Chapter 6

Hermione sat at her desk, reading the papers of her 6th year students when a face appeared in her fireplace.

"Hermione? You there?" The disembodied head asked from the green flames.

Hermione jumped a little at the voice and then a smile broke out on her face. "Ginny? Ginny!" She yelled as she leapt from her chair and towards the fireplace.

"Can I come through?"

"Absolutely! Come on through!" Hermione responded, excited to see her friend. She hadn't seen her in about a year and despite the fact that she wasn't with Harry, she was still the best female friend she had.

Ginny burst from the fireplace, wiping the residual soot off her clothes before hugging Hermione tightly. "Oh, it's so good to see you. My team just got into town for the match we're playing this weekend. I got your letter and you have to tell me everything that's going on!" She said, guiding her friend to the chairs.

Hermione sighed and nodded her head. "Well, it's been about 3 months now, since we, you know…" She trailed off.

"You've been sleeping with Malfoy for three months?" Ginny yelled. "Since you pretty much got here?"

Hermione nodded sheepishly. "I can't help it, Ginny. When I'm with him, I'm happy. I'm whole. I'm…I don't know how to describe it."

"You're desperate." Ginny added, shaking her head at her friend.

Hermione looked up at her aghast. "I am not desperate! I'm sure I could find someone else…"

"Well, yes, like a certain Harry Potter." Ginny added. "But obviously, you're desperate for a wizard who happens to be engaged."

Hermione blushed. "I know, it's terrible." She said sadly.

Ginny sighed and took her friends hand. "Oh, Hermione. Don't look like that; I'm sorry I said that. But really, where is this going? He's engaged. Aren't you tired of sneaking around in the middle of the night hoping to not get caught? Or what about trying not to be too obvious around other people? Or always looking who's around before meeting up?"

Hermione looked up at her friend in shock.

"It's not just you, darling. That's what everyone does when they're cheating on someone." She said bluntly. "And that's what Malfoy is doing. He's cheating on someone. You deserve better. You deserve someone who isn't hiding you. There is no future, Hermione."

Hermione could feel the tears starting to well up and she did her best to fight it. Ginny was telling her everything that she had been trying to ignore. She was telling her everything that she didn't want to believe. She was telling her of the world outside of the castle walls.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. It's like an addiction." Hermione said, a tear falling down her cheek.

"Shh now. I know. It's hard. But this isn't healthy, Hermione. He needs to choose." Ginny said soothingly. "And you have a perfectly eligible wizard waiting for you." She said, referring to Harry. Ginny may not have been able to stay with him but she always wanted to see him happy. And she thought, like the rest of the wizarding world, that Hermione could make him happy. But unfortunately, she didn't know if Harry could make Hermione happy.

Hermione nodded. "I can't do this to Harry; not when I'm like this."

"You're right about that." Ginny agreed quickly. "So, after all these years, it's still Malfoy, huh?"

Hermione nodded again. "Apparently. Trust me, I've tried to fight it."

Ginny hugged her friend. "It'll be alright Hermione. But you need to stand up for yourself. You were not meant to be the other woman. You're meant to be loved. And if Malfoy can't do that, you need to find someone who will."

"You're right, Ginny. I know you are." Hermione said into the fabric of Ginny's shirt. She paused for a moment. "But what if he does love me?"

Ginny sighed. "If he loves you, then he should be with you. But what he's doing isn't loving, Hermione. It's causing pain to you, probably to him and to someone who doesn't even know."

Hermione thought about that. Astoria probably didn't know. She probably assumed that Draco was being faithful. "I'm rotten, aren't I? It takes two to cheat, doesn't it? I'm helping hurt someone I don't even know."

"You're not rotten, you just want to be with the man you love and he happens to be in an arranged engagement. You're in a rotten position. But you? You are nowhere near rotten." She comforted, allowing Hermione to sit back down.

"But I'm hurting someone I don't even know! I'm sleeping with a man who's taken." Hermione said, shaking her head.

A small smile slipped on Ginny's face. "Is he any good?"

Hermione's expression quickly changed to one of embarrassment. "That's none of your business!" She flushed red and could feel the heat creep up her neck.

"Sure it is! Is it worth it? Do you enjoooooy it?" She prodded, poking at Hermione.

Hermione suppressed a smile. "It's good."

"Just good? C'mon Hermione!" Ginny encouraged.

"Yes, yes, it's good! Are you happy? He's really really good." She said, a smile breaking out on her face. "See! I told you I'm rotten! I'm smiling at the thought of sleeping with an engaged man!"

Ginny giggled. "Okay, maybe a little rotten."

Hermione grabbed a pillow from a chair and threw it at her getting her right in the chest.

"Hey!" Ginny protested. "I'm just agreeing with you!" She laughed throwing the pillow back.

Hermione laughed as well. She couldn't help laughing with Ginny. It was times like these that she wished the witch was around more. "I do need to stop it though, don't I?" Hermione said, quickly sobering.

Ginny nodded her head. "Yes, my dear, you do."

Hermione nodded and thought for a moment before changing the subject. "Okay, enough about me, what wizard has your interest now?"

Ginny's smile grew. "Oh Hermione, he's perfect!" She squealed. "He's a beater for Puddlemere United and he's gorgeous!"

Hermione smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. She knew she could always count on Ginny, no matter what. And she knew Ginny always gave her the dose reality she sometimes desperately needed. But the best part about Ginny was that no matter how long they had been apart, it was always like they had never left.


A/N: Here you go! I needed a little bit of levity in there, even if it's only a little and at the end. I wanted Hermione to smile and have some fun. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it. Please review and let me know! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! It really means a lot. ~Chrissy