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"Hey, Ginny!" Noah called out to the redhead who they crossed paths with in the hallway. Jemina, who was beside Noah, waved at Ginny, hoping that this time she wouldn't be ignored.

But it was no use.

"Hi, Noah." Ginny smiled only at the Knight before going back the way she went and breaking into a run, leaving the two Hufflepuffs staring at her, one in frustration and the other in confusion.

"Wow, when you said she was ignoring you, you weren't lying." Noah remarked in surprise, not knowing about the kiss. Well, Jemina didn't tell anyone about it. She didn't want to make things worse by telling other people about it.

After the kiss they shared in the Room of Requirement, Ginny started ignoring Jemina as if nothing ever happened between them. She started treating Jemina as if she was a stranger, only acknowledging her presence during their meetings in the Dumbledore's Army.

It almost seemed like a dream to Jemina because of the brief moment, but the lingering warmth and tingling on her lips after Ginny left her made her know it was real. Ginny really did kiss her, and it gave hope to Jemina's heart. Of course, she was happy because her longtime crush kissed her. Maybe Ginny did feel the same. But then Ginny started ignoring her, and her hope turned into confusion.

Every time Jemina would try to talk to her, she would pretend like Jemina was only a buzzing bee. Every time Jemina saw her, she would evade her as if Jemina had dragon pox. Every time Jemina was ignored, the Hufflepuff's heart would drop, and her mind would fill with questions.

Did Ginny like her? Did her heart flutter when they kissed? Or was she just caught up in the moment? Why was she ignoring Jemina? Was it really just a mistake? But the look in her eyes... Was she assuming again?

Jemina had so many questions after that kiss, but she kept it to herself for now because Ginny was ignoring her. She didn't want to overstep her boundaries by confronting Ginny and making her uncomfortable. The Gryffindor must have a reason why she was avoiding her.

"Yeah." Jemina nodded with a sigh before motioning him to go. "Come on, we still have Muggle Studies."

"Oh no. Carrow again." Noah sighed as well before they continued on their way to another lesson of torture. But honestly, even if she got hurt again that day and got yelled at, Jemina didn't care at all.

The one person who always healed her scars wasn't even talking to her. That hurt her more than the Cruciatus Curse.

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"Gin!"

"W-What?"

Neville's shout startled Ginny who was walking down the hall, deep in thought. She raised an eyebrow at her best friend who was trying to catch his breath from chasing after her. "What is it?"

"I've been calling you for about 10 times already. What are you thinking about?" Neville asked her with worry. He wasn't blind. He and Noah could see how Ginny avoided Jemina every time they crossed paths, and it was starting to worry him because Ginny was always spacing out or sad and Noah told him Jemina was feeling down every time Ginny ignored her. They knew something happened between the two after they were left alone in the Room of Requirement, but they had no idea what it was.

"It's nothing." Ginny shook her head before excusing herself, knowing that staying there meant she would have to answer Neville's questions. "Excuse me, I have to go."

"Gin – " Neville sighed and shook his head. Such a stubborn woman.

Ginny quickly went into the girls' bathroom and leaned against the door to calm herself down. She had no idea too what she was doing with her life. That kiss... Every time she closed her eyes, every time she tried not to think of it, it would push its way into her mind and remind her of what she had done.

Jemina's soft lips that tasted like strawberries. The electricity that ran through her entire body when their lips touched still remained and made her knees go weak even after that moment. It was the happiest she had ever been in a while... But after the kiss, the happiness faded away and was replaced with grief.

When Jemina only stared at her with wide eyes, Ginny realized she made a mistake. She let her feelings take over instead of thinking first if Jemina did like her back. So, instead of telling Jemina about what she felt and explaining what she had done like she should have, she did the most un-Gryffindor thing she could do. Run away.

She ran and ran until she reached her empty dorm room and let her tears fall. She fell for Jemina who seemed to not feel the same for her. It hurt her heart so much, even more than when Harry didn't like her. Maybe, it was because what Ginny felt for Jemina was so much deeper than what she felt for Harry. But the thought of Jemina not liking her felt like someone stepped on her heart and threw it in the grinder.

And Ginny just ignored her. It was easier than having to face rejection and pain. It may hurt her too, not being able to talk to Jemina whenever she wanted to and ignoring the Hufflepuff who waved and smiled at her still despite everything. But this was the best for them. It was better to cut off everything and save herself from the rejection that awaited her.

She wanted Jemina to remain in her future, but they were now a thing of the past. All because of her stupid feelings and that one kiss.

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"We can't just watch them like this. It's hurting both of them, Noah."

"I know... Jemina's been staring at Ginny like a puppy looking for its owner, and Ginny's been moping around like someone killed her Pygmy Puff."

"Isn't there anything we can do?"

"I don't – Wait. There is something."

