The Incredible True Story of Two Witches in Love

In the dream Hermione stood at the tower window, her lamp casting a small circle of streaming light around her bare feet. The window was open and a warm night breeze blew the smell of the forbidden forest into the cold stone room. Outside she could see countless tiny stars glimmering in the darkness, an enormous full moon, and in front of the moon, Ginny. She was naked, her pale skin glowed softly with the reflected moonlight and her hair was a smudge of purple. The breeze blew strands of hair across her face as she floated in mid-air. In her two hands she held a huge red glass goblet resting on a on a silver stem with roses and crescent moons etched into its rim. An eerie light shone from the liquid in the goblet, and steam rose in tendrils from its dark surface.

"Drink," said Ginny. Hermione did not want to drink, but she found herself walking towards the window. Ginny put the goblet to Hermione's lips. It was too sweet and too thick, like maraschino cherry syrup, and it repulsed her but she drank greedily until the goblet emptied itself and disappeared. Ginny held out her hand.

"Now fly with me," she said, and as Hermione took her hand she felt herself lifting off the ground. It was as if they were as light as a sheet of paper which the wind picked up and wafted out of the window into the wide night sky. She felt the wind on her skin and realized that she was also naked. It was a feeling of such freedom that it was intoxicating. The moon and stars were her sisters, the forest stretching out below them was all her domain, and Ginny was her liberator. Hermione threw back her head and laughed and shouted triumphantly, pulling Ginny to her and running her hands over Ginny's cool skin. Ginny put her legs around Hermione and they rose giggling and shrieking into the sky. They began kissing and with every kiss Hermione felt further and further from the ground, far away from the life in which nothing like this ever happened. This was as if all her luck had been saving itself to manifest in one moment of happiness. Ginny's full lips were pressed against hers as though she would never believe it was true, never be satisfied. Her left arm was thrown around Ginny's neck and Ginny's left arm was around her waist, but other than that they were a mirror: two sets of round hips rubbing themselves against the other's right thigh, two smooth sets of legs gliding over each other with every grind of the hips, two delicate faces- one fiery and one dark- eagerly kissing as their silhouettes passed over the moon. A wild feeling of abandon overtook Hermione and heat came over her body without warning. She suddenly felt as though she could not stop, and the wind, which had been so gentle, reached into her body and plucked at the core of her being as if she were a harp. For a moment there was no sound, no light. The world and even she herself went away and nothing remained but pleasure, a pleasure so intense that it eclipsed thought and she gasped for breath. When she opened her eyes, she was looking into two huge green eyes. When the eyes pulled back to reveal Ginny's gleefully smiling face, she felt a twinge of guilt. Then the number of rules they had just transgressed began to tally itself in her mind: sneaking around after lights-out, going to the Forbidden forest, flying without supervision, not to mention being very, very out of uniform.

"Ginny," said Hermione, "we need to go back."

"But it's so fun to be dark," said Ginny as a wicked gleam began to show in her eyes.

Hermione looked down at the hand that so casually rested against her breast and saw the Dark Mark on the pale freckled forearm.

"No," said Hermione, "Oh no."

She pulled away from Ginny. Lifting her own arm off Ginny's neck, she caught sight of her own forearm and a sick, cold feeling came over her. There, on her own arm, was the Dark Mark.

She opened her eyes with a start and Parvati was standing over her with a concerned look. She was in her own bed, under the covers and her heart was racing.

"Were you having a nightmare?" said Parvati, "You were saying "oh no, oh no."

"For a moment Ginny's face flashed across Hermione's mind, as she looked down at the shattered ceramic bowl and the white powder on Hermione's face.

"Oh no" Ginny had said.

"It's time I found out what was really in that powder," thought Hermione.

"Are you all right?" Parvati asked, "Do you want to sleep with Simon?" She held out the teddy bear to Hermione.

"Do you mean it?" asked Hermione.

