Disclaimer : J. K. Rowling had a stroke of genius and thought of Harry Potter , then wrote all seven books and enjoys the benefits of such wonderful inspiration. I , on the other hand, own nothing.
Chapter 10: It Feels Like Old Times.
Ginny left home extremely early. If she was going to meet Hermione at 5 she had better get caught on with inventory and organize the receipts of the sales from the day before. George came down to open the store and found his sister deep in paper work. Shelves were tidied up and even his coffee was brewing! A pang of guilt surfaced; he didn't mean for Ginny to be up so early. By 4 Ginny gave the last instructions to Mildred and darted out of the store. Good thing George was gone for the rest of the day; it meant no questions and no explanations. Ginny was nervous. After a day like yesterday, what was going through Hermione's mind?
Five o'clock found her outside the store, in fact she had been standing for almost ten minutes in front of The Last Page. Remembering Draco's protective spell she decided to wait outside. Punctual as always, Hermione closed the bookshop and walked over to the bus stop in front of the store where Ginny was sitting waiting for her.
"Ready?" Hermione's voice startled her a little.
"If you are." Ginny didn't know whether to shake hands or give Hermione a hug so she forced a smile.
"Shall we go to the same bar?" It was a question but Hermione was already walking out of the bus stop towards the bar.
They found a remote table for two in the back. Patrons were trickling in; by 6 the place would be packed. Hermione ordered for both of them. Ginny faked interest in her surroundings while waiting for Hermione to speak first; after all she was the one who asked her to come. Their drinks came.
"Did you mean it, what you said yesterday, about walking away if I ask you to?" Hermione asked.
"I did, I do," Ginny answered without hesitation.
Hermione saw concern in Ginny's eyes. "Expressing remorse and regret is not enough, you know. It's not a guarantee of forgiveness nor does it erase the words or the actions of some."
Hermione's accusatory tone deflated Ginny. It was not going to be easy. Ginny straightened herself. She searched for the right words and decided to let her heart do the talking. "We all made mistakes and nothing I do or say will change what happened. The war, the dead, the pain, I don't know, Hermione, I was so tired, so angry and then... I never imagined you with somebody else. We all could see how you felt about my brother and he about you, it was so obvious. I now understand you needed more from him. Believe me, I do understand but... Draco! The same guy who loathed Muggles more than anything else, the one who treated you like dirt for six years. The son of Death Eaters!"
Hermione interrupted her. "It was for me to decide, Ginny, not you, or Harry or anyone; you should have trusted me. You should have known me better. People accused me of being a traitor, a traitor! Of course they would when none other than Ron Weasley was screaming it at the top of his lungs and Harry Potter said nothing." She was angry and having Ginny in front of her was the catalyst she needed to finally let her pain and anger run out of her. With every word the weigh on her shoulders lessened. She wondered about the time when she would finally face them; well she wondered no more.
"I wasn't looking for your approval; I was looking for understanding and guidance from my friends because I was so confused. I was falling for Draco Malfoy; it was not supposed to happen ever! He ... is not, was not the person I thought. You didn't have to like him, you needed to trust me. My best friends ... Ginny, I loved you all so much, I still do. Tell me how do I forget? How do I forgive you?"
There were no tears. Both young women stared at each other as if searching for a clue, an answer to the question. "How about we keep on talking, no holding back, no lies. We go at your pace." Ginny lips curved into a smile. "After what I witnessed yesterday, there is no doubt in my mind Malfoy is crazy for you. I am happy for you, believe me."
Hermione's bottom lip was caught between her teeth and her hands were playing nervously with her drink.
"Hermione, is something wrong? What happened with Malfoy after I left?" Ginny asked.
Hermione's chest was heaving quickly. Her face grew hot as the memory of his hands on her body and his lips on her mouth made her middle warm again. "We... he ... I." Hermione's elbows were on the table, her face in her hands. "We slept together," she blurted.
Ginny tensed. Her hand was on her mouth and her expression one of absolute astonishment. "You mean..."
"I mean one minute he is standing like he was under some spell and next he is kissing me and then I ..." Hermione sounded as shocked as Ginny was. "And why am I telling you this! What the bloody hell is wrong with me! The bastard ..."
"This is the bastard you love and have a son with." Ginny was a bit amused at her friend's reaction. It was evident these two were head -over- heels in love with each other.
"Ginny, I have not seen him for more than two years! I thought he was dead and then what happens? I asked for explanations. We need to talk, don't we? I let him take me right in my parent's living room!" Hermione's tone was the same she had when she used to give them answers she thought were obvious.
"Wow, right in the living room!" Ginny could not help herself any longer. She had a wide grin in her face.
"It's not funny!" Hermione almost screamed.
"I don't understand. He loves you, you love him. What more do you need?"
"I need to understand why he waited all this time to come out of wherever he was hiding. All this time he could have been a part of our lives and he chose not to. And when he finally is forced to confront me rather than an explanation I let him seduce me like a school girl!" That was Hermione all right, demanding a rational explanation for the irrational behaviour of two people who had gone through what they went through and loved each other deeply.
"You are human. You missed him and you thought you lost him. Yesterday was one crazy day, Hermione, don't beat yourself up." Ginny had her hand on Hermione's.
Hermione's gaze softened. "I missed you."
"Hermione I..." Ginny sounded remourseful again.
"It's fine, Ginny. At my own pace, remember?" Hermione was smiling for the firs time. Ginny nodded.
After a few of minutes of a comfortable silence Ginny asked, "So are you meeting with him again?"
"I don't know, we didn't have time ... for a conversation. I left him standing alone after... you know." Hermione was embarrassed. She was also surprised by the ease with which she could confide in Ginny, as if nothing had happened.
"Hermione, talk to him. Don't complicate things... unless there is something else." Hermione was biting her bottom lip again. 'So there is something else bothering her.'
"I don't even know where he lives." There was concern in Hermione's voice.
"Trust me, you will see him again." Ginny was enjoying her friend's mortified look. Hermione smiled again right after punching Ginny in her arm. They talked some more and made plans to go out on Sunday; Hermione was taking John Albus to the fair.