Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
It seems to be a lifetime, and I'm sorry... But sometimes, what we write occurs in real life, and it changes everything.
I hope that you will enjoy this chapter. Thanks for your support!
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Chapter 26
When Ginny Potter stepped into her parents' home, she was amazed to feel home, at last. It was quite a surprising feeling, since it was the first time in months that she felt this way. When she was at her place, with Harry and James, it was different, as if she was a stranger to her own world right now.
The redhead slowly closed the door behind her, and looked for her mother; she was pretty sure that she would be here at this time of the day.
« Mum? », she tried, while getting rid of her coat.
She heard some noise coming from the kitchen, and followed them, a smile on her face. Of course, Molly Weasley was in the kitchen, even if none of her kids were here at the moment.
When she knocked at the open door, gazing at her mother, the latter turned around, shocked to see someone at the doorstep.
« Gin… But… What are you doing here?! », she almost screamed, running towards her daughter, her arms wide open.
« I have some days off for the holidays… Well, weeks off », she explained with a smile, hugging her mother. « It's good to be home. »
« Oh dear, I'm so happy to see you. I'm going to prepare your room, I didn't have the time to… »
« Don't worry about it, Mum, I will stay at home. With Harry and James. »
Molly frowned, but Ginny could see a hint of a smile on her lips.
« It's not… Well, it's complicated. We are not technically back together. But I still have hope for us. For our marriage. I will not let go without a fight. »
Molly nodded, her spoon still in her hand.
« A marriage is always worth fighting for, » she started, sitting down on a chair next to her, urging Ginny to do the same. « You know, with your father, we had our up and down. You don't know much about it, I'm sure, since you were so little… But your father can be… you know, quite childish sometimes. Many times I've wanted to quit, to break up with him. But you were there, with your brothers, and it changes everything. And you know, I don't regret a thing. I don't regret staying, because he's an amazing man, and even if sometimes things are hard, it's worth it. It's always worth it. »
« I hope that you are right », Ginny muttered. « I know that I screwed things up, I know… But I want to make things work, I really do. »
« I know. And Christmas time is the perfect time to do so. Harry needs a family so bad, and you are finally here to show him that you and James are the family that he needs and he deserves. Don't loose your chance, baby, it may be the last. »
Ginny nodded before shaking her head.
« Let's talk about something funnier. Will my big brothers be here for Christmas? It's just in a week, I hope that they will be. It seems that I didn't see them since a lifetime. »
« Well, Ron will be, along with George, Angelina and their little Fred. I'm still not sure about your elder brothers. »
« We'll see then. I guess that we will be there with Harry and James, as usual. »
« Oh, and I'll see if Hermione wants to come to, » Molly added with a strange look at her daughter.
« Why are you looking at me like that? It's great, I didn't have the opportunity to see her since I'm here. And, even if I know that you don't like her a lot since her break-up with Ron, you know that she is family and that everything is perfectly fine between her and Ronald now. »
« Do you know that she spent a lot of time with Harry and James during your training? »
« Excuse me? »
« Oh, you didn't know. Ginny, you have to keep an eye on her. I don't know what's going on between them, but I know that she is not a reliable person. »
« She's Hermione, mum…, » Ginny rolled her eyes. « I mean, she wouldn't do something like that, Harry is like a brother to her. »
« Are you sure? We thought the same about her and Ronald. »
« But it's different, she's my friend too, » Ginny insisted. « She's not capable of such a thing. »
« She's not bad looking and… »
« Please, stop, » Ginny interrupted her, quite annoyed by this discussion. « And even if it was true, I'm not letting someone destroying my marriage. I will ask her to come for Christmas, and I will keep an eye on her if you're so sure of it. »
« I am, even if I would have preferred not to be. »
« And I'm sure that you're wrong. But okay, I will go and talk to her. »
« She works at Flourish and Blotts at the moment. »
« Oh… Perfect. »
« If you think that it's not necessary… »
« I'll do it, mum, » Ginny continued, sighing. « It's just that it's not the right moment for things like that. I'm not in good terms with my husband, and if there is another woman… Merlin…, » she began, before taking her head into her hands.
« Ginny, I didn't say that to make you feel uncomfortable… I just want you to keep your eyes open. Harry is a man, and you weren't there. I'm not saying that something happened, I'm just telling you that they were close. Well, they had always been close, but you weren't there… »
« Please, stop saying that, I know… »
« Alright, alright. Just keep an eye on her, that's all I'm asking you. »
« I want things to work out with Harry, mum, I really do… »
« And everything will be fine, I promise. I will do everything possible to make you happy, Ginny, don't worry… Mummy's here… »
Hermione was about to close the shop when someone entered, ignoring the « Closed » sign at the door. Frowning, she looked up to see who was so eager to buy a book at this time of the day.
That was the moment when she met Ginny's green eyes.
She was beautiful, even more beautiful than in her memories. She was tall with her high heels, and her hair was beyond perfection, as usual. Her make-up was natural, and her red lips were making her look older than her actual age.
« Ginny… Well, isn't it a surprise, » Hermione stated, walking towards here. « I didn't know that you were in town, » she lied with a smile.
« Oh, didn't Harry tell you?, » Ginny asked before bending over a little to take her into her arms.
« No, well… I didn't have the opportunity to talk to him recently. How is your Quidditch training? »
« Lovely. But it would be better to discuss about it around a cup of tea, don't you think? I'm sure that you want to leave this place as soon as possible. »
« Well, you're right, » Hermione chuckled. « I just have to take my things in the back shop, and I'm all yours. »
« Perfect. I'll wait for you here. »
With a nod, Hermione turned around and took a deep breath, heading towards the back shop. She closed the door behind her and closed her eyes during a second or two.