As soon as Noah explained the plan, Neville grinned widely and nodded. The plan was on to finally have Jemina and Ginny talk with each other again without having to walk on eggshells around each other.

Of course, they were also hoping for Jemina and Ginny to have something more. Something they both longed for.

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After their Charms class, Ginny stood up and started making her way towards the Room of Requirement. Neville told her to go there so that they could finish up with their plans for the last sessions before Easter Break. Just a few months more, and they were about to finish another school year in Hogwarts. She didn't know though if she still wanted to go back with the school like this. But Dumbledore's Army, her friends and a Nightingale were the only things willing her to come back.

Ginny walked back and forth in front of the Room of Requirement three times and quickly entered when it opened. "Nev, I'm – "

The Gryffindor stopped in her tracks when she came in and saw someone else there, that someone also looking extremely surprised to see Ginny. There was the person she ignored for about a month. There was the person she longed to kiss again. There was Jemina, looking as beautiful as ever with that surprised look on her face that made her look like a surprised bunny. A bunny Ginny wanted to care for but couldn't.

"Gin."

And oh, there it was. Just one call of her name, and Ginny could feel herself falling all over again. So, she turned around right away and moved to leave when...

"Wait." Jemina called out to her softly that made Ginny stop walking. "Noah told me we'd be meeting to discuss the plans for the last sessions. Did Neville say the same?"

Ginny mentally cursed Neville in her mind. Of course, they wouldn't just stand around. "Yeah. I think they set us up. A-Anyways, I'll get going now. Bye."

"Ginny." Jemina spoke in a soft voice, making Ginny stop once more.

The Hufflepuff didn't want to confront her, but this was her opportunity to finally talk it out with Ginny. She was brave when facing the Death Eaters but not when it came to her feelings. However, she was willing to take a risk right now despite all the uncertainties, just to have Ginny back in her life again.

"I missed you." Jemina finally confessed, making Ginny's eyes fill with tears at the sincerity in her voice. Godric Gryffindor, save her because she might not be able to control herself if Jemina went on like this.

Suddenly, Ginny heard footsteps coming towards her and her hand being held by another. She couldn't take it anymore. She looked behind her, seeing a smiling Jemina holding her hand gently in hers, and her heart was back to being beaten like a drum.

"Ginny, I don't know what happened to us after... the kiss." Jemina started off, both of them blushing when they remembered it before she composed herself. "But I just know I miss you. I miss talking to you, walking to you or just simply being with you."

"I'm sorry." Ginny whispered out, bowing her head to hide her tears that started falling. She should be the one saying that to Jemina after suddenly avoiding her, but here was Jemina, always so understanding and making the move to save their... Friendship? Relationship? Well, whatever they had going on between the two of them.

"Don't apologize, I know you had your reasons." Jemina raised her hand to wipe away Ginny's tears before continuing. "I have a lot of questions. I don't want to overwhelm you, so I won't be asking them now. But can you at least answer one for me?"

Ginny could only nod without saying a word. It was the least she could do for Jemina.

"Did you miss me?"

Ginny's eyes widened at her question, her heart beating a thousand times faster, because she didn't expect Jemina to ask that. Out of all the questions she was expecting to be asked, Jemina's question wasn't one of them. However, there was only one right answer to that question.

"More than you know."

Hearing that and looking into Ginny's brown eyes put a smile on Jemina's face, and she was satisfied with that. Her heart felt at peace for the first time in weeks, and she was ready to say the words she had held in.

"Then, that's enough for me, Ginny." Jemina's hands held Ginny's gently... as gentle as her gaze on Ginny, trying to let the Gryffindor feel what Jemina felt for her. "I can wait until the day you can talk to me again. I've waited for 5 years... I can wait for a little more."

"Because I have loved you since we were 11."

Speechless. The redhead was left speechless at Jemina's words. Jemina loved her? She was in love with her? The Jemina Nightingale felt the same way? She was too shocked to even feel the joy filling her heart because the person she liked returned her feelings.

Is this what it felt like... to be in love?

"Take your time and think about it." Jemina grinned at the speechless Ginny. Is this how she looked like when Ginny kissed her back then? "I told you what I feel because I wanted to tell you. Not because I want to pressure you into giving me an answer now. I'll be waiting for you, Ginevra Weasley. I will wait as long as it takes."

Having said everything, Jemina stepped forward and gave Ginny a tight hug with a soft smile on her face. Ginny finally got out of her shock and grinned widely, hugging Jemina back. Their relationship wasn't something to be rushed so they could take it slowly and just bask in each other's presence. They may not have said it, but it was an unspoken agreement. They were good now. That was all that mattered.

"Thank you, Jem." Ginny pulled away to look into Jemina's green eyes that were clearly full of love before she spoke in a soft voice. "I'll give you my answer soon and think hard about it. I promise. For now, I guess... I can say only one thing."

"Hmm?"

"The wait will be worth it."

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