"Go ahead," said Parvati, "He's not much of a talker but he's perfect for snuggles."

Hermione was not very tired but there wasn't anything she could do without arousing suspicion.

"Thank you," she said to Parvati, taking the bear. "It must have been a love potion," she thought as she folded her arms around Simon and pretended to sleep. Perhaps later that night she could sneak up into the boy's room and ask Harry to borrow his invisibility cloak, and then go down to Ginny's floor and look in her locker. "She might still have the ingredients," thought Hermione. Then it dawned on her. Harry. That potion could only have been for Harry. Ginny had been crushing on him since first year, everyone know that, but to use a love potion? Hermione felt awful just thinking about it and a knot of fear began to form in her stomach. Love potions were illegal dark magic. Even Advanced Potions students were only allowed to learn their ingredients and antidotes, not how to actually brew them. If it really were a love potion, Ginny could be expelled. And how would Harry feel? How would she feel, if she were Harry? Could she really ask him to keep such a secret from Ron, about Ron's own sister? The image of Harry's disappointed and sadly resigned face came to her mind, and it was like a needle in her heart. No, she couldn't tell Harry or Ron. She would have to confront Ginny and find the antidote herself. -----

In the morning, after dressing, Hermione turned the time turner and crept out the painting to the library. In addition to the time turner, she had been given the key to the restricted section, as had all Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts students. She went to the section on love potions and looked up powders. There were several. Fairy Dust could be used as a love potion, but it only made the recipient impressed with your beauty and susceptible to suggestion.

"Not potent enough," though Hermione. Zeus's Gold was the most potent one, inducing in its victim a desperate need to make love immediately with the first person they saw and obedience to that person which would last until death. However, it was gold in colour, not white. Then Hermione saw what she had been searching for.

"Sucresate Powder," read Hermione, "a fine white dust, it was used by wizards during the Roman times as part of Saturnalia celebrations. Also known as Lust Incense, it was burned on braziers in banquet rooms or blown through ornate golden pipes off balconies over crowds of revelers. Those affected by Sucresate would fall in love with the first person they saw but their conscious judgment would not be altered. Their love would last until they had make love three times." Hermione paused. Vague images of historical orgies intruded on her thoughts and she saw herself and Ginny in a room full of writhing bodies in togas.

"Three times in one night?" she thought, and then remembered that the festival had lasted several days. "I guess that insured that every participant would have a partner, regardless of looks or the ratio of women to men." Despite her situation, Hermione allowed herself to be impressed with their ingenuity. "Let's see: ingredients, historical relevance, where is the antidote section?" She flipped the page back and forth. "Perhaps it's in Annotated Antidotes." She pulled another enormous book off the shelf. She was still flipping through pages when the first bell rang and she realized she had missed breakfast again. With a frown, Hermione reshelved the books and set off for her first class.

Ginny was not at the Gryffindor table at lunch.

"Is Ginny feeling ill?" Hermione asked Ron, but Ron just shrugged with his mouth full and Hermione didn't want to raise suspicions. The attendance of the rest of her classes and prereading for the next day's lectures occupied the remainder of Hermione's unnaturally long afternoon. Ginny arrived later than usual for dinner, and left earlier, which meant she couldn't get a seat anywhere near Harry or Ron. "Or me for that matter," thought Hermione, "which is understandable, given what she must be feeling." Hermione had been thinking of guilt, over the illegal potion, or embarrassment, but then she realized Ginny must be feeling something else as well... love. The thought of Ginny loving her and avoiding her presence made Hermione feel sorry for Ginny. "After being in love with Harry: Gryffindor seeker and destroyer of evil, being in love with Hermione: ink stained nerd who couldn't catch the snitch if it hit her in the face must feel pretty pathetic." Then she reminded herself of what Ginny had done. "I have to get angry", she chided herself, "or I'll never be able to fight the effects of the powder."

"Hermione?" said Harry. Hermione looked up.

