Chapter 2
Hermione spun around. "Neville?" She let out a sigh of relief. "I thought you were getting a book on potions," Neville said, looking curiously at her. Hermione was helping him with his Potions-work since Snape had promised to fail him this year if he didn't get his act together. "I was," Hermione assured him, picking a random book out of the shelf. "And here it is." Neville started giggling, and Hermione looked at the title. It read: "Potions to spike your lovelife." Hermione blushed heavily. 'What are they doing keeping a book like this in a school library,' she thought furiously, shoving the book back into the shelf. Neville was shaking with laughter.
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Hermione got her chance to talk to Ginny the very next day. Ron and Harry were at quidditch practice, and Ginny was sitting in a corner of the common room with her homework.
"Hey, Gin. Want some help?" Hermione offered, dumping into the chair opposite her. "Unless you're good at reading tarots you really can't help me," Ginny sighed. "I can't believe I let Ron talk me into Divination. Easy-subject my arse…" Hermione looked at the cards, and a devious plot took form. "Actually," she said, lowering her voice and pointing to the Lovers-card, "this card here tells me that the person in question is secretly and romantically involved with a brown-haired, green-eyed Quidditch-seeker with round glasses." Ginny's reaction was far from what Hermione had expected. Instead of going Weasley-red, she started giggling madly. "What did I say?" Hermione asked, staring with surprise at Ginny. "It's just," Ginny managed in between the laughing. "I'm… I'm reading Ron's tarots." For a moment Hermione was lost, but then it dawned on her and a second later both girls were laughing hysterically, the whole common room staring at them.
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"What's so funny?" Ron's voices startled them. "Nothing," Hermione said, trying to calm herself down. "Just girl-stuff. You know; Boys… relationships." Across the table Ginny let out a snort of laugher. Harry eyed her nervously.
"How was practice?" Hermione asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject. Ron pointed to his robes, which were covered in dirt. "Harry's work," he exclaimed. Both girls looked at Harry with surprise. "Look, I said I'm sorry," Harry sighed. "The Snitch was right next to you, and I…" "Thought you'd knock me off my broom in the attempt?" Ron interrupted. Harry sighed. "It was an accident. You weren't even supposed to be that close to the pitch." "You two sound like an old married couple," Hermione pointed out without thinking. It was the final straw for Ginny, who had no chance of holding back her laughter anymore. Both she and Hermione went into hysterical fits of laughter, the two boys staring at them, one with puzzlement, the other with worry. "Little sisters," Ron sighed, shaking his head. "No, I take that back. Girls! In general."
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Harry pulled Ginny aside later that night. "You haven't… told anyone, have you?" he asked, and she quickly shook her head. "No, what makes you say that?" Harry looked relieved. "It's just what Hermione said earlier," he shrugged. "About boys and relationships." Ginny smiled. "No worries, Harry," she assured him. "She was talking about." Ginny stopped dead, suddenly realising what Hermione had been saying earlier. "Gin, what is it?" Harry asked nervously. Ginny shook her head. "Nothing. I just remembered something I need to talk to Hermione about."
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Hermione sat in her room trying to study Arithmancy. But she had trouble concentrating. Damn the guys and their timing. Sure, she hadn't exactly been close to getting Ginny to open up, but she would have if the guys hadn't shown up. Who knew when she'd get another chance to talk to Ginny?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door, and none other than Ginny's head popped in. "Got a minute?" she asked, and Hermione nodded. "Sure," she said, putting away her book. "I need a break anyway, or I'll start seeing dancing numbers. What on your mind?" Ginny sat down on the bed. "I was just thinking," she started. "About what you said earlier. What did you mean by that whole 'brown-haired-quidditch-seeker' thing?" "I meant you and Harry, of course," Hermione said in her usual matter-of-factly tone. "Oh, so it was just a joke then?" Ginny said as casually as she could. Hermione shook her head. "Nope. I know about you two." "There's nothing to know," Ginny tried to assure her. "I saw you in the library," Hermione interrupted. "There's no use in lying." "I don't know what you're talking about," Ginny said, knowing she was fighting a loosing battle. "I heard you too," Hermione said. "Would you like some quotes?" Ginny sighed, staring down at her feet. "Alright, alright.," she said after a little silence. "I admit it; Me and Harry are together." She couldn't help but smile, and Hermione hugged her. "That's great Ginny," she smiled. "And don't worry, I won't tell Ron." Ginny just shrugged. "Someone has to, and Harry sure isn't going to." "Gin, you know he's got every reason to worry," Hermione pointed out. "Ron is going to freak out." "I know," Ginny sighed. "I hate having so many brothers. D'you want one?" Hermione went red. "No, not at all," she said a little too fast. Ginny grinned. "Are you sure?" she teased. "Not even Ron?" Hermione blushed even more. "Certainly not Ron," she protested, picking up her book. "I'm sorry, but I need to get back to work." Ginny just smiled. "Alright," she said, heading for the door. "I trust you'll keep quiet about this…" "Of course," came the muffled reply from behind Hermione's book. Only hear forehead was visible, and it was remarkably red.