"It's just weird, Ginny," Hermione said. "Kinda..."

"Well? Say it." Ginny was red-eyed. "Everyone else has."

"...Selfish. It's kind of selfish," Hermione said. She reached over and tapped Ginny's knee with a long finger. "You can't ask someone to just... stop loving other people for you. It doesn't work like that. He has rights and needs as well-And maybe more than most people."

"I just don't like..." Ginny stopped. She didn't know how to explain it. No one seemed to get it. "I don't like sharing him. I feel ignored. I was miserable when Harry dated Luna."

"Harry and Luna have a lot in common," Hermione said, gently. "I am not sure what you want to happen. You asked Harry to see other people. He is. He still loves you, but I don't think he is going to go back to that box."

"I understand Harry more than Luna does," Ginny said. "I have seen Vol-I have seen a lot more than she has."

"Luna has always accepted weirdness," Hermione said. "More than we ever did. Harry has a soul trapped in his scar? You freaked out. You said it felt like you were kissing a Death... But she just said it was part of him, that was that. She never hesitated."

Ginny pushed the red hair out of her face. "I don't understand."

"You loved him for so long, Ginny," Hermione said. "But you didn't love the person he became."

Hermione blinked brown eyes, slowly, like a cat. She seemed to be finding her words, a rare moment of practiced silence. She had grown more patient with the emotions of others.

Ginny felt shame in that. Hermione seemed so motherly, so mature.

"I never loved Ron and Ron never loved me," Hermione said. "We loved the people others wanted us to be. There is pressure in that. Without the pressure, it is a fucking miracle. There isn't a fakeness to the motions, it feels like it is part of you, extending out to the other person."

"I have loved him for so long, what would I do without him?" Ginny demanded, suddenly panicked.

Hermione smiled. "That is the beauty of it all. We don't have to be everything. Not to the other person. We don't have to be everything just because someone wants us."

Ginny felt tears burn down her cheeks. "You don't understand."

"I do," Hermione said softly. "I have been where you are sitting. And I have been Harry. Not the same way, he is more famous than I will ever be. But when you are part of a Golden Anything, people expect you to be different. They want you because you are wanted, not because you have a gap in your teeth when you smile and your hair is a wild mess and you make burned toast. Your quirks should be loved first. I think."

"You aren't telling me what I need to hear," Ginny said. She was weak at the shoulders, slumping forward. "Does he love her?"

"There is a ring," Hermione said.

"But she-" Ginny began.

"If Luna could, she would let Harry love you instead. But Harry loves her and I am sorry you are hurting, Ginny. Luna just knows what it's like to be different, to not follow the norm. Of course, she isn't going to tell you it won't work out. That would be hurtful." Hermione began to gather her thing. It was getting late.

"I want him back," Ginny whispered. "I just want someone to want only me."

"I don't think that is going to happen," Hermione said finally. "Harry loves her. And if you try to take that from him, you really don't love him like you claim."