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"Let's try to think of what we plan to do once we do bring Dumbledore's Army back." Neville started the discussion as he, Jemina, Ginny, Luna and Noah sat inside the Room of Requirement.

Their detentions with Hagrid were already done so they finally had the time again to discuss their plans. So far, they already had a sanctuary, the Room of Requirement, and an emergency place, Hog's Head. Jemina already introduced Aberforth and Ariana to the others and despite the old man being grumpy like he usually was, they could tell he had a soft spot for them since he reminded them a lot of his niece who was on the run. They also tuned in a lot to Potterwatch, the only radio show that still stands against Voldemort, in order to get updated on the latest news.

"It's already November, and we'll be going home soon for the Christmas break." Luna pointed out. "I think it will be good to start our plans before the break."

"Like spread the word that Dumbledore's Army is back?" Noah asked.

"Yeah. Once they know that the DA is back, they will know where to go." Luna nodded with a smile.

"That's a good point." Neville nodded with a grin before he wrote it down on the paper they laid out in the table. "What do you think, Jem?"

All eyes turned to Jemina who blushed at the sudden attention. It always amused them to see her like that because it was a reminder of the shy Jemina before everything happened. Ginny grinned widely at the Hufflepuff who fiddled with the bracelet she was knitting before nodding.

"I-I think that's all right." Jemina muttered in a small voice, making them all smile before they continued with their discussion.

However, Ginny became curious about what Jemina was doing and moved closer to her, making Jemina's eyes widen in surprise. "G-Ginny?"

"Hi. You don't mind me watching you knit, right?" Ginny whispered to her, smiling softly at Jemina.

"Y-Yeah, I don't." Jemina couldn't help but blush even more at Ginny's smile as she knitted harder. It was something she learned from her parents to calm herself down, and right now, her heart needed a lot of calming.

"Do they realize that we're still here?" Noah whispered to Neville and Luna while the three of them stole glances at the red Jemina who was knitting and the talkative Ginny who was watching her.

"I don't think so, but they look adorable." Luna giggled at the two when Ginny slapped Jemina on the arm when the badger made a joke and Jemina blushed again when the lion rubbed her arm.

Noah and Neville couldn't agree more, looking at the two girls who were strangers just a few months ago but were now friends. With Ginny's persistence to be closer to Jem and friendliness, she finally got past the Muggleborn's walls and became part of her small circle.

And Ginny's entrance into that circle made Jemina's feelings for the redhead grow more.

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"Luna." Ginny waved at the Ravenclaw who was sitting out in the yard by herself before walking towards her.

"Gin." Luna pleasantly greeted before she started talking about the new creatures around them. Ginny was already used to that and just listened with a smile on her face despite not understanding anything. When Luna had finally finished, she stared at Ginny curiously. "By the way, aren't you going to the Room of Requirement? I think Jem is already there, trying out some new spells from the books we found last time."

The Lovegood didn't miss how Ginny's eyes suddenly lit up at the mention of a certain badger. They were sure that Jemina liked Ginny, but as for the Gryffindor, they were uncertain about what she felt exactly for Jemina. But they didn't need to be geniuses to know that Ginny was starting to feel something for Jemina. Those smiles, those eyes. It was just like how she was with Harry...

No, it was even more intense than how she was with Harry back then. And as their friends, they hoped that Jemina and Ginny could find happiness... maybe, they could find it in each other.

"Yeah, I almost forgot. I'll get going, Luna, bye!" Ginny waved goodbye with a smile as she quickly ran away with the eagle shaking her head in amusement. Despite Ginny insisting that she was just interested in getting to know Jemina more, it was quite obvious that there was something more to what she felt for the Hufflepuff.

Ginny looked around once she arrived at the Room of Requirement, and when once she saw the coast is clear, she walked back and forth three times, thinking only of Jemina Nightingale. She grinned when the door finally opened and quickly went into the room, her eyes widening at what she saw.

Jemina who was taking her shirt off.

"J-Jem." Ginny tried to calm her voice down although she did not feel calm at all after what she just saw. She was feeling hot all of a sudden and wondering why she couldn't stop staring at Jemina's body. She was frozen like a statue, just watching Jemina do that.

The Hufflepuff who seemed so lost in her thoughts didn't even notice Ginny was there and continued with what she was doing. She looked around for the ointment she got from Aberforth and as she looked back, she let out a yelp and immediately covered her body with the shirt she was holding, the only thing that she was wearing on her upper body was her bra.

