Hermione was mindlessly undoing her braid when Ginny strolled into their dorm, after one of her late night walks with harry around the grounds. She slumped on her bed, clearly exhausted from her long day.
"I haven't stopped all day Miony, I spent the whole morning re-writing my potions essay then had quidditch practice and then had to catch up with Harry!" Ginny sighed and looked up, waiting for a reply. But Hermione remained subdued, chewing on her nails subconsciously.
"Hermione are you listening to me?" Ginny questioned her. Hermione suddenly snapped out of her gaze looking confused at her.
"Pardon?" Hermione replied forcing a smile, but Ginny was not convinced.
"What's wrong Miony you seem troubled?" Ginny came and sat next to Hermione, putting a comforting arm around her best friend.
"You have to promise me you won't tell Harry or Ron, Ginny, swear on Merlin's life." Hermione's eyes began to well up with tears.
"Hermione, you're scaring me now, tell me what's the matter."
"I think… I'm in love with Draco." Hermione whimpered.
Ginny's eyes widened. "Malfoy?" She gasped.
"Yes Draco Malfoy! Oh Ginny, what am I going to do?" Hermione burst into tears.
Ginny sighed and hugged her. "Hermione, you had me all worried you silly grindylow!"
Hermione gave her a watery smile, she had to admit, Ginny always managed to cheer her up.
"I love Draco, we get on like a house on fire! He's hilarious and intelligent too; I might even go as far to say he's rather handsome!" Ginny chuckled, squeezing Hermione tighter.
"He's really changed in the last few months. A couple of weeks ago he skipped dinner to help Luna look for her shoes, they spent hours walking around the castle. Luna says he was mainly talking about you Hermione." Hermione blushed.
"You know what," Ginny continued "come to think of it, I swear I saw Harry, Ron and Draco comparing brooms the other day. I even heard Harry offering Draco to come and practice with them after Joseph Argentum injured himself. Ronald wasn't best pleased, but he had seen him helping Luna look for her shoes and I'm certain Ron has a soft spot for her, so he went along with it anyway."
Hermione sat up wiping the tears away and looking into her best friends eyes. Her smile was not forced now, she felt relieved. She felt so stupid for worrying about something so little; she was only going out to dinner with him!
"I'm going out to dinner with him tomorrow night; he's taking me to this new place on the outskirts of Hogsmeade called 'The Mermaids Antrum' or somet-"
Ginny chocked on her sip of pumpkin juice "He's taking you to the Mermaids Antrum? Do you have any idea how expensive that place is?"
Before Hermione had time to answer Ginny had shrieked. "HERMIONE! What are you going to wear?"