened to me!

See you tomorrow,

Ginny

The letter that took Ginny and Hermione almost all day to compose lay open on the Weasley kitchen table as Ginny stepped out of the fire the next day. She was carrying a battered old suitcase and a bright new blue one.

Ron was sitting at the table, staring in horror at the letter Ginny had written. He looked up at her as she emerged from the fireplace. She could tell that he knew what was going on. Her parents had known the minute they saw her, too, said something about it being written all over her face.

Mr. Weasley came out of the fire next and picked up his daughter, holding her high in his arms. He was flushed with happiness and grinning from ear to ear.

"Five rolls of parchment, Ron, my boy. Little Ginny here brought me five rolls of parchment notes on muggle houses!"

Hermione stepped out of the fire next. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Ron. He stood and his ears flamed scarlet. He stood staring at Hermione silently for a long moment.

"Ron dear, Ginny and Hermione have the most exciting news! Your father and I are so proud of our dear little Ginny. She's fallen in love! Isn't that just wonderful?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she stepped out of the fire and put her arm around Hermione.

Ron grunted, turned, and stomped huffily from the room. Hermione slumped, she was afraid this would happen. Ginny reached down and touched her shoulder.

Mrs. Weasley bent down and patted Hermione's other shoulder and said softly, "Don't worry dear, he'll be OK. Boys are like this sometimes, but he will get over his disappointment soon."

There was a long moment of awkward silence. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could not find any words of encouragement for their daughter and Hermione. They had been so pleased to find out about Ginny and Hermione's relationship. Not only because it meant that their daughter was happy, but also because they had always been quite fond of Hermione.

Hermione had never felt so guilty in her life.

Mrs. Weasley tried desperately to calm the mood in the best way she knew how. "Now, who's ready for lunch?"