Ginny looked around her room. Everything was in its proper place for once. She rarely made her room this clean, and it in a sure better state than it had been all summer. Sure her mum had been after her to clean it each time, but she'd just shove things under the bed and find other interesting ways to hide her mess to keep her mum off her back. Why was I so messy this summer? She thought to herself

Hermione would be arriving tomorrow morning so she had actually bothered to clean right this time so that she would have some space to sleep.

Ginny took one last glance for something out of place before finally laying down in her bed for the night. She slept just as restless as usual, taking hours to fall asleep and tossing and turning all night. When she woke up she found herself wondering how Hermione would be able to stand sleeping in a bed with her for the next two weeks before Hogwarts started up for the new year.

Ginny finally decided that she should probably get ready before Hermione arrived. It'd be one of the few times she'd been out of her PJs all summer.

She made her way downstairs and gave her mum a weak smile before grabbing a piece of toast and sitting down to eat. She had only finished a few bites when she heard a crack outside and turned to find her father walking Hermione to the door. He had went to her home and side along apparated her back to the Burrow.

Ginny couldn't help but smile a little at the site of Hermione. She had always found herself admiring the older witch, brilliant and brave, and patient enough to put up with harry and especially her brother's slower moments. She was glad she'd get to hang out with her a little before school, even if most of her time would be spent with Harry and Ron.

"Hey Hermione"

"Hi Ginny! How's your summer been?"

"alright, yours?"

"alright"

Molly chimed in "Hermione dear, so good to see you."

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley, are you sure you don't mind? I really could have went to Kings Cross on my own"

"It's no problem dear, if your parents are going out of town, you shouldn't have to be alone for two weeks, let alone worry about traveling by yourself"

"Well thank you. My parents said to pass along their thanks as well, they said it took a load off their mind knowing I wouldn't be alone the whole time. They would have taken me with them on vacation, but the cruise lasts a month and I wouldn't have been back in time. And it would have been dangerous for me to disappear in the middle of the cruise. Can you imagine if the ship anchored into port with one less passenger than when it left? They'd think I up and fell overboard"

"Well I don't know much about ships, but I'm sure it wouldn't be good if they thought you had died"

"Now tell me, what is an anchor?" Author asked.

"Oh.. um." Hermione struggled to come up with an answer but was saved by Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh Author, the girl's been here 5 minutes and you are already harassing her about muggle contraptions, give her at least a day to settle"

"Sorry Dear"

Ginny stifled her giggle.

"Help yourself to some breakfast" Mrs. Weasley offered.

"Thank you, where's Ron and Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Oh they're here, probably just still asleep. I'll just go wake them up"

Author had moved Hermione's belongings to Ginny's. Long before Harry and Ron made it down to breakfast, Ginny led Hermione to her room to help her unpack.

"So honestly Ginny, how's your summer been?"

"I told you alright. Why?"

"Ginny,.." she paused, motioning for her to sit on the bed.

Ginny hesitated before finally going Hermione on the magically extended bed.

"Harry told me that you have barely left your room except for meal time since he's been here, and I'd wager it's been that way all summer. "

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I've been in here a lot, does it matter?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were ok."

"I'm fine Hermione" Ginny said a little more stern than she meant to.

"Ok" Hermione could tell Ginny wasn't really ok, but she could tell she wasn't ready to talk about what was bothering her. But Hermione had her suspicions.

When Hermione's stuff was unpacked, they made their way downstairs to see if the boys had finished breakfast yet. They were greeted by the sound of Ron and Harry arguing about something to do with quiditch.

Hermione laughed to herself for a minute before finally interrupting "Ahem".

"Hermione!" Harry grinned. When did you get here?

"A while ago, while you two lazy bums were still in bed"

Ron looked affronted but made no argument, only cause he was too busy stuffing his face to bother to argue.

"Hey Hermione, you want to come play some quiditch with us this afternoon?" Harry asked hopefully.

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at his eagerness. "Come on Harry, you know 'm no food. Why ask?"

"Hey, thought it couldn't hurt to try. We'd enjoy having another player, then you and Ginny could both play and we'd have enough to play 3 on 3 with Fred and George."

"Well I don't think they'll be playing much today either. Heard what sounded like some experiments from their room as we came down"

Hermione looked at Ginny, noticing she hadn't even spoken since they came downstairs but remained silent.

"Those Gits. Man, well all the more reason for you to play." Ron finally chimed in.

"No Ron come on now leave me be about it. I need to study"

"School isn't for two weeks. You can't have homework already, so why are you studying?

"Cause I want to Ronald. It wouldn't hurt you to try it once in a while." And with that Hermione headed out the door and made her way through the yard, presumably going for a walk. Ginny followed wanting to make sure that Hermione was ok, she had hardly ever heard Hermione snap like that before.

