If I really was JK, I wouldn't be so proud at myself for succesfully rounding off my first year of college: I would be proud at myself for having written the Harry Potter-saga.
46. (About cornering and dealing)
"A memory lasts forever, Never does it die. True friends stay together and never said goodbye"
unknown
A few weeks before the Christmas holidays, Ginny finally cornered Hermione. Quite accidentally, but also rather logically when you thought about Hermione, Ginny bumped into her in the library.
"There you are! I haven't spoken to you in ages!"
"Oh, hi Ginny," Hermione looked up quickly, but turned her eyes back to the dusty old book lying in front of her. She didn't seem so thrilled to see Ginny.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine. A bit stressed and looking forward to the Holidays."
Ginny glanced over Hermione. She seemed thinner, more brittle, especially with that enormous book in front of her. There were huge bags under her eyes and every few seconds she sniffed loudly through her nose. Ginny had never seen a person who needed a vacation more.
"Any special plans? You know that my mum asked you to come for the holidays…"
"Thanks, but no. I'm looking forward to see my parents again and spend some time with them. They wanted to ski, but I talked them out of it. I don't know how much danger they are in but best not to seek it." She dipped her quill in the inkbottle and wrote some notes on the parchment next to her.
"Did you tell them why you didn't want to ski?"
Hermione looked up.
"Of course not! They still don't know anything about the war and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Hermione!"
"What?" Hermione stared defensively at the youngest Weasely. "Do you want me to be taken out of Hogwarts too, just like Evelyn?"
"Of course not! But don't you think your parents deserve to know what danger you risk by being a Muggleborn and being friends with Harry Potter?"
Hermione sighed and looked even more tired than before, something Ginny wouldn't have thought possible.
"Yeah, okay, they actually do." Hermione scribbled some more, before she went on: "You know, I might be able to tell them. After all, I'm seventeen now, they don't have to approve anymore."
"That's not a good argument," the youngest Weasley replied stern in the same tone Hermione usually used against her. "Just because they don't have any legal authority over you anymore doesn't mean they won't worry, or just suddenly understand."
"Can we please drop this subject?"
"All right. I actually have a better one!" Madame Pince walked by, and Ginny lowered her voice. "What's the deal with you and Ron? I heard you're patrolling together again. Have you made up? And what was the fight about?"
Hermione turned a bit red. "Ron and I didn't have a fight."
"Then where did the canaries came from after the Quidditch match?" she replied quickly.
"We didn't fight about anything. We're just not as good friends as we used to be." Hermione refused to look at her, and Ginny leaned further over the table.
"Hermione, who are you fooling? This has obviously something to do with Lavend," Ginny hissed.
"No, it doesn't." Hermione closed the book with a "bang" and a cloud of dust appeared. "He's allowed to kiss anyone he likes."
"Yeah, but you wish it was you."
Ginny saw that she had hit a nerve. If you could call it that, since the whole subject was rather touchy. Hermione stood up, picked up the book and said icily, without looking directly at her:
"Look, Ginny, I really have a lot of homework to do before the term ends. So if you don't mind discussing this later, that would be great."
She turned around and walked away. Ginny stared at her, doubting whether she should just leave the whole thing alone.
The next morning, during breakfast, a school owl swooped to her. Eager to know what Evelyn had written, she opened the letter:
Dear Ginny,
I'm glad to hear from you so regularly. I really thought that wouldn't be the case once I left, since your life's now full of interesting stuff and mine is… well… not.
It sounds as if Hermione isn't happy at all. But when she's avoiding you, wouldn't it be best to let her, at least for now? Who knows, maybe your brother will break up with Lavender soon enough, or Hermione might get used to it, or get over him. It's clear that she doesn't want to talk about it, so why then force her?
Here's everything fine. My mum is very glad that I'm home. Since rebuilding the house has to be done the Muggle way, because the insurance (I explained about that last year, remember?) won't pay if things are done by magic, our house is only half finished.
We're staying in the meantime with my gran, some twenty miles away
from our home. Last week, my family agreed that it would be good for me to go to the Muggle school nearby. And since no one actually listens to me and my protests, I now go five days a week to Smelthing's Girls department school. It's attached to the boy's school, nearby. The girls are all quite polite to me, but I suspect they are gossiping like hell behind my back. Ah well. The classes are harder than I thought they would be. Muggle children of our age have much more knowledge in French, Maths and other Muggle things I haven't had since I turned eleven.
In the meantime, I also have to keep up with my Hogwarts work. I miss doing the actual spells, though. I mean, reading the theory isn't that much fun when you can't perform the actual spell.
I can tell that the world out there is at war. Muggles don't quite notice it, but they're all touchier, and when a girl started to cry in school yesterday during an exam, I could have sworn I saw a Dementor outside the window.
I miss my own world. The Muggles are all really nice, but they just don't understand me. Even my mum doesn't anymore. I don't think that there'll be any chance of going back to Hogwarts soon: she's getting more frightened by the day.
Anyway, the rest is my homework for this week. I hope I did well. Send my regards to all of the teachers, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Love, Evelyn.
PS: Remember that you mentioned to Fred and George that I was taken from school? Well, they sent me a package of Wheezes and asked me to test them. All practical jokes of course; my brother loves them! Furthermore, some daydream potions. I really loved the purple one! Let them know that I really loved the stuff and if they need any more testing, I'll be available!
ah... denial seems to be Hermione's best friend for now...
next up: some familliar scenes from the books between Hermione and Harry.
BTW, I just realised this week that almost half of this story is already online! Which totally allows me to ask a few questions to my dear readers (yes, that means you!):
1.) What do you like especially about this story?
2.) Is there something you don't like? (Other than the slow update, I'm talking story-tellingwise)
3.) Which Character(s) is/are according to you, not true to the books?
4.) who/what would you like to see more?
As always thanks to my beta-er and all the reviews I've been getting lately! :D
If you have some time, and feel like it, please discuss the questions in your review! Though 'normal' reviews are still just as welcome!
x-mokimik-x
