Hey everyone! I'm so glad you all like this story so far! Truthfully, I have no idea how this particular plot came to me, but hey, everyone has their weird days. Oh, and if you were wondering, the reason that I'm getting these chapters out so fast…is because of all of your great reviews! They are the things that keep me going! (i.e.:HINT! HINT!) ^_^ So yeah, if you like, please review, and don't forget, if there's any way you would like to see this fic continued, please tell me! ^_^ Thank you, and on with the fic!

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            Hermione sighed pitifully and flopped onto the bed, her face pressing into the pillow. Rolling over, she scrunched her eyes shut and pounded the mattress with her fists.

            She HATED staying in bed for the whole day – I mean, sure, on any other day, it would have been a God-send, but just because she had gotten stuck into a PICKLE didn't mean she had to be flustered over like a little kid. All she wanted to do was go to sleep, work on an essay for Transfiguration class, go back to sleep, catch up on more homework, and then finally go to sleep to wake up in the morning and be able to go back to her classes.

            "The whole world's against me!" she cried, the only shining moment of her day was Ginny bringing her her books.

            When she finally composed herself, she rolled to her knees and grabbed the book on top of the stack on a chair pushed close to the infirmary bed; opening it, she crawled under the covers. Settling down to read herself to sleep, her eyes caught a roll of parchment tucked into the leaf of the cover.

            Pulling it out, she started to read. In Ginny's familiar handwriting, it read:

            Dear Hermione,

I hope you get better soon! We'll talk when you get better.

            Love, Ginny

            Hermione's eyes barely caught on the word love, and in the next instant, they skimmed over to where Ginny signed her name with a flourish. Smiling gently, she set the letter down into her lap, and brushed her hair back. At least SOMEONE cares about my grades other than me, she thought, and started flipping through the book, thoroughly intending to use the letter as a bookmark.

            Ginny chewed the end of her quill, nibbling almost guiltily. I KNOW Hermione told me to stop, saying that I would ruin my teeth that way – and I know that she means well, her parents being orthodontists after all, but I can't help it! she reasoned with herself. It's just like chewing your nails! Once you start, you can't stop!

            Grumbling to herself, she suddenly slapped her quill onto the scroll she was writing in and gathered her stuff together. "Speaking of Hermione, I know she could help me with this essay. I think she would, seeing as she aced it last year." Turning to go, she almost walked into the shoulder of a boy looking at her.

            Growling, she halted, once again frustrated that she had her hands full. "If you too, Harry, don't want me to see Hermione, just because somebody spouted that only her True Love could-!"

            "Now hold on! I didn't say anything." The Boy Who Lived raised his hands, his green eyes almost twinkling behind his glasses, "People have been asking questions, haven't they?"

            Ginny rolled her eyes, almost shocked by his question. "Have they!?" she asked, "You should be one to ask! I can't go anywhere without people asking when the wedding bells are going to ring. I'm just sick of it. Hermione and I are only FRIENDS."

            Taking some of the books out of her arms, Harry started walking next to her, leading her from the Gryffindor Common room to the infirmary, engaging her in a conversation so random Ginny couldn't find herself but laugh.

            "Yeah, and when Professor Trelawney saw Ron copying down every word she said, she congratulated him on 'higher perception', not knowing that he was only intending to use it as fodder for his essay later that night. I even got some of my most juiciest 'predictions' off of her speech!"

            "Ron truly did that?" she asked incredulously, a huge grin crossing her face.

            Harry nodded, a smile also crossing his face. Stopping at the door to the infirmary, he gently put his hand on her shoulder. "Ginny, you know Ron's only concerned about you. It's just a little bit…I dunno, WEIRD, to have everybody say that his little sister's True Love is his best friend. He's very protective of you."

            Ginny sighed, bowing her head a bit. "I know," she relented, "But I can take care of myself. After all, it's not like Hermione and I are secret lovers!"

            Harry stared at her, and she could feel an embarrassed blush rise to her cheeks. "Joke, Harry. Joke," she said quickly, clearing her throat and accepting back the supplies Harry had offered to carry. She escaped through the door, gratefully closing it behind her. Ignoring the surprised face of Madame Pomfrey, she leaned her head back and sighed thankfully.

            "That's another thing you're going have to learn, Ginny my dear," she whispered to herself, "Not everyone appreciates your sense of humor." Shaking her head, she walked up to Madame Pomfrey and wheedled, "May I please go see Hermione now? I need some help on this one essay, and she's the only one who can help me!"

            Hermione looked up when Ginny kicked the door shut behind her. Raising an eyebrow, she asked the younger girl, "More books?"

            "No," the red-head shook her head, smiling sheepishly over the pile of books and scrolls in her arms. Shifting the stack, she made her way over and sat on the edge of the bed until Hermione moved the books on the only chair in the room. Setting down her load, she expelled her breath thankfully and shook her messy bangs back.

            "Whoof. No, I only came to ask your help on this particular essay for Transfiguration Class. I hope you don't mind the company."

            "No." Hermione laced her fingers together and propped her chin up. "As you can see," she motioned at the bed covers she was currently under, "I'm almost trapped here. Personally, I see no reason for making me stay in bed, but Madame Pomfrey's orders!"

            Ginny giggled, closing her eyes momentarily. "Yeah," she agreed, "For one who stocks a lot on classes and homework, I bet it's killing you to be missing a day of it."

            "Are you saying that studying and homework aren't important?" she said crossly, frowning at her friend.

            "No. I'm just saying, not everyone finds that homework is fun."

            "You've been hanging around your brother too much!" Hermione countered, somehow keeping her face straight as she stared deep into Ginny's eyes, her expression accusatory.

            Ginny was the first one to break. "Yeah, you're right! I HAVE been hanging around my brother too much!" she giggled, lightly tapping Hermione's shoulder, "Next thing you know, I'm going to be making up my Divination homework!"

            Hermione shook her head, her gaze traveling to her lap where her hands lay. Slightly curling them, she half-smiled, her mind working behind her expression.

            No… she sighed, I wouldn't want to endanger our friendship just to try something based only on hearsay. Besides, Ginny's only my friend, and nothing's going to happen.

            Right?

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            And that's the installment of Chapter 3. I hope you liked it. Remember, feedback is greatly appreciated. I want to know what YOU would like to see. Thanks. See you later!