Chapter 4

Ginny awoke early the next morning and set about attempting to disentangle herself from the sleeping brunette at her side, suddenly very aware of the chill in the room. After managing to remove her now dead arm from underneath the neck of the older girl, she carefully climbed over the arm of the sofa before going to find a jumper for herself and a blanket to cover Hermione with.

That task done, she looked out the window. Late August was starting to get chilly quickly, and the stormy grey of the London sky seemed to be picking up on the moods of herself and everyone around her. Rain. Again. But what else could she expect from England, really?

With a quiet sigh, she pulled her hair down from the already falling bun, running her fingers through it on her way to the kitchen. Her face felt puffy from crying, and her body protested at every movement, but lazing about wouldn't help anything. Coffee. That was what she needed.

Minutes later as she poured her first cup she looked back over at the sleeping girl on the couch, whose dark under-eye circles looked more pronounced in the dim light of morning, and decided to let her sleep for now, but she knew that if she had any chance of cheering the older girl up even slightly, she had to get her out of this apartment, away from the Burrow, and doing something useful and fun, or at least something with a bit of normalcy, but what?

Not giving her much time to ponder it, Hermione stirred, and rolled over on the couch.

"Gin?" she called out, the tone of her voice sounding a bit fearful, which worried Ginny.

"I'm right here, Hermione" she called back. "Are you okay?"

Hermione sat up, and pulled her knees to her chest under the blanket, wincing slightly, and put her head down on her knees, rolling her neck as if to stretch it out. "Yeah, I was just confused as to where I was and then I remembered last night." Hermione turned towards the redhead.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Ginny frowned into her mug, pondering the answer.

"Honestly, no, but it'll get better. I think we should get out today."

Hermione stiffened at the suggestion, looking frightened.

With a sigh, Ginny filled another mug, added some milk and made her way over to the couch to hand it off to Hermione and take a seat.

"I know its scary, 'Mione. Gods only know what you're feeling right now, and I only wish I could understand. You don't have to go anywhere you don't want to. I would never force you to do anything. I really do think it would do you some good though; at least a small trip. And I'll be there the whole time. If you want to come home just say so and we'll leave."

Hermione's voice wavered as she responded. "Where—where would we go?"

At that, Ginny shrugged. "I thought we'd go to Diagon Alley. You need a new wand. I need some new robes for training. "

At this something seemed to hit Hermione that she hadn't yet thought of. "Ginny, aren't you supposed to go back to Hogwarts in September and do your final year?"

Yes, Professor McGonnagal had given Hermione permission to return to re-do the time she had missed, but she hadn't accepted, choosing instead to spend time putting herself back in order form the war, but she doubted that Ginny had been given the same amount of choice in the matter, especially since Mrs. Weasley would have been involved.

Ginny's ears turned beet red, the blush spreading out prettily form there, suddenly reminding Hermione so much of Ron that her heart gave a lurch.

"Well, that's just it, 'Mione. That's why I haven't told mum yet. You see, I'll be of age soon, and allowed to leave school if I want, and how can she really argue if I've got a real job lined up?" Something in the redhead's face shadowed over just then. "Besides, how can I go back to Hogwarts right now and be okay? Everything will just remind me of Fred, and Tonks, and Lupin, and everyone else. And now with Ron…"

Hermione nodded grimly. "I understand, Ginny. That's why I couldn't go back either. Not yet. I considered it, but I just cant, no matter how much I want my NEWTs. I'm hoping that if I study on my own they'll still let me sit for the exams." She looked up at Ginny. "Not that I'm complaining, since you clearly have a knack for healing, but I thought you always wanted to play quidditch? What about the Harpies?" She gestured down the green and gold sweater she was still wearing.

"Mom's right. Quidditch is just a fancy. Its not useful, and I ought to stop spending my time on silly dreams and be more down to earth."

Hermione shook her head. That didn't sound like Mrs. Weasley at all. Mrs. Weasley would have told her daughter to pursue whatever made her happy in the long run. George ran a joke shop for Merlin's sake, and if that wasn't the farthest from a practical career, Hermione didn't know what was, and she found that she had a difficult time believing Ginny's explanation, but sensed that prying any more just now would upset her.

"Okay. So. A wand. And robes."

Ginny nodded, standing up, and pulling Hermione up with her.

"A wand, and robes. Let's go get dressed and head out."

Hello! Thanks to everyone who has checked this out so far. Follows and reviews are really appreciated. Also, for some reason the word 's keeps getting cut out, so when you see a random 's, I'm probably referring to a certain well known wizarding hospital. Thanks again!