"Yes?" Harry looked confused.

"Would you like some cream for your spaghetti?"

"What? Oh..." Hermione looked down at her plate and saw that she had been spooning sugar into her pasta instead of her iced tea.

"Or do you prefer your spaghetti black?" Ron added, raising his eyebrows. Hermione sighed.

"I'm just a little preoccupied." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the complete truth either, and Hermione knew she had been seen through by the look Harry and Ron exchanged. Harry spoke first.

"Hermione, I know I can't tell you to drop a class," he began. Ron's face at Harry's shoulder looked as if he could tell her to drop a class. "But I would like you to put your needs first, above schoolwork." Harry finished. It was as if he had said, "I would like you to put the needs of Pluto first, above those of Earth." Hermione managed to cover her relief that neither of them had noticed Ginny and shot Harry an arrogant look.

"I'm doing well in all of my classes." She said, by way of proof, and turned the discussion to other things. By the time Hermione reached the Gryffindor Tower, everyone was clustered around the fire in the Common Room, laughing and talking, and no one had seen Ginny. Hermione went to Harry's bookbag and slid the marauders map out of its hidden pocket. The little dot was heading down the stairs towards Slytherin Dungeon.

"That's odd," thought Hermione, but then the dot changed direction and headed for the library. Hermione picked up her books and snuck out the painting after Ginny. As she walked to the library, Hermione began to have second thoughts.

"What if it's me?" she wondered. She pictured Ginny giving her a blank stare when confronted about the powder. "If I'm wrong," thought Hermione, "it's going to be hard to explain to Ginny why I'm having sexual fantasies about her."

As she reached the library, the setting sun was behind and below the high stained glass windows so that the room was dark but the windows glowed. Ginny was sitting on a step stool behind one of the stacks, leaning against the wall with her feet propped upon a pile of books. She looked frustrated. Hermione thought of how many hours she had spent at Hogwarts, surrounded by enormous leather-bound volumes of spells with that same expression on her face, and she envied Ginny for being one year younger and not having to think about leaving yet. She watched as Ginny absentmindedly twirled as strand of hair around her finger. It looked so fine and soft.

"Stop that," Hermione thought. "Okay, get angry," she told herself, and managed to feel somewhat self-righteously irked. She walked over and stood next to Ginny.

"Hi," she said, casting a glance over the books. They were Potions books with names like "Antidotes and more Antidotes," and "The Worst Case Scenario Spellbook". Ginny gave a start and looked up. Her mouth fell slightly open.

"Thought I wouldn't see you at the back of the stacks?" Hermione's voice was soft and questioning. Ginny said nothing. Her eyes flickered up to the ceiling and back, thinking.

"Are you looking for the antidote to that love powder you spilled all over me yesterday?" Ginny still said nothing, but now she looked as if she couldn't speak. For a moment Ginny's face wore an expression exactly like Ron's always did when he was caught not paying attention in class, but Hermione hardened her resolve and stared at Ginny unwaveringly.

"Sucre Saturnus, is that it?" Ginny looked at the floor. Colour was rising in her face and she was starting to look angry.

"I'd be happy to help you prepare the antidote," said Hermione, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "except that there isn't one. There is only one remedy, Ginny, and we are not, not..." Hermione struggled to complete the sentence, "we are not doing THAT. Most people would bother to find out such things before dumping powder onto someone for whom it obviously wasn't intended." Ginny closed the book with a slam and stood up.

"First of all," Ginny whispered sharply, "I didn't dump it on you, you bumped into me when you came shooting down the hall at about a billion kilometres an hour. " Ginny leaned in towards Hermione, her hands gesticulating frantically in the air. Good, thought Hermione, at least she's not going to deny it.

"Secondly, it's not like you never do anything wrong, Miss Head-Girl-Proper-Lady-Uber-Witch, because I see you sneaking around with Ron and Harry all the time."

