Chapter four – I thought we were best friends

During those few days Ginny was following Hermione, the latter didn't even notice it because she was so deep in her thoughts. That was until her lately usual late dinner while she was talking with Parvati and Levander when she saw Ginny entering the Great Hall to have dinner later than was usual for her. She froze and her heart stopped for a second when she half hoped for Ginny to come to talk to her and half dreaded that she will actually come. Fortunately, Ginny sat down few seats from her and looked like she didn't even see her. Hermione was slightly sad because it meant Ginny didn't care about her at all, but she quickly shut that thought off as a forbidden one and continued her conversation with her classmates.

Hermione woke up in awful mood next morning. Once again she had dreams she didn't want during the night and there was another miserable day ahead of her. She got up early enough to eat breakfast alone again. She didn't even remember what she read about in the library before her classes. She went to the school grounds during her lunch break and headed for her usual spot near the lake. She didn't even notice the lone figure that exited castle just a few moments after she did and slowly followed her from the distance.

Hermione came to her spot and sat to the grass, resting her back against a tree trunk facing the lake. She started to drifting off to her usual daydreaming and was singing a muggle song she heard during the time she stayed at her parents' home during the first part of summer. The song was called Creep and it was by the band Radiohead and it was exactly how she felt lately, like a creep. Just as she was singing:

"When you were here before,
Couldn't look you in the eye,
You're just like an angel,
Your skin makes me cry,
You float like a feather,
In a beautiful world,
I wish I was special,
You're so fucking special.
But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo,

What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here. "

something startled her. Somebody just cleared their throat or is she hallucinating? She looked around and her heart stopped when she saw Ginny standing nearby with a shy but determined look on her face.

Hermione found her composure again and asked Ginny politely, "Hello Ginny, what are you doing here?"

"Hey Hermione, I came to see you" Ginny said slowly.

"Wh…What?" Hermione stammered. She had no idea why should Ginny come to see her.

"I came to ask you… "Ginny hesitated, but then continued…"Are you avoiding me Hermione?"

"Oh no, what should I do now", Hermione thought, "I am a very bad liar I can't just lie to her face…I need to distract her somehow. "

"What are you talking about? I'm not avoiding you Ginny, don't be crazy!" Hermione tried faintly and continued hurriedly "I've just been very busy with school and some S.P.E.W. work and I got so caught up in it that I didn't have time for anything else. Is there something you need?"

"Do I need something?" Ginny asked disbelievingly, slowly starting to feel really hurt and mad at the same time. "Well, let's see…I thought we were starting to be best friends and that I can count on you…but either I need to get check by psychiptrist or I need to actually speak to my best friend!" Ginny almost shouted and stormed off.

Hermione didn't even have time to correct Ginny about psychiatrist and even if she would have time she would probably didn't say anything because she was taken aback by Ginny's reaction. Did Ginny really thought they were best friends? She had no idea…because if she had…what exactly would be different? Probably nothing, but Hermione had no idea that Ginny really cared about her at least at some level…now Ginny is mad at her and it breaks her heart. No, she has to make it right somehow…

Lunch break was almost over so Hermione decided to find Ginny after afternoon classes. She waited in the Gryffindor common room for her but Ginny didn't come with the rest of her classmates. So Hermione decided to go and look for her. She wandered around the castle and just when she wanted to give up and go back to the common room, she entered deserted corridor, but the corridor wasn't as deserted as Hermione thought it will be…There was Ginny snogging with Dean Thomas. Hermione gasped in surprise and tried to back away, to go away, to run somewhere, just anywhere really. It felt like sharp needles were piercing her lungs and her heart.

When Ginny heard a gasp she opened her eyes and when she saw it was Hermione she pulled away from Dean and looked at Hermione waiting if she will say something.

"I was looking for you, because I wanted to talk to you…but I can see you are busy, so we can talk some other time, no problem." Hermione said awkwardly and turned to walk away.

As Ginny was looking at Hermione she realized that Hermione looked terrible. Ginny saw how thin and pale Hermione was and that right now she looked somehow heartbroken…well she looked a lot like Tonks when Ginny last saw her. Ginny stared after her for a while and then told Dean that she will see him later and ran after Hermione.

Hermione was on the verge of tears as she headed to the Gryffindor Tower as quickly as possible, when all of a sudden she heard swift footsteps and Ginny caught up with her.

"We can talk now if you still want" Ginny said slowly.

"You didn't have to stop your, ehm, activity just because of me Ginny. But since you are here now we can go somewhere and talk." Hermione said sternly.

"Where were you headed before I caught up with you? "Ginny asked.

"I was going to my dormitory" Hermione answered, but she didn't say that she was going there to curl into her bed and cry. "I guess you can come with me, there shouldn't be anybody to disturb us now."

Ginny just nodded and matched her pace to Hermione's.