Weasley Family +2

10:16 a.m.

Diagon Alley

"That's it everyone! Straight through here! Now, Harry dear, Hermione, let me see those lists. Ah, yes- Harry's got the same suit as Ron." Mrs. Weasley assessed the situation of her nest as surely as she had on each of their first days of school.

The hustle and bustle of the paved roads in Diagon Alley always caused her to feel rushed and overwhelmed. Ron rolled his eyes after receiving a playful nudge from Harry over her theatrics while Hermione giggled good-naturedly. The threesome was well used to this by now, though it was a bit embarrassing as all were completely able to do their own shopping, Ginny included. They let Mrs. Weasley take charge today because this would be the last time she ever got to do it and clearly, it would be something she missed.

"Mum, we're just gonna go and visit that quidditch shop over there" Ron said as his mother tripped over her own feet and moved ahead without him.

"Yes, yes. Ok then, Ron! You boys just best behave yourselves… and keep an eye out for your sister!"

"I can take care of myself Mum…" Ginny mumbled as she excused herself to follow Hermione in the direction of the book shop. Hermione, having departed as soon as she saw Harry 'discreetly' pointing in the direction of Quality Quidditch Supplies, grinned back as Ginny jogged to catch up to her. The girls rather relished their quality time together since there weren't many other girls Hermione could talk to who weren't obsessed with hair and makeup charms. And while Ginny did like to talk about quidditch, much like the boys, she enjoyed Hermione's practical disposition on most subjects, including boys. Hermione may have been crazy over her brother, but when it came to relationships not her own, she gave good advice.

"Sooo… I may have something to tell you Hermione…" Ginny began as they linked arms and continued down their path.

The crowd was really getting thick up here and Hermione could just barely make out what her friend was saying over the calling of the shop owners to the parents and first-time students. Passing a glance to her left, she saw that Ginny was avoiding eye contact, and just behind her, a most curious sight—an elf in a silky black pillow case was juggling a tall stack of books atop his head whilst arguing with a terrifyingly mean-looking owl. Odd.

Refocusing on Ginny, she noticed that the other girl's face was set straight forward while her mouth twisted up and her eyes darted from side to side. She was being shifty, but giving her the benefit of the doubt, Hermione also looked about the area, wondering if they were keeping a secret from someone. Seeing no obvious threat, she glanced back toward her red-headed sister and frowned slightly.

"Well…? Are you going to tell me what it is?" she asked in annoyance.

Ginny's eyes shot over to the brunette quickly and immediately darted away again causing Hermione to huff in irritation and drop her arm. The girls stopped walking just outside the door to Flourish and Blott's where people continued to push past them and carry on their boisterous conversations. Ginny turned to face Hermione, a deep flush creeping up from the collar of her purple and white polka-dot shirt and resting just underneath her chin. The splotches she sported on her cheeks spoke volumes to the older girl. Ginny had done something, probably to someone, that she shouldn't have done- and now Hermione was going to have to bail her out.

Rolling her eyes to the heavens, Hermione sucked in a deeply calming breath and held it for a moment before exhaling through her nose. A few blinks later and she summoned her best comforting tone to coax the information out of Ginny.

"Look, whatever it is, you wouldn't have brought it up if you didn't think I should know about it. And it appears it's bothering you- whatever it is. Why don't we just talk about it and see what can be done—"

"I slept with someone."

"….."

Hermione blinked several more times before her own cheeks started to turn pink. She knew Ginny was searching her face for signs of anger and, determined to not be judgmental (as she was prone to do), she fixed her eyebrows low on her forehead to accommodate a more peaceful and non-threatening façade. Nodding slowly, Hermione attempted to gather her thoughts. What did she know about sex? Was Ginny even talking about sex? Did 'sleeping' with someone constitute sex? How would Ginny even know what to do in that situation? Was this her first time, or was she a pro? What did that make Ginny? Hell, what did that make Hermione? She'd never had time to engage in anything more than a gentle snog on a dark stairway…Hell!

"It's alright Gin, maybe we can skip the bookshop and go somewhere more private? To… to talk?"

