She almost slipped when she rounded the corner. Gathering up her robes and messily pushing her hair behind her, she made her legs pump faster.

            Oh God. Where would she be? Where? How am I supposed to know where she is? I mean… I don't really KNOW her, know her… Do I? But if I didn't, how come this happened? Oh God. Where is she???

            Hermione's heart beat harder, echoing along the inside of her head and racing along her throat, threatening to spill out of her side where she could feel a massive side ache starting on. Just a little farther, she urged. Just a little farther. I have to find her and…

            Hermione slowed, her forehead crinkling. Find her… And do what? What could Hermione possibly do when she caught up with Ginny? She couldn't very well deny that there was nothing between them. Ginny had run off because she thought that she was causing Hermione all the heart-ache.

            But wouldn't that have to mean that Hermione did care about Ginny? And, if, that possibility did come up, what would happen?  And did she really like Ginny THAT way?

            Leaning against a random section of cold, gray stone, Hermione stared into nothing, clenching her fists together until she could feel her nails pushing against the skin of her palm, seeking blood. Why was this so hard…? One question was pounding in her head, demanding to be heard:

            Would it be any different if Ginny was a boy?

            It was almost painful to admit that it was.

            Hermione sank to the ground. She hugged her knees to her chest and thought back to everything that had happened in two weeks.

            In that pickle…fainting in Ginny's arms, finding her as her True Love…waking in the infirmary…Ginny, ever smiling, coming in with the books Hermione desperately needed…avoiding each other almost painfully in the halls, yet denying anything was wrong…Draco confronting her…and then Ginny running after her, bolting, and now her mad dash after her.

            Why can't everything be straight-forward, like the spells and potions Snape has us do in his class? Hermione thought, smiling ruefully, I can do THAT with such ease. But this was much more. Oh so much MORE…

            Hermione's head dropped, a headache starting at the base of her neck and working its way up to seize her head and crush it with her discovery.

            She laughed. It was simple, really. All she had to do was catch up to Ginny and tell her she loved her. Then wait and see what would happen next; what Ginny's reaction would be. She was dreading that. Compared to Ginny's reaction, it would be such a piece of cake to just say:

            I LOVE YOU, Ginny Weasley. I love you.

            Would you, could you love me back…?

            Getting up, Hermione brushed off her robes, dried her tears, and started off again, her steps surer now then they, possibly, ever were.

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            Hi! I'm back!

            Just a couple of words: Two week school trip; Fanfiction.Net screwing up; Japanese classes at the City College and basketball at the High School;  suspension from Fanfiction.Net (don't ask); being grounded for a week from television and computer; week long Family Reunion. And here I am! I was just sitting at the computer, reading back over what I had written on Hermione's Pickle and just having finished reading Empress of the World by Sara Ryan, and BAM!! The idea for this chapter sprang up on me! I hope you liked it.

            Oh, and next chapter: Confessions and Teacher Interventions.

            Hope you can put up with me for the long delay. Thanks, UtenaAnthyAntics. ^_^