"You have a lot of nerve, saying that to me. I never..." Hermione had been about to say that she had never done anything illegal, but then she remembered that some of the things they had done actually had been illegal.

"Well, now you do!" countered Ginny with a shake of her head. "So you can go ahead and tell me to stay away from your man or you'll rip my spine out and strangle me with it, but don't tell me that you "never" and don't go to Dumbledore and try to get me expelled or I swear to God I really will do something evil." Hermione drew herself up to her full height, which made her a little more than one inch shorter than Ginny.

"I am not a tattletale!" she said with conviction. "I haven't even told Ron, so why would I tell Dumbledore?"

Ginny leaned against the stacks and sighed. She seemed able to look anywhere but at Hermione. Hermione took a step closer.

"Ginny, you're in a lot of trouble. We're in a lot of trouble." She put her hand on the edge of the shelf next to Ginny's head. "Look at me." Hermione said sternly. Ginny looked. For a moment her eyes were level with Hermione's. Then Ginny leaned forward and kissed Hermione on the mouth. Hermione breathed in sharply and let go of the bookcase. Hermione's lips were smooth and soft, more so than any boys, and the curves of her body slid easily past Ginny's hands. Ginny put her arms around Hermione, pulling her closer. They sank to their knees on the dark wood floor between the towers of books, kissing passionately. Hermione held her hands out behind Ginny's back, as if to steady herself against something. Suddenly it was very quiet in the library. Only a few of the magical books chattered and rustled on their stands. With a gasp Hermione pulled back from the kiss.

"I can't believe I let this happen!" she said anxiously. Her hands were shaking. She pushed Ginny away and stood up. She was fighting for breath and her eyes were wide.

"I just wanted," she began and then looked away, "I don't know what I want anymore!" She put a hand up to her mouth and touched her own lips. Ginny reached for her, but Hermione backed away. She picked up her bag and ran out of the library without looking back. When she was gone Ginny sat for a moment on the floor. Cautiously she reached a hand up, imitating Hermione's gesture, and touched her own lips. Then she curled onto her side in a ball on the floor and lay there, until the lamps flickered to signal the closing of the library. -------

Ginny woke up to find Hermione's hand over her mouth.

"Shhh." Hermione whispered. Ginny looked around. It was still quite dark. The clock on the bedside table showed almost midnight.

"Come with me," said Hermione, taking her hand off Ginny's mouth. Hermione had her robe on over her pyjamas and white fuzzy ankle socks instead of slippers. Ginny put her robe on over her nightgown. Hermione took her hand. Somehow the light pressure of Hermione's hand around hers felt more intimate than kissing in the library had felt. It was the first time since Hermione had learned about the powder that she had initiated any kind of touching. Ginny barely felt the cold floor under her feet, or the world around her, so much of her attention was focused on Hermione's hand in hers. She felt alive, acutely aware of her heartbeat and the sharp thrill of joy in her chest which made it hard to breathe. They snuck out of the portrait hole and up a staircase. Ginny assumed that Hermione knew some sort of hiding place but as she followed it became clear that they were heading for the Astronomy Tower.

"Hermione," Ginny whispered. Hermione turned her torchlit face around and put a slender finger to her lips.

"Are we going to the Astronomy Tower?" Ginny asked.

"It should be deserted." Hermione whispered confidently and quickly. "The only scheduled viewing this week is the Astronomy club on Tuesday and Filch almost never goes up there, so we should be okay once we get to the Tower....." Hermione broke off. Ginny was smiling at her with her mouth half open in shock. They paused at the bottom of the Tower stairs.

