Thank you all for the reviews.
Also a few of you have been asking for Draco.
Well, he's coming soon, I promise.
But as usual, their progression in the story will be slow.
Anyone who's read my earlier Fic's will be witness to that.
But I hope to make it worth your while!
Keep reading!
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CHAPTER 4.
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"Where is Hermione?" Harry asked. "I've barely seen her all week."
"She said she'd try to come. But I think something about the new deal has been keeping her busy." Luna answered.
"Harry, can you pass me the salt please?" Ginny asked. "Well, pansy is busy doing the same things she does right?"
Pansy shook her head. "I don't know what is wrong with that woman. It's Sunday. And she co-owns the business with 's her own boss. It's not like we are on a tight schedule."
"Perhaps she's taken up a new order without telling you?" Luna suggested as she placed the bread basket on the table.
Pansy shook her head again and swallowed her wine before speaking. "We had our weekly meeting on Friday. There's nothing new that I don't know about. Frankly, if you ask me, she overworks herself way too much."
"I don't remember the last time I saw her and I live with her!" Ginny exclaimed. "She barely stays long enough for breakfast."
"Girls, I'm worried. Is she okay? You think she's seeing someone she doesn't want us to know about?" Harry asked, worried.
Pansy and Ginny both almost choked on their food when Harry said that.
"I don't think so." Luna intervened. "Why would she not tell us?"
"It's always like this after Ron leaves." Ginny stated confidently.
Pansy nodded emphatically. "I agree. She's always avoidant after he leaves."
"What? Ron again?" Harry said disbelievingly. "I don't think so. Hermione and Ron have moved on long ago. There's nothing more to them."
Luna looked at her sweet boyfriend pitifully while Ginny and Pansy both rolled their eyes and had looks that said 'you poor ignorant boy' on their faces.
Harry didn't miss the looks. His eyes wide, he asked "What? Why are you all looking at me like that? There's nothing between them."
"Darling, we aren't saying there's anything between them, but you have to realize that although there isn't anything we see or set in stone about them does not mean that there isn't something intangible about them."
Harry sighed. "Either there is or there isn't anything. And it will make me the happiest person on earth if there was something between them. Merlin knows how long I've been in between their indecisive and nonexistent love life. I tried, but they just don't want to be with each other."
"That being true, I still think her weird, work obsessive behaviour has something to do with Ron." Pansy stated. "That's how she copes. I guess, a liaison like theirs can't be easy to categorize or forget. She probably just misses him."
Harry still looked confused, but when the women started talking deep and about feelings, he had learnt to shut up and just listen or at least pretend to listen. After a point they usually forgot he was there. That was one of the moments when he really missed Ron! Stupid prat had to go and settle elsewhere. Now unless Ginny, Pansy or Hermione got themselves boyfriends, permanent ones to be specific, he was meant to be the sole male in their company.
"I think the most supportive we could be of her would be by just letting her be and leaving her alone. It's Hermione. She'll bounce back in no time as usual." Luna said wisely.
"Hmmm. True. But I still think we need to find her a boyfriend. Someone who is worthy of her and not an idiot like my brother." Ginny said.
"Why can't we try to get her and Ronald together?" Pansy questioned. "Is the whole world blind or is it just me that sees what they have is very special?"
Now it was Harry's turn to roll his eyes.
Ginny looked like a teacher trying to explain a difficult concept to grasp to a student. "That's wishful thinking Pans. In a perfect world it would still be possible. But they don't love each other like that anymore."
"I hate to display such negativity, but Ginny is right." Luna said regretfully.
Harry turned to his right and kissed his pretty girlfriend. She was extremely sensitive, especially about her friends, and that was something that had drawn him towards her in the first place.
Pansy sighed. "Let's give it a week. If she doesn't snap out of it by then, we'll intervene."
They all nodded in agreement.
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Hermione was too tired to apparate. She flooed into the house she shared with Ginny, all ready to collapse upon her bed. It was almost a week and a half since had taken a single day off. She loved her work, and there were no deadlines coming up, but it was one thing that kept her sane soon after Ron left.
She recognized her condition as totally abnormal and unhealthy but it was the price she paid for her own decisions. Stupid stupid Hermione! She muttered to herself. Why do you even get yourself into such a predicament? You're a completely normal, intelligent witch otherwise. What happens when it comes to Ron?
She didn't need to answer that to herself. She dragged herself towards her bedroom.
"Hermione? Is that you?" Ginny called out from above the stairs.
"Hi Gin! It's me. Go back to sleep, it's late."
"Precisely, it's late. Where have you been? Have you had dinner?"
Hermione nodded. "I had a sandwich at work."
"Okay" Ginny conceded. "We missed you at lunch today."
Hermione looked quizzically at Ginny. "Lunch? Oh... oh... at Luna's? Merlin! I completely forgot about that. It's just been crazy at work. I can't figure out this one corner of Mr. Horsfall's garden and its driving me insane."
Ginny decided to skip the lecture and allowed her to rant. She was pretty sure that Hermione was allowing herself to be driven crazy. Anyway, she looked extremely tired at present and Ginny didn't want to add to that. Besides, they still had one more week before they needed to take any drastic action.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out soon love," Ginny said encouragingly. "Get to bed now. You need it. And don't leave early tomorrow. I'm making cheese omelettes."
Hermione gave her a wan smile. "That sounds amazing to me. Don't forget to add mushrooms in mine."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yes ma'am! Anything else?" she teased.
Hermione laughed. "And some freshly brewed coffee would be great."
"Of course of course." Ginny humoured her.
"That's about it." Hermione said, tilting her head as if she was trying to remember if she had missed out on anything.
"Mercy!" Ginny said.
Hermione laughed. "Good night gin."
"Good night dear. Sleep well."
Hermione shut the door to her bedroom.
Ginny slowly made her way towards her own room, glad that she had managed to catch her before going to bed. It was reassuring to know that she looked semi alright, enough to joke along with her.
Maybe they had over reacted about her.
Well, a week later they could decide about that. She hoped her friend would get back to normal soon.
Whatever this was, she was sure that Ron had a part to play in it and she'd be damned if she ever let her brother ruin her friends' life like that; even though it was unintentional.
Why did life have to get so complicated?
If only they had stuck to their childhood love.
But it was better that both of them had outgrown it.
If either of them hadn't then it would spell more heartbreak for them.
And for that at least Ginny was thankful.
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