Chapter 21

Draco knocked furiously at the Potter's door. The Potter's wards went up past a certain time at night, probably to protect from this very thing but Draco didn't care. He needed help fast before he lost Hermione forever.

"Draco?" asked Ginny as answered the door half asleep.

"Good you're awake," he said letting himself in.

"I am now no thanks to you. Oh and by all means, just make yourself at home at 12 at night!" she said rolling her eyes but following him anyways.

"It's an emergency," said Draco.

"Well get on with it," said Ginny not believing him.

"I kissed Hermione," he said.

Ginny's eyes went wide as she stared at him.

"Excuse me, you did what?" she asked.

"I kissed her," he said again.

"AND? What happened? You can't just say that and then not tell me EVERYTHING!" said Ginny excitedly.

"Don't look so happy. I said emergency meaning it didn't go well at all. I kissed her, she kissed me back and then she freaked out and ran away. She said not to come after her," he said.

"She ran away? And you swear she kissed you back?" asked Ginny.

Draco gave her an annoyed look.

"Uhh yeah! Trust me, I know how to tell when someone is kissing you back," said Draco.

"Right. Sorry. But no I'm really sorry. I can't believe she ran away! It's been so long! She even knew already and she still hung out with you every day! That had to mean something!" she said.

"What do you mean she knew?" asked Draco.

"Well… don't get mad. Because clearly it didn't end badly, but I might have told her a while back ago that you were in love with her… I was just hoping to move things along," said Ginny.

"That doesn't make any sense! She acted shocked and hurt when I told her I love her," he said.

"Wait what? You told her you loved her too? Are you an IDIOT?" asked Ginny.

"I just got caught up with myself and I just blurted it out that I loved her," said Draco.

"Well no wonder she ran away! You overwhelmed her! Come on. It's Hermione. You know her very well. Kissing her is one thing but you can't drop two bombs like that!" said Ginny.

"Well I did so help me fix it! I can't lose her!" said Draco.

Ginny looked down.

"I don't exactly know how to fix it. It's Hermione. She has a mind of her own and she's going to have to figure this out. I would just give her time," said Ginny.

"More time? I really think that's the last thing she needs," said Draco sounding frustrated, "You know, maybe this was a good thing. Maybe this was a wake up call for myself that I'm chasing something that doesn't and can't ever exist."

"Maybe," said Ginny quietly.

"You were right when you said 'It's Hermione' and I have to handle the situation right. Well I messed up and I don't think things can just be fixed. But thinking about it I don't know if I have the energy to fix it. It's too much work and too much pain on my end. If she doesn't want me then she doesn't want me," said Draco.

"But what if she changes her mind?" she asked.

"She won't. We both know that," said Draco.

Ginny gave a depressed sigh and said, "I'm sorry."

"Me too. I could have found someone else in all this time… I could be in a real serious relationship," he said more to himself.

"You still amaze me Draco," said Ginny.

"Why?" asked Draco.

"I never thought I'd hear that from you. You just want to settle down with someone. I mean I knew you felt that way about Hermione, but I didn't know you felt that way in general. I just always knew you as a constant player," said Ginny.

"I was. Hermione kind of changed things," he said.

"You'll find someone," she said.

"Yeah I guess," he said. But inside he still just wanted Hermione.

As soon as Draco left Ginny took the chance to floo over to Hermione's. She was absolutely positive that she would still be awake.

To her luck, she was. She was just sitting in front of the fireplace looking at nothing.

"Hermione Jean Granger, what in the world is your problem?" asked Ginny with her hands on her hips.

"I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about," said Hermione crossing her arms and staring/half glaring at Ginny.

"Yeah good luck with that. You are so full of it. What were you thinking? You ran away? Here's Mr. Perfect right in front of your face and you run," she said.

"I really don't even want to know how you know that!" said Hermione.

"Draco came over as soon as he realized that he probably lost you," said Ginny.

Hermione went back to looking at nothing.

"You have nothing to say? Nothing at all?" she asked again.

"No! Everyone knew that I wasn't going to become romantic with Draco so I don't see why I'm the one in the wrong here! He is the one who broke the friendship line and completely ruined everything!" said Hermione.

"Did he though? I know you're scared but think about it. You liked it. Admit it to yourself if you haven't already. You know this could be right," said Ginny.

"It won't last," said Hermione.

"Maybe not, but I guess you really don't deserve him if you're not even going to give him a chance," said Ginny.

Hermione refused to say anything.

"Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you because I'm pretty sure if you don't act soon you really will have lost him and it will be your fault, not his. He's not going to stick around forever and he shouldn't," said Ginny.

Ginny left Hermione to her thoughts. Hermione wasn't so sure that he was going to leave her though. If he really did love her he wouldn't right? This would blow over eventually and things would go right back to safety normal. It had to.

Stubborn Hermione...