Monday morning
"Hermione, incoming," called Ron, just in time for Hermione to catch the letter before it fell into her cereal bowl.
"From my mother and father," she said, glancing at it, then stuffing it into her book bag and going back to eating.
"What, not going to open it?" asked Harry.
"Nah," said Hermione, casually, scooping up the last of her oatmeal. "I can tell you exactly what it says. How am I doing in school, and why is it I didn't get a perfect grade on my last Potions assignment, after all they expect better from me, and from what they've learned the Finnegans are nice people but really, after all, not quite the best type....Seamus, I told you they were snobs, didn't I? Don't look so stricken!...and I do want to be careful and not settle for anything less than I deserve, and by the way here's a little spending money, write back soon and in detail, Love, Mother." Her voice was rich with sarcasm, and the surrounding people chuckled.
"Well, let's see if you're right, hm?" said Ginny, holding out a hand. Hermione looked at her, grinned, and said, "Okay..." and produced the letter.
She opened it, read it through, and then began to read it aloud.
Dear Hermione: Your last letter didn't say as much as usual about how you were doing with your schoolwork. I'm a little worried about your grade on your last assignment in Potions; I know you've said you have issues with the Professor, but, really, haven't we taught you that personality conflicts are just part of life, and that you need to succeed in spite of that? We expect you to do all that you can, as you always have. I was glad to hear of your success in Arithmancy, and hope that this interest in an extra credit project means that you are considering the field for future study; from what I hear, arithmancy's an excellent major in college."
"You're in SIXTH YEAR!" said Harry.
"Yeah, I know," said Hermione, with a sour look, and nodded at Ginny to get on with it.
"Also, my source informs me that more men than women go into the professions that use it, so that means that when you are ready to marry you'll have a considerable pool to choose from. It's easier to listen to a man talk about his work if you have studied it also, and many men prefer intelligent women, as long as she is able to also listen to him and put his needs first. "
"Oh, good lord," said Ron. "Like you're worried about that NOW."
Hermione rolled her eyes and nodded to Ginny.
"Speaking of your personal life, dear, I'm sure that this Finnegan boy is quite nice and all, and of course I'm all for having friends, but really, dear, Irish? I'm sure that you will be able to discern the right course for yourself. After all, you don't want to be in the same position your cousin found herself in, now, do you?"
The boy in question was snorting and choking with laughter, and turning quite red. "What happened to your cousin?" Harry asked, grinning broadly himself.
"Oh, she married a plumber and has three kids," Hermione said. "Mother's quite willing to call him up on his day off and have him come fix her loo, but otherwise she's busy pretending they don't exist."
Ginny went on. " In other news, your father wasn't feeling well and so I took him to his doctor last week. He ordered some tests, and it turned out that your father's got at least one blocked artery, and from the scan has already had one minor attack. I knew instantly that it was that bad attack of indigestion I wrote you about last month. I don't want you to worry or feel you need to come home, by any means; your father's under the very best care we can find, and is back to complaining about the state of the country."
Hermione had turned white, but then normal color came back into her face. "Oh....well, at least it's being taken care of. Poor Father! But if he's complaining again he feels okay."
"You will find enclosed a little something, which I'm sure you can find a use for. Take care of yourself, and as always, we love you. Mother and Father."
Ron grinned. "Well, good thing we didn't have a bet down. Apart from that stuff about your dad, you had it perfect. IS he going to be okay?"
"Yeah, the muggle medicines are pretty good. Assuming he'll take them. Assuming he'll follow the diet he's supposed to be on." She sighed. "One more thing to worry about."
"What do you mean?" said Harry.
Hermione looked around at everyone. "Um, I'll tell you later." And she stuck to it, too, despite attempts from Ron and Harry to pry it out of her before they all scattered to class.
That night, once the common room had emptied, Ron and Harry ambushed Hermione and Ginny on their way back in from the library.
"Okay," said Harry, "it's later. We're the only ones in here, and I'd like to hear what's going on. And soon, please, since I've got an early class tomorrow."
