Hermione Helps

Ginny had not been able to rid herself of Luna. They had their first class of the day together. Luna had walked with Ginny to their classroom, rambling on about some sort of creature that Ginny had never heard of. She sat next to Ginny. She passed Ginny a piece of bread during their lesson. Ginny nibbled at it, silently thankful.

Ginny and Luna parted for their next few classes. Ginny thought she'd walk alone but every time she was transitioning to another room, Luna would show up, waiting for her at the door of whatever room she exited. Ginny didn't hate the girl, but she was weird. It was sort of amusing, yes, but it made Ginny very wary of the blonde. She talked about things that didn't really make sense to Ginny.

Ginny noticed people pointing and whispering throughout the day. She didn't even feel a flare of anger. She just felt sad. And now Luna was getting herself dragged into it. As they walked back into the Great Hall for dinner, Luna bid her farewell and skipped off to the Ravenclaw table. Ginny took a deep breath in through her nose and lifted her chin. She walked down the Gryffindor table, looking for a place to sit. Ron was sitting with Hermione and Harry so that was a no. Her roommates didn't really seem to want anything to do with her. Percy was a prat. Finally, she just found a secluded spot towards the end of the table.

She tried to ignore everyone else staring at her. Maybe, she thought, I can make myself disappear. Over the summer she had actually tried to convince her parents not to make her come back to Hogwarts, but they had been adamant. She thought maybe they'd let her stay in Egypt with Bill. Bill had been the only one who actually made her feel even a little better.

Ginny put a few items on her plate, mostly just picking at her food. She was considering just going back to her dorm and sleeping forever before the twins came. "Hello, little sister," George said, sitting on her left. Fred say on her right, both of them grinning wildly.

"What do you want?" Ginny mumbled, not looking at either one of them.

"Can't two brothers check up on their little sister and see if she's having a good day?"

"No," Ginny snapped.

Fred and George glanced at each other. Fred saw his own worry reflected in his twins eyes. Ginny had been particularly irritable since the incident last year, but they thought she'd eased up over the summer.

"Where are all your friends, Gin? Why are you sitting alone?" Fred asked. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, both boys knew they had been a mistake.

Ginny's fists clenched under the table, her fingernails digging into her palms. Her eyes were watery and face bright red. "What friends?" She spat. "You mean the ones I don't have because everyone thinks I'm either a monster or a stupid little girl?"

Neither boy was surprised at their sister's flash of temper. Both had seen it many times before. They were surprised, however, that she seemed to be very well in control of herself. Usually, she'd throw a tantrum or start crying. She wasn't doing either. The twins decided to push their luck. Maybe she'd cheer up.

"Hey, George, look," Fred said very loudly. "It's our sister, Ginny Weasley." People turned to look.

"What are you doing?!" Ginny hissed. They ignored her.

"You mean our sister who opened the Chamber of Secrets and wrought terror over Hogwarts?" George replied. Everyone still in the hall looked over. Ginny looked around for help. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had left already. She was relieved that Harry wasn't there to see what was happening but felt helpless since Ron wasn't there to come help her. Not like he could've stopped them, anyway, she thought. How could Fred and George do something like this to her? Didn't they understand how upset she already was?

"No! Ginny Weasley, the girl who kicked our Head Boy's butt at Quidditch since she was three!" People actually laughed at that, especially when a red faced Percy stood and made his way towards them. "The git deserved it, too. Didn't even attempt to listen to her when she tried to ask him for help last year! Too busy off snogging his girlfriend." They cast mockingly accusatory glares at Percy, who was walking faster now. Everybody followed their lead, some people laughing. When Percy was only a few feet away, the twins whipped their wands out. Percy tripped over his now entangled shoe laces and the twins sprinted out of the hall, patting Ginny's back as they went.

Ginny was shocked. She looked around the hall before also running out.

Luna did not come find her in the hall. She did not walk Ginny back to her common room. Ginny had not expected her to, especially after that scene. She walked into the common room chewing on her lip.

She had to talk to someone, but the only person she felt comfortable to speak to was nowhere to be found. There was nothing to be done about it. She'd have to ask Ron. Of course, he was playing chess with Harry. A few breaths. She forced herself to breath, to be calm.

She walked up behind Harry. Her heart began to be very fast and she willed her face not to get red. Ron only looked up from the game when Ginny cleared her throat. She looked at him squarely, refusing to let her eyes meet Harry's as he turned to see her. "Where's Hermione?" She asked quietly.

"Upstairs," Ron said, "in her dorm. "Why? Is everything alright?"