"You've never been up there? With anyone? But you're a Seventh Year!" Ginny's eyes were flashing with delight. It was well known that sneaking up to the Astronomy Tower after dark was forbidden. It was also well known that so many students lost their virginities at the top of the Astronomy Tower that it was practically a requirement for graduation. Hermione took her hand away and crossed her arms over her chest. The torches only lit one side of her face, but it was enough to see that she was upset. Hermione bit her lower lip and looked away. Ginny felt guilty for having laughed, as it began to occur to her how Hermione must feel. Hermione got to hang out with Harry all the time, of course, but she also got treated like just one of the boys by all of the Gryffindors. Ginny realized she was probably not the only girl in Gryffindor who sometimes felt overlooked.

"No." Hermione said softly. "No one has ever invited me up to the Astronomy Tower. I'm just not the kind of girl boys think about asking up to the Astronomy Tower. I just don't want to leave without ever having been up there after hours. Everyone else has been but me. I just thought that you and I, I mean, if we had to, if we were going...."

They froze. The torches at the back of the hall had come on.

"Filch." Ginny mouthed earnestly. She took Hermione's hand and they ran up the stairs. At the top of the stairs Ginny opened the door and discovered that she had been right. There were no fewer than three couples up there already, all Slytherins. A blond girl with a childlike face and an Asian boy with spiky hair were from her year, Sonali and Derek. So were the redhead with her blouse half unbuttoned and the tall blond boy next to her, Anne and Corwin. The others were from a younger year. All six of them stopped kissing and stared at Ginny and Hermione.

"Oh my God," said Anne with a smirk. "It's the president and vice president of the Shag me Potter Fan Club! And they're lesbians!" She dragged out the last syllable, carrying it up an octave on the vowel so that it ended in a shriek.

"They're not real lesbians, I'm sure," laughed Sonali. "They just can't get boyfriends!" They giggled. The two girls grabbed each other's shoulders.

"Oh, Hermione, pretend you're Potter again!" Sonali pleaded in a high stage voice.

"No!" insisted Anne, "You promised it would your turn to be Potter! It's your turn!" They howled with laughter. Sonali messed up her hair, pushed her glasses up on her nose and, placing her hand over her mouth, faked an exaggeratedly passionate kiss with Anne. Both girls stuck their tongues into their own cheeks and moved them around, pretending to French.

"Ah, here we see a conjunction of two heavenly bodies," Derek joked lamely, doing his best imitation of their Astronomy professor.

"Shut up, git, you're blocking my view," responded Corwin. Ginny drew her wand and raised it high in the air.

"No, Ginny!" Hermione pulled her away by the back of the cloak, down the tower stairs and they ran back to the Gryffindor common room, closing the door behind them and collapsing into embroidered armchairs by the embers of the fire.

"I am never going up there again!" wailed Hermione.

"You think that's bad, wait until tomorrow! Why wouldn't you let me curse them?"

"Ginny, fighting could get us expelled!" Hermione protested.

"One little memory spell ..." Ginny clenched her fists, "would have saved us a lot of grief. We could have taken them on, they're not that good." She put her fists on her hips, eyes flashing with the need to prove herself.

"It's not just against the rules, Ginny." Hermione said, standing to face her with a determined look. "It's wrong. It's wrong to manipulate other people." The instant the words were out of her mouth she was sorry she had said them. Ginny looked slapped.

"I'm sorry." Hermione said into the silence. Hermione went to Ginny and put her arms around her. When Ginny raised her head, her eyes were shining with tears. .She stepped forward into Hermione's arms and kissed her, tasting salt and not sure if she were crying from anger, fear or desire. Their kisses grew in intensity as they swayed together over to the red couch and leaned back onto the large velvet pillows. Hermione drew her wand and made a wide sweep in the air, setting up a temporary ward around the common room.

"It's not enough to explain why we're not in bed," Hermione explained between kisses, "but it will let us know if someone is coming."

"Please," said Ginny, "say you want to do this."

Ginny was on her back against the red pillow. Hermione looked down into Ginny's eyes and Ginny could see her own reflection clearly in Hermione's dark pupils, waiting for an answer.

"Why would I ask that," thought Ginny, "she's only going to say that we have no choice, and it's my fault."