Ginny's body seemed to deflate with relief. Hermione could see tears welling in the younger girl's eyes as she gave a watery smile and grabbed Hermione's hand to walk off toward a set of barren picnic tables nearby the ice cream shop. Opting to buy a set of vanilla cones to talk over, they sat down with their sweet treats and tried to find a good place to begin. A few minutes of silence passed with the girls just awkwardly looking around and licking their ice creams before Ginny decided to "take the Avada".

"Look, Hermione, I don't want you to be mad… and I know you must be at least a little bit upset with me right now. I just… ugh! I don't know what else to do and I feel like it's gonna come out sooner or later and I'd like to be the one you heard it from."

Hermione shook her head and tried to make sense of what Ginny was telling her.

"Gin, it isn't my place to know what you're going with your body… nor is it anyone else's. If you weren't hurt or forced, and you're ok with what you did, then that's all that matters. Whoever this guy… or girl… was, must have been someone special because I've never known you to entertain fools."

Ginny smiled at Hermione's tactful way of asking if she was gay. Trust Hermione to try and get all the facts before deciding about something. She sighed and pumped her shoulders a few times to get herself going.

"You're right Hermione… and I'm not gay… I just… this guy… he wasn't, I mean… uhm…"

"Just spit it out Gin. What's the worst that could happen?"

"I don't want anyone else to know!"

"Then they won't! I'll never tell, I swear it. But I can't help you Gin, if you won't tell me."

Ginny pumped her shoulders again and stretched her neck back. Hermione thought she looked a bit like she was gearing up for a fight. Godric, but it couldn't be that bad. From everything she knew of the act, it was really meant to be pleasurable to both parties. What was Ginny honestly concerned about?

Pausing her internal tirade, Hermione opened both ears to hear what Ginny was about to say as her mouth parted.

"You remember me telling you about the night I snuck out to hang with Parvati and Padma?"

Hermione nodded her head. Ginny said they'd met up at the Leaky before going out into London for an evening of music, fun, and admittedly, a little drinking. But Ginny had returned home safely and at a decent hour from what she could tell.

"I remember Gin. What's bothering you, love? This isn't like you at all." She said earnestly.

Ginny's eyes began to tear up again and she looked down at her now empty hands as several droplets fell onto her skin. Sniffling a bit, she spoke to the ground while Hermione scooted closer to comfort her.

"There were lots of boys there, at the dance hall. And I thought it'd be cool of me to play around with some of them. I really only meant it as some harmless fun… but this one guy really caught my fancy, you see?" she sniffled again, and Hermione squeezed her hand to keep her grounded.

Breathing harshly through her parted lips, Ginny rolled her wet eyes up toward the sky and shrugged her shoulders haphazardly.

"Gods Hermione, I only meant to play a bit, or 'get my feet wet' as Padma put it. I didn't even really mean to go all the way, but I did. I let him, you know? And it was alright, but it wasn't what I'd expected. It didn't even really feel good. Just like a lot of pressure and then he was getting off me. I'm so embarrassed." She laughed incredulously.

Hermione could tell that Ginny was angry. With herself, or with this guy, she didn't know.

"Was it something you didn't want Gin? Did he force you?"

"No! no… he didn't force me. It just sucks! You know? He's a muggle and I don't even know his name…"

Hermione smiled here. Kids made mistakes all the time. Ginny could move past this. They were going back to school after all. There would be plenty of distractions, committees to join, or quidditch. Ginny loves quidditch.

"But Mum's going to think I'm a whore!"

"Alright now Gin. You're just being plain silly. Your mother would never think you were a whore. Especially seeing how she has so many children herself."

There, Hermione thought. Argue with that logic!

"And besides, this outing of yours was ages ago! If nobody found out then that you'd done the deed, what makes you think it would come out now? Was this boy a wizard?"

"No."

"So, a muggle then. And it must have been what? Two? Three months ago, now?"

"Yes, exactly two months and 16 days."

Hermione paused again. She'd heard of girls who became attached to the men they lost their virginities to, but counting the days? Hermione frowned a dark and foreboding frown. Something wasn't right. She looked up from their joined hands to find Ginny's blue sapphire's staring directly back into her hazel eyes. She blinked back tears as Ginny smiled at her finally understanding.

"I'm not going back to school with you guys, Hermione."