It was a Friday afternoon, and Hermione was fed up with Harry and Ron. She had had a bad day, and Harry and Ron were completely oblivious to her less than happy mood. She had gone off in search of some caring, preferably female company, and had stopped in front of Ginny Weasleys dormitory, expecting the bright and bubbly young girl to be able to cheer her up.
What she least expected to see was Ginny sitting cross-legged on her bed, with a frown on her face and throwing crumpled up bits of parchment at the wall.
Hermione cautiously entered the room, not wanting Ginny to blow up at her, and sat tentatively on the edge of the red covered bed, wincing as it squeaked at her presence.
'What's wrong, Gin?' Hermione asked gently.
Ginny snorted. 'I asked Harry out.'
Hermione was definitely surprised at this statement. It had appeared to even the most intuitive of people that Ginny gotten over Harry long before this moment.
'And... he said no?'
'Well, I wouldn't exactly be sitting here if he hadn't, would I?' said Ginny sarcastically.
'Oh, I'm sorry, Hermione, I don't mean to snap at you', Ginny sighed, 'But it was just what he said that really got to me.' She flopped back on her bed, her red hair falling off the edge.
This shocked Hermione even more, and she fidgeted uncomfortably. ' What on earth did he say?'
Ginny rolled over and her next words were muffled by the bedspread.
'His exact words? "No. There's someone." And then stumbled out of the room like a complete idiot.'
Hermione was rocked down to her core. She had had no idea, she had not even an inkling of a suggestion that Harry had a someone. 'There's someone? Someone else? But who... I wonder...I'll...see you later?'
'Whatever.' Ginny replied dejectedly.
She left Ginny to her thoughts, walking determinedly down towards the common room. She could see Harry and Ron at one of the far tables, still playing their game of Exploding Snap. Hermione waited until one of them got scorched by the cards, and then marched over to them.
'Ron Weasley. Come with me', Hermione said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Ron gave Harry a terrified glance, obviously afraid of what he had done now. He stood up and brushed his jeans off, then followed the rapidly departing Hermione out of the Common Room.
Hermione stopped him just down the stone corridor from the portrait hole.
'What's up?' Ron asked.
Hermione fixed him with a sharp glance. 'Your sister has just informed me that she asked Harry, yes, our Harry, out on a date, and Harry said no. And do you know why? Because there is someone else. I demand to know if you know who this someone else is, because I, for once, am completely in the dark!'
By the end of this speech, Ron was staring incredulously at Hermione. He gave a small laugh.
'If Ginny asked Harry out, then she's a fool. The someone else is obvious.'
Hermione was shocked again, for the fourth time that day. 'You... know who it is?'
Ron simply nodded.
'I... who? Tell me!' Hermione asked frantically.
Ron looked straight at her, making sure she knew he was being entirely honest. He paused, and then-
'It's you.'