When they reached the lake, Hermione realized Ginny had followed her but she was glad for the company. She came to a stop staring out the lake, waiting for Ginny to catch up and realize she had stopped.
"Hi Ginny"

"hey… I can leave you alone if you want"

"No. it's fine… I could use the company. I'm sorry I snapped like that at him but I get so sick of them ragging on me. They have hardly wrote me all summer, what would one expect me to preoccupy myself with? I can't perform magic underage so I can't just visit the only friends I have anytime I feel like it"

Ginny couldn't help but feel shocked. She not only had never heard Hermione open up like this, but she also felt really sad to hear that Hermione's only friends were in the magic world, but she realized it made sense with the way she had talked about her childhood and the differences between her and her former schoolmates now.

"I just get so sick of it"

Ginny heard Hermione's voice catch on the last statement. She walked up to Hermione and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Hermione, you know I consider you a friend to, or at least I would hope we can be friends. And you know I'm much better company for a chat than the boys."

Hermione felt a tear fall down her face. She turned and hugged Ginny. "I know. I should have wrote you or something. I never thought about you being cooped up around here with only the boys for comfort."

"Well, I don't think it would have mattered if they were here or not, I've pretty much kept to myself." Ginny felt a strange realization hit her as she spoke. It was the first time she had consciously realized she had been keeping to herself so long. Only Hermione seemed to draw Ginny a small step out of her slump.

Hermione straightened up. Ginny… please talk to me, if it wasn't the boys company that revolted you, then there has to be a reason that you've kept to yourself. Ginny, don't deny anything. I know you've hardly left your room at all for the entire summer. You hadn't even tidied up properly until you knew I was coming over." Before Ginny could question how she knew this, Hermione already answered. "Harry had mentioned it in his last letter and even Ron mentioned it in the one he sent me about midway through summer."

Ginny just looked at Hermione for a second, then finally began to walk slowly toward the small dock at the lake. She motioned Hermione to follow her. Ginny remained silent while walked to the end, sat down and put her feet in the water.

Hermione questioned for only a second before following suit.

"This used to be one of my favorite things to do every summer. I loved coming out her by the lake and enjoying the sun. Usually we would all come out and swim during the morning and then mum would have lunch ready before she called us back. I loved it… and I don't really know how to describe why I didn't come out any with the boys, or even on my own all summer.

Hermione laid her hand over Ginny's on the dock encouraging her to continue.

"I have just felt really drained. Like I would wake up, and pick out a book, and lay and read it for the entire day without so much as taking a shower if mum wouldn't make me every other day. Of course I'd eat, but only when my stomach reminded me. Half the time I ignored mum's first call to meals only trickling down 10 or so minutes later to finally eat. At first they would wait, but they eventually got used to it and would stop trying to call me down a second time and stopped waiting on me to eat.

"They love you Ginny, they've been worried"

"Oh don't get me wrong. I take no offense to their not waiting on me and getting used to me being indifferent about food. I'm not mad at them at all. I'm only mad at myself. I hated doing it. And it felt like I was sitting inside my body screaming to do something, but not able to actually send the right nerve signals to make myself move off my lazy bum.

Hermione sat waiting patiently for the whole story, stroking the back of Ginny's hand with her thumb as she talked.

"So yeah, that's pretty much been my summer. I've been a complete lazy bum without trying to be." Ginny said as she pulled her hand up and brushed her air out of her face to make it seem like she had a reason for pulling it back out of Hermione's.

Hermione was taken aback by the sudden change in demeanor. She sighed.

"Ginny… I get not being able to do anything, but why did this all start?"

It was Ginny's turn to sigh. "I don't know Hermione"

Hermione thought carefully for a moment, especially wondering how to word her theory. "Did you being so upset have anything to do with what happened at school last year? "

There was an odd silence before Hermione saw tears slowly form and fall down Ginny's face. Hermione barely heard her whisper before Ginny's tear turned into near sobs as she tried to control her breathing. "yeah…"

Hermione went to try to put her arm around Ginny as comfort but was quickly shrugged off. "Don't"

"Ginny…. I'm here for you and I know it's hard but I think you need to talk about it…"

"I CAN'T!" "Don't you get it!" Ginny back away from Hermione.

"Ok… it's ok Ginny. You don't have to talk about it. I won't make you." She could see Ginny physically relax a bit at her last statement. Ginny was standing a few feet away at this point, and began to stare out over the lake obviously running through events in her heard. Hermione slowly approached her.

"Ginny…. It's ok ."

After a pause, Ginny looked back at Hermione. "No… it's not…"

Hermione offered her open arms, gently reaching out and pulling Ginny into them. This time Ginny didn't fight the contact but welcomed the comforting embrace. Ginny practically collapsed into Hermione, and although she was more controlled, Hermione could feel tears soaking into her shirt. She gently guided Ginny to sit down. Hermione had no idea how long they had been out there until they heard Mrs. Weasley calling that lunch was ready. Ginny slowly removed herself from Hermione and sat up to look at her.

Hermione was first to speak, "You ok? I can bring some sandwiches back out if you want instead?"

"No it's fine. I'll go."

"Ok Ginny. Come here" She pulled Ginny into a tight hug, squeezing her as if it was the last hug she'd ever give her. "It'll be ok Ginny. I promise. I'm here for you"

"I know Hermione… thanks"

They made their way back to the house without speaking another word.

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