Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Thanks for all the nice reviews  I know this is a short chapter, but I reached a good stopping point. I'll work on making them longer in the future!

The sun was just rising when Hermione woke up with her face buried in gleaming scarlet satiny strands. A smile touched her lips as she inhaled the lilac scent of Ginny's shampoo. Her head rested between the tiny buds of the other girl's breasts and their limbs were still tangled together in much the same way they had been the night before. She looked up at the contentment written across Ginny's face and wondered how Ginny managed to be so patient and strong after what she had been through.

Finally, red eyelashes fluttered open. Overcome by a sudden and inexplicable shyness, Hermione closed her eyes and tried to breath in the slow rhythm of sleep, but after a minute, Ginny tilted her head down to whisper.

"Are you awake?"

"Yeah" Hermione breathed back, not moving, reluctant to give up the warmth and safety of having another body wrapped around her.

"Can I ask you something you probably really don't want to answer?"

"Ask away." Hermione tried to keep her voice light even though she knew what was coming next.

"Why did you do it, Hermione?" A moment of stunned silence followed the question both girls had known would have to be addressed sooner or later.

"I can't explain. I'm all messed up."

"Was it because of him?"

"What? No!" Hermione tensed up, rushing through her memories in search of some idea of how Ginny knew what had made her want to die.

"He can be a stupid git sometimes, but his heart's in the right place, you know. He really does care about you."

Stupid git? Hermione puzzled for a moment. "Oh, Ginny, no! I promise you, I don't even feel that way about your brother."

"You were a little off all summer, but after that night you went out with the boys it was like you never fully came back. I miss you." She ran her fingertips over Hermione's hair, provoking a slight but confusing blush.

"I'm so sorry. I don't think I would even know where to start trying to explain the way I've acted. I can't even promise I'll be different, because I don't know if I can go back."

"Hermione, what happened that night?"

"Nothing really. I drank more than I should have and had a bit of a close call with a nasty idiot, but that was about all. Oh, and Harry and Ron informed me that I only 'kind of' count as a girl."

"The way they acted on the train must have bothered you."

"Yeah, but I don't think it matters anymore if they find me attractive. I just wanted to be something other than dull and sensible for once in my life. I didn't think any of it would become so impossible to avoid, that wanting to be someone else would creep into every thought."

"You've lost so much weight. I feel like I could still lose you so easily."

"I can't help it." Ginny heard the weight of sadness in the soft voice, and believed her.

"If you didn't think I was talking about Ron, who is it?"

"Ginny, I love someone I shouldn't. Love like I didn't know was possible and it's eating me alive." Hermione didn't notice that Ginny's heartbeat had grown faster. Tiny agile fingertips brushed a wisp back from her face.

"Why shouldn't you love this person?"

"I can't tell you. I can't tell anyone. I can't be feeling this." Panic curled into her chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Shh, Hermione, it's ok. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to."

"Thank you. You don't know how much it means." Ginny put a hand under Hermione's chin, tilting her face upward so their eyes met. Her voice burned with intensity when she spoke.

"You're my best friend in the world. I'll do anything for you." Her amber gaze was fierce, and Hermione knew she meant what she said. She drew a breath to reply, reminded by the inviting scent how close and warm the small, firm body was. They were interrupted by a sharp rapping on the door.

"Come in!" The words tumbled out of Hermione's mouth before she had a single thought, making her instantly aware of her current position. The door opened as she sat up, her hip still pressed against Ginny's side. "Professor!" surprised, happy.

Snape's dark eyes looked completely blank for a second, shallow and empty as they darted from the two girls to Ginny's still made bed and back. Before Hermione had even noticed the silence, he spoke in a voice that revealed nothing.

"Miss Weasley, Hermione will have to continue taking her meals with me until she has started to gain more weight. You are welcome to join us for breakfast if you'd care to."

"Um, actually I have some homework to finish that I left in my dormitory. I should be going."

"Very well. Hermione, I expect you in the kitchen in a quarter of an hour. I'll give you two a moment to say goodbye." As the door slid shut, Hermione collapsed on Ginny's chest again.

"Will you stay with me until I have to go eat?" she pleaded, "this feels so nice."

"Of course I will." her fingertips trailed over soft shoulders, stopping suddenly. "Hermione?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"When did he start calling you by your first name?" Though Hermione nuzzled her face against Ginny's collarbone to hide her embarrassment, incriminating heat radiated from her cheeks.

"You love him, don't you?"

"Please don't tell anyone."

"Of course not." And Ginny understood. They were silent for the next few minutes, unmoving except for Ginny's fingers gently playing with Hermione's hair and the tears that crept unseen down freckled cheeks.