"I want to," Hermione whispered gently, and kissed Ginny. Ginny closed her eyes. The extraordinary softness of the kiss astonished her again. It felt too good to be true, like a dream you wish you could never wake up from. It was a spell, she knew this, and could remember hating Hermione, but none of that mattered to her. Hermione wanted to, because she loved her and the smile in Hermione's eyes when she said so fulfilled a need Ginny hadn't known she'd had. Hermione put her hand on Ginny's thigh and slid the hem of her nightgown up to her hips. Ginny tensed. She had nothing on under the nightgown and knew, with trembling nervousness, what Hermione was about to do. They were lying together on the couch, Ginny on her back and Hermione between Ginny's legs. The dim glow from the fireplace flickered over the room, casting deep shadows. On of Hermione's arms was around Ginny, underneath her back, and one of Ginny's legs was folded over Hermione's calves. Ginny's back arched and she drew deep quick breaths as Hermione's hand moved under the thin fabric of the nightgown, caressing her. Hermione's touch was gentle and patient but not hesitant.

"Of course," thought Ginny, "she's a girl."

Hermione's breath was warm on her neck as she kissed along the curved edge of Ginny's ear and nuzzled her hair. Hermione turned her palm and ran her thumb slowly upwards until she heard Ginny stifle a moan. Ginny put her head back, gasping. Her cheeks were flushed and colour showed across her collarbone where the top edge of the lace ended. She put her arms around Hermione, one hand grasping the fabric at the small of Hermione's back, the other on the back of Hermione's head, lost in her long dark hair. The rhythm of their brushing bodies and syncopation of their breathing was a rising susurration against the accompaniment of the quietly crackling coals. Ginny kissed Hermione's forehead, kissed her temples and her high rounded cheeks. Hermione ran the tip of her tongue up Ginny's neck and playfully held Ginny's earlobe between her teeth. Her dark eyes regarded Ginny from under the fringed corners of their half closed lids. Her hands weren't moving anymore, just pressing and allowing Ginny's hips to move where they would. They moved quickly and Ginny's hands clutched and released the back of Hermione's robe at faster intervals. For a moment Hermione was pinned between Ginny's knees and Ginny was squeezing her hand around Hermione's hair so hard she was almost pulling it. Then Ginny relaxed. Her eyes opened and Hermione looked down into rings of green with wide black cores, glossy and adoring. Ginny brought Hermione's head to her shoulder and they lay there for a long while with their arms around each other and their bellies together, feeling each other breathe. Ginny's hands traced idle circles across Hermione's lower back.

"Was that," said Hermione, "an orgasm?"

Ginny nodded.

"Why, are yours different?"

Hermione looked away.

"I don't, I can't...."

Ginny raised her eyebrows.

"I suppose I'm doing it wrong," said Hermione with an anxious expression. "Every time I, well, every time I try I just feel like a fool. I don't know what I'm doing and, well, after a while I just give up."

Ginny smiled. "You didn't seem not to know what you were doing just now."

Hermione blushed.

"I just did what you seemed to like," she said shyly, "and I've studied Anatomy."

"Hogwarts teaches Anatomy?"

Ginny looked skeptical.

"No, but my parents are dentists, and they have these medical textbooks on their shelves."

"And you read them? When?"

Hermione shrugged.

"Over the summer. I get very bored during the summer. My parents call me a voracious reader, but I think they may suspect that dental anatomy is clear on the opposite side of the body from what I was actually studying."

Ginny laughed.

"You're mad."

She took Hermione by the shoulders and turned toward the back of the couch, flipping Hermione under her. Ginny was on her knees with her hands on Hermione's shoulders

."No, no, no." Hermione whispered, but she was trying not to laugh. She giggled nervously and struggled to sit up. Ginny pressed Hermione's shoulders into the pillow.