Ginny knew Ron meant well, but suddenly she was furious at him. He couldn't go from ignoring her all the time to suddenly being a caring and concerned big brother. Her lips pressed into a very fine line. She could feel her anger show on her face. Ron actually cowered a bit. "Fine," she practically growled. She'd all but forgotten Harry's presence. She cast him a quick glance. That was a big mistake. Seeing him only reminded her what he did for her and how he'd had to go through so much grief when people thought he was opening up the Chamber. Suddenly, she found herself fighting tears once more.

Both of the boys seemed to be able to tell she was about to cry; their faces filled with mixed emotions of concern and alarm. Before either could say anything (because whatever they said would only make her feel worse) Ginny turned and ran up to the girls' dorms. When Ginny opened the door, she found Hermione to be alone, sitting on her bed with books and papers scattered around her. "Hermione?"

"Yes?" Hermione looked up from her books to see Ginny, red faced and puffy eyed. "What's wrong?"

Ginny had walked in, shutting the door behind her. She flung herself onto Hermione's bed, burying her face in the comforter and finally started to cry. She felt a hand on her back. Hermione gathered her things together and set them aside. She pulled Ginny up to cradle her in her arms. "It's okay, Ginny. We can talk when you're ready," Hermione said soothingly.

It took a few moments for Ginny to pull herself together, but she finally cried herself out. She sat up and faced Hermione. "Everybody hates me," she said finally.

"Oh, come on. Not everybody hates you. I don't hate you."

"Yes, well..." Ginny sniffed. "You don't, but everyone else does. And you're always with Ron and Harry, so I'm alone."

"Why don't you come sit with us sometimes?"

"I can't do that! Ron already thinks I'm annoying and he's my big brother, that's just sad. I can't make any friends for myself. And Harry, well, Harry just think I'm pathetic."

"Harry doesn't think you're pathetic..." Ginny gave Hermione a sarcastic glance. "Alright, he may think you're a bit pathetic," Hermione allowed.

Ginny sobbed a laugh and ran a hair through her hair. "I have no friends. I feel... Just awful. I don't want to be here anymore!"

Hermione looked very sympathetic, having felt this way at some points during the passed two years. "You were talking to some girl today. She looked friendly towards you."

"She's... Weird! I can't understand a thing she talks about. Thestrals and dirigible what's it or others."

"Can't be too quick to judge, Ginny. From what you say, you don't have too many options. What's her name?"

"Luna Lovegood."

"Oh... Her."

"Have you heard about her?"

"Yes, well... Some of my roommates gossip quite a bit... Their statements match yours."

"See! I'm not the only one!"

"Still, just give her a chance. From what I gather, she may need a friend as much as you need one." Ginny had not thought of this. Had Luna been walking with her because she was just as lonely?

"Can't I just go home?"

Hermione gave Ginny a look that made her regret even thinking it. "Ginevra Molly Weasley. Are you a coward?"

"Of course not!"

"Then are you just going to run home to mummy and daddy because the big bad kids at Hogwarts scare you?"

"No, but—!"

"You're in Gryffindor for a reason. You can't just run from your problems, Ginny. You either face them, or you turn them around to your advantage."

"How?"

"You'll find a way, Ginny. I'll try to help you if to need me to, but I'll be really busy this year. Make friends with the Lovegood girl. You like Quidditch, maybe talk to some of the girls on the team. Make friends with some Gryffindors, maybe first years who probably haven't heard about last year. Focus on school maybe. Go talk to Dumbledore, or McGonnagall or any other teacher you trust."

Ginny pouted at the bed, but nodded anyway. "I can never go in the Great Hall again," she said.

"Why not?" Ginny recounted the incident from earlier. Hermione was furious. "They shouldn't have done that, it's awful."

"They meant well," Ginny sighed. "Still, I wish I was invisible."

Hermione gave Ginny a long, calculating look. "Hold on," she finally said. Hermione got up and left the room, Ginny looking after her bewildered. When Hermione came back a few moments later, she was holding something silvery in her hands. "You can only use this for a week," Hermione instructed. She handed it to Ginny who looked at it curiously.

"What is it?"

"Harry's invisibility cloak." Ginny looked up. She was holding something of Harry's. And it would make her invisible. Perfect! She jumped on Hermione, squeezing her into a tight hug.

"Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Hermione laughed. "You're welcome! Remember, one week only!" They said goodnight and Ginny went off to her own dorm. The other girls were already in bed, seemingly asleep. Ginny wrapped the cloak around herself and breathed in. She had Harry's invisibility cloak! It even smelled like him!

AN: alright so this is the second chapter to my first fanfic. I hope you all are enjoying it. I know I probably didn't portray Fred and George exactly right but remembered how they teased Harry when he was thought to be the Heir of Slytherin. I'm working on the third chapter now but I'm going to need some motivation so if you like the story, please let me know. Reviews are always welcome. :) ~PhoenixandFlame~