"G-Ginny!" Jemina stuttered in surprise and embarrassment, and the redhead finally woke up from her stupor and covered her face as red as her hair. They stood there in silence for a few moments, avoiding each other's gazes with Ginny still covering her face and Jemina still holding her shirt to her body to cover it.

Ginny realized that they wouldn't get anywhere if none of them talked so she cleared her throat, trying to get rid of the embarrassment, before going over to Jemina with a smile on her face. The proximity made the Hufflepuff panic mentally so she still did not meet Ginny's eyes.

"Well, if it helps, you do have a great body." Ginny winked at her, making Jemina die for the nth time before the Gryffindor picked up the ointment on the floor and went to Jemina's back.

Jemina turned around as a reflex, still blushing and stuttering. "W-W-What are you going to do?"

Ginny couldn't help but frown, seeing how there was uncertainty in Jemina's eyes. Although their relationship had gotten a lot better and they were now more comfortable with each other, the badger still had her guard up. Not just against her but even against Neville and Luna. The only one she seemed to fully trust among them was Noah.

So, the Gryffindor did the best thing she could think of. She took Jemina's hands in hers and smiled softly. "Relax, Jem. Let me help you."

They stayed silent for a few moments, staring into each other's eyes and understanding the emotions that were expressed in them. In those moments, the uncertainty and embarrassment were slowly going away in Jemina's while the warmth and comfort remained in Ginny's.

Finally, Jemina turned around, showing her back to Ginny and making the other grin. It may have been a simple action, but it also meant that Jemina was baring her heart and letting Ginny see her. Scars, bruise, and all. Ginny moved closer, placing some ointment on her finger before looking back at Jemina's back. Her heart ached at the many scars and bruises that were scattered along her body. No, she didn't deserve this treatment. Jemina Nightingale was someone who only deserved love and care. She was not someone who should be hurt like this.

"You've got scars, Jem." Ginny said in a soft voice before she started applying the ointment on the wounds, making Jemina shiver at the touch. Seeing that happen worried Ginny. "A-Are you alright, Jem?"

"Don't worry." Jemina reassured her immediately and closed her eyes, letting Ginny's touch calm her down and trace along her scars. They sat in silence for a few moments with Jemina letting Ginny take care of her which the latter was glad to do so. Suddenly, she remembered something Ginny was saying a while ago. "And..."

"Hmm?"

"I know, Gin." Jemina suddenly said which made Ginny stop with what she was doing due to confusion. The Hufflepuff turned around in her seat to look Ginny in the eyes with a soft smile plastered on her face. Ginny never knew one's smile could make her heart feel like a drum with how hard it was pounding against her chest.

"About the scars." Jemina clarified, and Ginny finally remembered what Jemina was talking about. "But they keep me sane. They heal me."

"Heal you?" Ginny asked in confusion.

"Yeah." Jemina nodded before looking down with a sigh. "The physical pain is just as... No, it cannot even be compared to the pain my heart had gone through when I lost my entire family. It was a result of me, being a Muggleborn, and I would forever hold that weight in my life. But then, I remembered Deanna who had gone through so much and protected us from everything. She was the first... no, the second person who made me feel brave. She made me feel that I still had something to fight for. Hogwarts, the Hufflepuffs and of course, you."

The Weasley couldn't help but blush at Jemina's last words before the badger continued speaking. "So, yeah. They may be scars and look unpretty, but they are proof that I fought, and I hope that my parents and Archie are up there, proud of me and what I've done. Do you think they are?"

Ginny's eyes softened at how small Jemina's voice sounded when she asked that question. She put down the ointment and cupped Jemina's face, surprising the badger. "Of course they are. You are an extremely brave witch, Jem, and everyone is so proud of you for how bravely you fought. And if you'd let me..."

"Let you what?" Jemina asked in confusion when Ginny suddenly turned red at how she would word what she wanted to say.

"If you'd let me, I want to be the third person." Ginny finally said, looking Jemina directly in the eyes with a smile on her face. "I want to be the third person who would make you feel brave and make you feel like you have something to fight for. Let's fight for each other, Jemina. Let's survive this war and let each other and our scars of bravery heal us. We'll make them all proud."

A smile made its way onto her face as Jemina's eyes softened. It was like in those moments, the wall was completely broken down and Ginny finally had Jemina's trust. The looks they exchanged were enough for each other to know that they would fight for each other until the end and heal each other.

Little did Ginny know, she was not the third person who made Jemina feel brave. She was the first.

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