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June 1, 1993
“Ginny! Oh, I was so worried.”
Ginny reciprocated Hermione’s embrace and held her friend close.
She was alive. Ginny held her as tightly as she could, scared at any moment she would wake up and Hermione would be back in that hospital bed.
“Me? I was worried about you! Oh, Hermione, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t stop him.”
Hermione’s hand moved in circles across her back. The motions kept Ginny grounded and sent goosebumps up her spine. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m just glad you are okay.”
December 25, 1994
Ginny smiled with pride as her classmates stared at her with jealousy. She was one of the few third-year students invited to the Yule Ball. And Neville was a great friend too. It also felt nice to turn Harry down when he asked her the day prior. People expected her to cancel on Neville due to her feelings for Harry, but she would never do that. She wasn’t that obsessed with him.
Her mother had worked quickly to make her a new dress for the occasion. Ginny had sent her an owl the night Neville had asked her and three days later received the beautiful box in the mail. After seeing Ron’s robes, she had been nervous about receiving something from her Great Aunt Muriel. But when she unwrapped the sage gown, Ginny’s eyes widened as she took in every detail. She had been invited to get ready with Alicia, Angelina, and Katie who were attending the dance with George, Fred, and Lee respectively.
As she made her way to the Great Hall, she noticed Neville waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. Fred and George stood in front of him, clearly in the middle of an interrogation – no doubt about his intentions with her that evening.
Upon seeing Ginny, Neville took her arm, nodding to her brothers, and led her into the Great Hall, to find them a nice spot to watch the champions dance.
The introductory fanfare began, and she joined her fellow students in applauding the champions and their dates. Fleur looked absolutely beautiful and practically flew onto the dance floor, guided by one of the seventh-year Ravenclaws. Davies – at least, that’s what Ginny thought his name was.
Then Cedric and Cho, followed by Harry and Parvati.
And then, she heard the gasps of the crowd.
“Is that Hermione Granger?” She heard Padma exclaim a few feet away. “Hermione Granger with Viktor Krum.”
Ginny’s heart felt as if it was beating a thousand times a minute. Sure enough, Hermione was arm in arm with Viktor Krum dressed in a periwinkle gown that complimented her green eyes. Her hair was pulled back and showed off her soft jawline.
Ginny couldn’t take her eyes off of her. Even as the music started, and the couples began dancing around the ballroom, her eyes only tracked Hermione as she danced.
“Ginny, Ginny?”
She shook out of her daze and hummed something in acknowledgment, still keeping her eyes on the witch she had become rather fond of over the years.
“Oh, I was just wondering if you would like to dance, with me, that is?”
She turned and looked at her friend, smiled as she took his offered hand and followed him onto the floor. She danced for hours and hours, even sharing a dance with Fred and George. Neville offered to get them some refreshments, and she took a minute to sit and catch her breath.
“You look beautiful.”
Hermione was even more beautiful up close. Her eyes sparkled, her dress sparkled, and her skin practically sparkled too.
Ginny couldn’t help but blush at Hermione’s words, especially as the girl took a seat next to her and placed her head atop her shoulder. “Thank you. So do you.”
She tried to get the words out without stuttering, but as Hermione reached for her hand, she couldn’t help the way her heart raced.
“C’mon, dance with me. The boys can wait. I want some girl time.”
August 15, 1995
“I’ll be happy if I never see another cobweb again.”
Ginny laughed with her friend as they settled into their room after a long day of cleaning one of the libraries in Grimmauld Place.
“At least you got some new reading material out of it?”
Hermione had collected no less than twenty tomes from the Black Library. She would have likely taken more if the books hadn’t screamed at her when she opened them. Ginny offered to help her carry the stack up the stairs and stacked them atop Hermione’s trunk before collapsing onto her bed. It wasn’t as comfortable as her bed at the Burrow, but the blankets were soft and after the day they’d had, she would have passed out on the floor. Seconds later, Ginny felt the mattress sink in as Hermione lay next to her, her curls tickling her cheeks.
Ginny turned and stared at her friend. “You ready for this year?”
“Have I ever been ready for a year at Hogwarts?” Hermione muttered with a chuckle before blinking up at Ginny. Up close, Ginny could see the specks of green hidden in Hermione’s eyes.
“I guess you’re right.”
Hermione wiggled closer to Ginny, and when she put her head on Ginny’s chest, Ginny hoped Hermione wouldn’t feel how quickly her heart was beating. Tentatively, she began running her fingers through Hermione’s curls, smiling when Hermione didn’t move.
“At least I have you. You’re a good friend Ginny.”
“You’re a good friend too. You’ll always have me.”
August 1, 1997
“Will you zip me up?”
Ginny’s eyes widened as she took in Hermione’s red dress. “Wow.”
“Does it look alright?” Hermione asked with a tentativeness Ginny wasn’t used to hearing from the older witch.
Ginny stepped behind Hermione, her fingers grazing her lower back as she pulled the zipper up. Once the metal reached the edge of Hermione’s neck, Ginny spun her around with a smile, the hem of Hermione’s skirt flowing with the motion.
“Absolutely beautiful.”
She was proud of the way Hermione’s cheeks blushed, knowing she was the cause. Hermione’s arms wrapped around Ginny’s middle and held her tightly.
“I love you.”
Ginny kissed the side of Hermione’s head. “You better come back to me, you hear? I know you’re about to leave to save the world and all that, but I need you to come back to me.”
She wanted to ask her to stay or allow her to come with. But she knew that wasn’t her role in this war.
“I’ll try. I promise.”
It was all she could ask for, she supposed.
June 19, 2003
The Daily Prophet is proud to announce the engagement between Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. The two have been seen courting for the past two years following the Golden Girl’s victory at the Wizengamont, resulting in a lighter sentence for the former Death Eater.
We sat down with Hermione Granger to congratulate her and ask her about the upcoming event. When asked if Ginevra Weasley would be by her side as her maid of honor, given their close friendship during school, the Golden Girl laughed.
“We were never that close.”
Ginny lost track of how long those words stared back at her.
“You alright?”
Ginny blinked her eyes, attempting to keep the tears at bay, before looking up at Katie. Katie, who was staring at her with concern. Katie, who had put Ginny back together again after Hermione wanted nothing to do with her.
“You’re right.” Ginny crumpled up the paper and threw it into the fire before embracing her girlfriend. “The Prophet is trash.”