Ginny had started feeling overwhelmed hours ago and found a deserted corridor where she figured nobody would try and speak to her. She didn’t think she could talk right now even if she wanted to. And so she sat there, not thinking anything, not feeling anything, her eyes fixed on a crack in the floor beneath her feet.
“Ginny?”
Suddenly Hermione was kneeling in front of her. She had the sense that Hermione had been trying to get her attention for a while before she’d realized. When Ginny’s eyes found hers she saw that deeply concerned look that was usually reserved for Harry.
“Er, they’re sending people home now. Harry and your family are staying here for tonight, but if you’d prefer somewhere quieter I can take you home,” Hermione said carefully.
The thought of seeing her family right now made her nod immediately. Emotions were something her family did not do, and the thought of seeing their grief, and, even more, showing them her own, made her deeply uncomfortable.
Hermione stood up and held out her hand. As Ginny stood, she felt she must’ve been sitting here for much longer than she’d realized as her legs had gone numb. She held onto Hermione as they slowly made their way down through the grounds and onto the train.
Ginny must’ve spaced out again, because the next thing she knew they were in Hogsmeade, and Hermione was telling her to hold on tight.
As soon as they landed on the front doorsteps of the burrow Ginny promptly doubled over, throwing up what little food she had eaten in the hours before the battle. She stayed there a moment when, with a hand on her back, Hermione led her inside.
“—ny? Ginny?” Her eyes snapped up to meet Hermione’s. She really needed to stop spacing out. “How about you go shower while I cook us something to eat.”
Despite having no appetite, she nodded absently and walked upstairs. She still felt like she wasn’t really all there. Like if it weren’t for Hermione’s orders she’d have no idea what to do. Typically, that would frighten her, but right now she didn’t have the energy to care. Really, she felt sick and exhausted, and she just wanted to sleep for a long, long time.
Having made it to the bathroom, she took off her dirty clothes, turned on the shower head, and sat down on the bathtub floor, not even bothering with the shower curtain. She watched as the blood and dirt came off of her skin and swirled down the drain.
Suddenly the door opened as Ginny jumped and started panicking for her wand. She couldn’t find it near her, and, consequently, her breathing quickened as she closed her eyes tight and covered her ears with her hands.
“Shhh. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s only me. Look, I’m only Hermione,” Hermione set down two clean towels on the toilet seat and kneeled next to the tub. She looked Ginny up and down before asking softly, “Can I touch you?”
Breathing far too heavily, Ginny looked at Hermione through the still running water and let out a sob. She reached out and grabbed Hermione’s hand and felt her tight squeeze.
“You have to breathe, Gin. Like this,” said Hermione as she took big dramatic breaths, and Ginny tried to follow her, she really did, but she just couldn’t. She could barely hear Hermione as she registered how fast her heart was racing and vaguely wondered if someone had cursed her back at the school. She felt like she was going to throw up again when she heard Hermione’s distant voice say, “You’re going to pass out if you don’t. It’ll pass, just breathe with me. I’m right here.”
And somehow, slowly, Ginny managed to focus on the squeeze of her hand and follow her instructions. She took her other hand off her ear and noticed she was shivering since the water had gone cold. The two of them sat in heavy silence for a moment.
“Let me help you?” asked Hermione quietly. After a moment of contemplation, Ginny nodded and Hermione began to undress. With a flick of her wand the water was warm again, and Hermione stepped inside the tub. She helped Ginny stand up, picked up a cloth and soap, and carefully washed Ginny’s body, slowly cleaning away all evidence of the past day.
Gently, always so gently Ginny noted, Hermione set down the cloth and ran her fingers though Ginny’s hair. She closed her eyes as Hermione worked, leaning into her touch. If she had been more aware, she would’ve realized how unusually intimate the whole thing was, but for now it provided her a great deal of comfort.
Suddenly she felt the water turn off. Again, she must’ve gotten lost in her thoughts as she noticed that Hermione looked much cleaner than she did when she’d stepped into the shower. Even though it was warm now, Ginny couldn’t stop shaking. Hermione wrapped her in a warm towel before grabbing her wand and fastening one around herself. With an arm around her waist, she led them to Ginny’s bedroom.
Ginny stumbled when Hermione let go of her to close the door and practically fell down onto her bed.
“I know you’re tired but we have to change into some pyjamas first.” So food had been long forgotten about. Ginny was completely fine with that. She groaned and simply crawled under the covers still in her towel. “Ginny, you’re—“
Hermione cut herself off as Ginny had begun to cry again. Soon she felt the weight of Hermione joining her underneath the comforter and holding her close. They were both naked apart from their damp towels that were now loosely strung around them.
When Hermione’s hand started combing through Ginny’s hair, she let herself break down completely. Ugly sobs wracked her body, and she was shaking so hard now it had to be difficult for Hermione to keep holding her. Hermione only shushed her and kept running her hand through her hair.
Eventually, Ginny calmed down enough that her hands were only shaking. She looked at Hermione’s face for a moment when suddenly, for reasons she couldn’t explain, her lips were on Hermione’s.
Surprised, Hermione pulled back. Fearfully, Ginny inhaled sharply, realizing what she’d done, when her eyes met Hermione’s once more. Hermione simply cupped her face in both hands and gently returned the kiss.
She didn’t know why this was happening, she didn’t know what this meant as for Harry and Ron, but in that moment they were only two people who had been through far too much seeking comfort from someone they loved.
The kissed deepened, and eventually the two broke apart.
“‘Mione,” Ginny’s voice cracked on the word. She realized that was the first word she’d uttered in hours.
Hermione met her with a look that said a million things. I know. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I just kissed you. I’m sorry about Fred and Tonks and everyone else. I’m sorry about everything we’ve been through. But I’m here now and I’m not leaving.
Ginny gave her one more quick kiss and laid her head on her shoulder. Hermione put her arm around Ginny and whispered one more thing.
“You don’t think I should—” she looked at her wand that lay on the bedside table.
“‘s charms on the house, we’ll be okay,” Ginny muttered. Hermione hummed in response.
Exhausted, the two finally fell asleep.