Ginny was here.
And they were about to spend some time together.
Why didn't she tell her that she had things to do? And how would she be able to have a discussion with her, knowing that she was married to the man Hermione loved?
« Oh Merlin…, » Hermione sighed while taking her bag.
When she closed the door of the back shop behind her, she saw Ginny's brilliant smile again. She was perfect, in every way. It wasn't a surprise if Harry had married a woman like her. She was beautiful, funny, and a good friend above all. Something that you're definitely not, a little voice inside resonated. But she did one mistake. Just one…
« I know a place not far from here, » Hermione said while closing the door of Flourish and Blotts. « It's quite cosy, and the tea is excellent. »
« Perfect then. Is someone waiting for you at home?, » Ginny asked with a wink.
« No one, » Hermione chuckled to hide her embarrassment. « What about Harry? »
« He knows that I will be home for dinner. »
When they arrived at the coffee, they ordered two cups of tea, and tried to act normal, despite the fact that everyone was gazing at them with interest.
« Merlin, it's something that I don't miss, » Ginny sighed. « At least, when I'm in training, I don't have to suffer people's inquisitive look. »
« You tell me, » Hermione grimaced.
« I bet that it's not easy to work at Flourish and Blotts given the circumstances. »
« Well, it's not that bad. It was the same when I worked at Hogwarts after all. You cannot avoid people all the time. »
« I know… But tell me, Hermione. What are you doing right now? I mean, apart from working at Flourish and Blotts. I'm sure that it's not enough to keep someone like you busy, » she added in a smile.
« Hem, I… I'm working on a project with a friend. A business project. But you know, it's still at the beginning of the process, we still need to work hard on it. »
« No boyfriend?, » Ginny continued, raising a surprised eyebrow. « I mean, you broke up with Ron ages ago… »
« It's not a priority, » Hermione muttered, hoping that she wasn't blushing.
« Oh, come on, » the redhead laughed. « We both know that you meet handsome single fathers at the shop, don't tell me that you haven't seen someone since I'm gone. »
« Well, maybe someone, » Hermione half-lied. « But it wasn't something important to me you know, just a one-night-stand. »
« Look at you, » Ginny chuckled. « Was he good at least? »
« Not bad, » Hermione muttered.
« At least, you had someone… Would you believe me if I told you that I haven't had sex with Harry since… More than 8 months? »
Ginny had muttered the last sentence, but Hermione looked around to see if no one had heard her.
« I mean… Damn, it seems to be a lifetime, » Ginny continued, not paying attention to the fact that Hermione seemed to be uncomfortable. « But trust me, I think that everything will go back to normal now that I'm here. »
« Oh… Are things better between you two?, » Hermione couldn't help but ask.
« Yes, » Ginny admitted with a smile. « Much better since I'm here. Well, the first days he preferred to sleep on the couch, which I totally understand. But now we share the same bed, and I guess that it's an improvement, don't you think? »
Hermione's ears were buzzing. The last time she saw Harry was three days ago, when he came at the shop. He'd told her that he didn't want to start anew with Ginny, despite her efforts. Just three days ago.
She had a lump in her throat, a feeling that didn't want to disappear despite her great efforts. She just nodded.
« He took me into his arms last night, and kissed me before going to bed. It felt… Normal, and great. As if we were still a couple despite everything that happened. I knew that I needed to go back home. My family comes first right now, I can't afford losing them. You'll see once you'll be in a stable relationship, Hermione, » Ginny concluded with a smile.
« That's great…, » she managed to say.
« You once told me that Harry and I were made to be together, right? »
« Did I?, » Hermione muttered, overwhelmed by a mix of different feelings. Pain, sadness, and above all, shame.
« Yes. It was before we get married. You helped me with my wedding dress, » Ginny laughed, lost into her thoughts. « You helped me tremendously that day, and you told me everything that I wanted to hear. »
« That's what friends do…, » Hermione simply stated, before sipping her hot tea.
« And you are my best friend. I know that you will always be there for me. I know that I didn't give you a lot of news when I was abroad, and I'm sorry… I don't want you to think that I put you aside. »
« Don't worry, » Hermione smiled. « I know that you were busy. »
« And thank you for having kept an eye on Harry and James. Mum told me that you were here for them during these hard moments. »
Hermione starred at Ginny during what seemed to be long seconds, but the redhead was just smiling at her, in an unsuspicious way.
« No problem, » she managed to say before looking down at her cup of tea.
The rest of the discussion passed in a blur, as Hermione wasn't really paying attention. She heard Ginny talking about her training, about James who was so big right now, about Christmas…
Christmas?
« Do you want to be with us for Christmas, Hermione? »
« Well, I don't know, I have to check with my family first… »
« Of course, » Ginny nodded. « But let me know, it would be a pleasure to have you with us. »
« Sure… Well, Ginny, it was great seeing you, but I have to go now, I'm sorry. »
« It's okay. It was great seeing you too. »
Ginny got up to kiss her goodbye, and Hermione put her scarf around her neck.
« Give a kiss to James for me, and say hi to Harry for me. »
« Will do. »
When she left the coffee, Hermione took a deep breath to not cry, not paying attention to the fact that it was so cold outside. She walked at a rapid pace, just wanting to be at her apartment right now.
She just wanted to be alone.