Hermione lay for about half an hour under the shade of the tree, just mentally re-living the last hour. She was making out with Ginny Weasley. Her best friend since her second year at Hogwarts! What was happening? Did she have a crush on Ginny? No. Thats stupid. But was it really? Hermione argued with herself for a few more minutes before deciding to think about something else, and push the thought of her loving her best friend out of her mind. Hermione rolled up the blanket and picked up the picnic basket with now one less pumpkin pasty in, she got hungry, and began to make her way up to the castle. The sky had become cloudy now, quite a change of weather today Hermione thought. Hermione dismissed the thought and began to walk up the first flight of stairs towards the common room , but was quickly stopped in her tracks by a light airy voice calling her name. It was Luna.
"Hello Hermione" Luna said , getting to the same step as Hermione. "Had a nice day?" She said, a slight grin creeping at the corner of her mouth.
"I suppose." Hermione said, maybe a bit to hesitantly.
"Whats this?" Luna pointed towards the red blanket Hermione had folded and the picnic basket.
"Oh, Ginny brought a picnic earlier" Hermione saw the grin slowly growing "but we barley eaten any of it, do you want it?" Hermione said briskly, shoving the basking in Luna's direction.
"Oh, okay, I've never had a picnic before!" Exclaimed Luna
"Well have fun! " smiled Hermione as Luna skipped back down the stairs. Hermione began to climb back up the stairs and was at the foot of the corridor that lead to the common room when she saw the group of third years at the opposite end of the corridor , the same ones that passed earlier when her and Ginny were... Hermione's stomach became tight and she quickly dismissed the thought. She couldn't help but think at least one of them had saw her and Ginny, and it was nagging at her brain like mad. A girl with dark brown hair in bunches looked over at Hermione , but quickly looked away and whispered something to her friend, who then also looked over at her. Hermione's heart was beating fast now, her palms were getting sweaty and her breathing rate had rapidly increased. She knew one of them had saw them. Hermione ducked her head down and was nearly running to the common room entrance. She quickly muttered 'sugar lump' and the portrait swung open , and Hermione stumbled in.
"Hermione?" It was Ginny. Hermione could feel her cheeks burning, her throat was dry, and she was breathing like she'd just ran a marathon. Hermione felt her eyes begin to sting , don't cry she though, whatever you do, do not cry. "Whats wrong?" Ginny said running over too Hermione and taking her hand. Hermione burst into tears and layer her head on Ginny's shoulder. Ginny tried to calm her down by stroking her head and making the 'hey' and 'ssh' noises you make when attempting to comfort someone, but Hermione couldn't stop. Ginny lead Hermione over to one of the armchairs by the fire , sat her down in it, and knelt down in front of her, still holding her hand. Hermione and Ginny sat in silence , apart from the slight stutter of Hermione crying, for a few minutes. Ginny took notice in the fact Hermione had calmed down slightly now , and seemed able to talk without spluttering. "Whats happened?" Ginny asked again, wiping a year from Hermione's cheek and tucking her hair behind her ear.
"The third years, from earlier, they saw us, they were whispering about me, about us, outside the portrait hole. I know they were!" Hermione cried
"Ok ok" Ginny replied wrapping her arm round Hermione's back so she could rest her head on Ginny's shoulder. "It's okay, everything's going to be okay, I promise"
