Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter.

"Harry thrashes about at night." Ginny said as she sipped at a glass of Firewhisky. Hermione looked at her dearest friend. "To deaden the memories he started taking…" Ginny hesitated, "…alternative…magical remedies."

"Are they helping?" Hermione asked, sipping her glass of Pinot Noir as she gently ran her hand absentmindedly over the scar on her forearm. Ginny didn't know how many people realized Hermione had developed a nervous, unconscious, habit of running her hand over the emblazoned 'MUDBLOOD' forever seared into her skin.

To Ginny, it was practically screaming in her face. Of everyone, only Hermione had such a blatant reminder of everything: of how, even after the war, she was not a full-blooded witch, of how she was tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange, of how much they had all lost. Harry had faint scarring on his hand from the year Umbridge had required him to magically cut the words 'I will not lie' repeatedly into his flesh. But Umbridge was constrained by the need to hold her sadism in check as a barely passible level of authority. Bellatrix meant the words to be forever marring Hermione's flesh; for her to be reminded every day that she was less than. And without fail, seeing these scars, that word, branded on Hermione, always brought anger simmering to the surface of Ginny's skin.

Perhaps that was a component of their relationship; Ginny hated to see Hermione hurt. There was nothing more the young red-head wanted to do was make those who hurt her best friend feel tremendous pain. Conversely, Ginny felt comfortable confiding in the older girl, which was unusual because normally she felt like she could never show weakness. For as long as she could remember, Hermione had been her confidant.

With Harry though, while Ginny still felt the need to help protect him, it seemed almost, normal, for him to be in pain. What was more, she could not tell him things, certain topics had to be omitted from a story or simply not spoken of at all.

"I…don't think they are. I mean, they deaden his pain." Ginny took another swig of Firewhisky, relishing the burn as it travel down her throat. "But he isn't dealing with anything, he's just covering it up. And as always, his pain is the worse. It doesn't matter that I lost my brother. It doesn't matter that I watched my friends die too. That I was, at one point, possessed by pure evil."

Anger once again bubbled underneath Ginny's skin. With no release, she began to shake. Hermione placed a comforting hand on Ginny's knee. Hermione had learned long ago that Ginny needed physical contact to help break whatever was churning in her mind and quell that almost ubiquitous anger.

"We've all lost family and friends. It's not right that Harry is ignoring what you've gone through, but he has the world on his shoulders."

Ginny nodded, eyes filling with tears, whether from her righteous indignation or the memories of those lost. "Merlin knows I love that man, but there is no way we can have a relationship where it's all about him." She noticed Hermione smirk. "What is it 'Mione?"

Hermione chuckled out loud, placing a hand over the words 'MUDBLOOD' in such a way as only the 'M' and 'OOD' poked out. "Sorry Gin. It's just…it's always been about Harry hasn't it?"

Hermione shook her head. "I know you had an infatuation with him since you were about eleven but women, it's taken you too long to pull yourself up from thinking Harry was going to change. He is my absolute best friend, but I can't imagine anyone right for him to date, let alone get married to."

"Look who's talking." Ginny's ears were turning red, a Weasley indication that a fight was to ensue. "You're with my twat of a brother who spent most of our Hogwarts days treating you like shit."

Hermione had expected a violent outburst, but the words still stung once they were hurled against her. Absentmindedly, she picked at the scars, as though they were still scabs that could be ripped open.

Instantly Ginny felt remorse. She noticed the digging and anger welled up as it always did, this time, directed at herself. "Shit, 'Mione. I didn't mean to say that."

"No." Hermione said plaintively. "You absolutely meant it. The things you say when you get this angry have always been the truth."

"It's just. You just…deserve someone better. Someone who sees you for all you are and for all of your amazing gifts and talents. Because you're truly the most amazing person I've ever known. That includes the fabled Harry Potter."

"Perhaps Gin. But right now, he's the only person that will take me as I am and asks nothing further."