"No getting away," Ginny said wickedly. "No feeling foolish." She kissed Hermione on the forehead. "You're supposed to lose control."

"I can't, I can't..." Hermione softly apologized.

"You don't have to," said Ginny, "I'm just going to do what you seem to like."

They laughed. She unbuttoned Hermione's pyjamas, kissing Hermione's neck and running her hands up under her pyjama top. Hermione's breasts were different than in Ginny's daydream. Ginny had imagined that they would look like hers, but they were slightly fuller and the nipples were larger and darker. Hermione put her hands up to Ginny's face, holding Ginny's hair back from her eyes. Hermione's hands were shaking. She pulled Ginny down to kiss her and Ginny slid down until she was lying on her belly with her legs on either side of Hermione's hips, moving her hands up into Hermione's hair and kissing back. Hermione put her arms around Ginny and held her tightly. For a long time they lay there kissing in the firelight. Ginny slowly moved her right hand down between their bodies, under the waistband of Hermione's pyjamas. Hermione held her breath. Her hands grasped each other behind Ginny's back. She exhaled with a sigh and closed her eyes. They were lying half undressed on the red sofa with Ginny on top, a tableau of crumpled clothes and smooth limbs. Ginny supported herself on her left elbow and her right hand was between Hermione's legs. Hermione's eyelids fluttered. She could feel the warmth of Ginny's body against hers and the soft brush of Ginny's hair against her neck and face. Her need for Ginny was sharp, like hunger pangs, and her heart was pounding in her chest. Touching Ginny sent shivers of excitement through her body like delicate lightning. She twisted, trying to get as close to Ginny as possible, but Ginny held Hermione fast between her knees. With every kiss that Ginny leaned in to give her, with every stroke of Ginny's hands, the need intensified until it was an ache that took hold of her, controlling her movements. Part of her wanted Ginny to stop, but she couldn't speak. The spell, the powder were gone from her thoughts. Her love for Ginny was real to her. Tears slid down the corners of her eyes and diagonally down into the fine wisps of hair at her temples. Her eyes were shut tight and her parted lips were glossy and red from having been kissed. Her breathing was audible. She seemed to be struggling either to get closer to Ginny, or to get away from Ginny, or perhaps both. Her hands were alternating between fists, which beat softly against the upholstery, or fans, in the air at her sides with all fingers arched as if reaching for something. Hermione made one small noise and then bit her lower lip. She didn't shudder, as Ginny had, but remained for a moment motionless and flexed, as if time had stopped. When she began breathing again she was still crying. Ginny said nothing but kissed the tears from the corners of Hermione's eyes and rested her head against Hermione's chest, her red hair spread out across Hermione's shoulder. They lay there until their breathing synchronized.

"I can hear your heartbeat," said Ginny.

Hermione smiled.

"We should go back upstairs, Ginny."

Ginny shook her head.

"It's going to start getting light soon," Hermione reminded.

Ginny sighed.

"Get up then," Ginny said teasingly.

"You have to get up first, Ginny," Hermione said, stating the obvious. Ginny sighed again, dramatically this time, and pretended to snore. Hermione giggled and kissed Ginny on the top of her head.

"We have to be in our own beds when the others wake up." She took Ginny's hands. Ginny sat up, pulling Hermione after her. They blushingly rearranged their hair and clothes and crept up the stairs. Halfway up the stair, Hermione turned. She paused with one hand on the stone wall of the Tower, looking back at Ginny.

"I love you." Hermione said solemnly. Ginny stared up at her.

"Hermione, this is all my fault." She looked so much like a younger Ron, apologizing for accusing Crookshanks at the end of third year. Hermione felt suddenly protective of her, as if she had put Ginny in this situation.

"I love you," she repeated.

"I love you too," said Ginny timidly.

Hermione climbed up half a flight and disappeared into the seventh year girl's quarters. Ginny watched her for a moment with a worried expression, then turned and snuck back into bed.