A/N: A smaller chapter, but I still feel like this one was needed. Please review and suggestions for the next chapter are always welcome!
Chapter 7: Secrets Unfolded
Draco hurried in getting ready the next morning and went into the common room to see if Hermione was there. He spent most of the night thinking of what he was going to say to her. Eventually he had given up and decided he was going to wing it. Unfortunately she wasn't there and Draco's heart sank. Could he confront her and tell her how he felt in front of all the students in the Great Hall? He hoped he would be able to get her alone before he resulted to that.
Hermione was avoiding Malfoy. She had even gotten up earlier than usual so that she could be out of the dormitory before he had woken up. Part of her wanted to get Malfoy alone just to see if he really meant what he said last night, but the more logical part of her told her that it would be easier to not see him at all. So she left the dormitory and went to find Ginny.
Hermione found Ginny just as she was coming out of the Gryffindor portrait and they walked together to the Great Hall for breakfast. Ginny could tell that something wasn't right with Hermione, and when she asked her about it, Hermione brushed it off as nothing, but she still knew something was off. When they turned the corner, Ginny's patience ended.
"Okay Hermione, what gives? You've been acting strange ever since The Three Broomsticks and even stranger now. I'm your best friend so don't think I haven't noticed."
Hermione knew Ginny had a right to know. She was her best friend and Hermione wasn't the best at keeping her secrets hidden. If she didn't tell Ginny now, she would find out a different way and she could be hurt.
"Well," she said slowly. "There's this one guy..."
Ginny squealed. "Oh who is it? Is he a Gryffindor? Is he in your year? Does he-"
"Hold your horses Ginny, let me tell my story!" Ginny made a motion of zipping a zipper across her lips and throwing away a key.
Hermione sighed. "Well, there's this guy, and I thought he didn't like me, but last night I was in the library and he was there. He started to kiss me... and other stuff..."
Ginny looked like she was going to burst.
"Someone came into the library and so we didn't do anything to serious-"
Ginny squealed with her mouth still closed.
"Shush Ginny!" Hermione scolded. "Anyway so we didn't get into anything serious." This was the part Hermione had to be careful about. She came up with what she hoped was a believable story for the next part.
"So then I heard him talking to a friend of his. He was talking about me and..." Hermione stopped.
"And what?" Ginny started to look a little concerned.
"And he said he loved me."
Ginny gave Hermione a huge grin. "Hermione that's great!"
"Yeah, but I don't I don't know if I feel the same way about him," Hermione said. She hugged her arms closer to her chest. "I mean, he's handsome, and he's a great kisser, but we haven't always been on the best terms. I can tell he's changed, but I don't know how much. I just don't want to get hurt." Hermione finished and she looked at Ginny for any advice she could give.
"Hermione, who is this guy?"
Hermione didn't answer.
Ginny searched her friends face. Hermione was obviously falling for this guy, but who was it? Who in the past had she not been on the best terms with? The only guy who came to her mind was Draco Malfoy. But it couldn't be...
"Hermione, is this guy Draco Malfoy?"
Hermione's face confirmed Ginny's question.
"Oh, Hermione-"
"I know, he's filthy and he's selfish and he was a death eater, but could he have changed?" Hermione started to pace in front of the red head. "I've gone over and over this. He's changed, I can tell! But everything he did. To Harry, to Ron, to me, even to you."
"Hermione-"
"I know! How could I even think about the possibility of loving him? I just- I just-"
"Hermione!"
Hermione stopped pacing and looked at Ginny. The look of pure confusion and distress made Ginny's heart feel for the girl.
"Hermione, I believe you when you say he's changed. The war changed everybody. Who am I to judge someone else? I still may not trust him-"
Hermione looked at the ground and Ginny saw a little bit of red tinting her eyes.
"But that doesn't mean I'm saying that I won't keep being your friend if you do end up loving him."
Hermione looked up at her again with a small smile.
"I just want you to be careful around him."
Ginny wrapped her arms around Hermione and gave her a hug.
"Thanks Ginny," Hermione mumbled into her shoulder. "I wouldn't know what I'd do without you."
"Probably explode," Ginny joked, pulling away from her.
"Yea, you're probably right," Hermione said with a light chuckle.
The two of the girls linked arms and strode into the Great Hall for a great breakfast of eggs, porridge, and orange juice.