"You've been acting strangely the last few days, Hermione," said Ron, "and that's not like you. What's up, did you break up with Seamus?"
Ginny and Hermione exchanged glances, and Hermione nodded. Good a time as any. And they DID ask. She sat down on a sofa, Ginny beside her, and waved the other two down to a seat across from them.
"Yes, Seamus and I broke up." She held up a hand to divert an outburst from Ron, and said, "It was his idea, but when I had a chance to think about it I agreed with him and would have done it myself. We're still friends, so don't you go being nasty to him. He's a nice guy."
"Okay, that covers this weekend," said Harry.
Ginny spoke up. "Ah, something you two should know.... I'm not particularly interested in spreading it all over the school, but...um, Ron? Bill's not the only one who's gay in our family." She sat back and let him figure it out, and got more than a little amusement out of the expression on his face.
"Oookay..." said Harry, shaking his head. "That would explain why you haven't been dating anyone."
"That," Ginny said, "and I did have an... interest, I just didn't think she was interested in me in return."
"But I figured out Saturday that I was," said Hermione, and took Ginny's hand in an unmistakeable "we-are-a-couple" gesture. Both boys' mouths were hanging open. Finally, Ron started to laugh. "Well, I suppose I don't need to ask if you would be interested in going to the Valentine's Day dance with me, then!" he said, through his gasps. "Of all the things...but, you know," he said, looking at her with more perception than she'd given him credit for, "you've not been just one of the girls for a long time, maybe ever. It's not just that you're smart, either. But, well, I'm glad you worked it out, and I'm still your friend."
"Me too," said Harry. "That... wasn't what I expected. From either of you."
"Oh, for heaven's sake," said Ginny with a shadow of her mother's tone. "Did you expect me to cut my hair and dress like a guy? That's not me."
Harry turned red. "I know, but... oh, to hell with it. It's going to take some getting used to, but I still like you both. Just for the record and all." He rose. "And I've got practice in the morning, so I'm going to bed. Good night, all."
Ron was still looking at Ginny as if she'd sprouted an extra arm when he wasn't looking. She finally stood up and slapped him lightly on the head. "Oh, Ron. Go play chess against yourself and let your brain settle." But she kissed the top of his head, and smiled at him when he looked up at her. He grinned back.
"I'm going to bed myself, " said Hermione. "I've got Advanced Transfiguration in the morning, and if I'm tired I'll screw things up."
"Me too," said Ginny. She walked up the stairs to the dorm with Hermione, and was surprised when, at the bend where no one up or down could see them, the older girl stepped down one step to put them level, and kissed her until she was weak in the knees.
"Sleep well, " she said, with a giggle, and was up and unlocking her door before Ginny could climb the next step.
"Paybacks are hell," said Ginny, but smiled as Hermione shut her door. She undressed, tugged the curtains around her bed, and, for all that she was feeling anything but tired after that kiss, fell asleep in record time.
"Hermione, incoming," called Ron, just in time for Hermione to catch the letter before it fell into her cereal bowl.
"From my mother and father," she said, glancing at it, then stuffing it into her book bag and going back to eating.
"What, not going to open it?" asked Harry.
"Nah," said Hermione, casually, scooping up the last of her oatmeal. "I can tell you exactly what it says. How am I doing in school, and why is it I didn't get a perfect grade on my last Potions assignment, after all they expect better from me, and from what they've learned the Finnegans are nice people but really, after all, not quite the best type....Seamus, I told you they were snobs, didn't I? Don't look so stricken!...and I do want to be careful and not settle for anything less than I deserve, and by the way here's a little spending money, write back soon and in detail, Love, Mother." Her voice was rich with sarcasm, and the surrounding people chuckled.
"Well, let's see if you're right, hm?" said Ginny, holding out a hand. Hermione looked at her, grinned, and said, "Okay..." and produced the letter.
She opened it, read it through, and then began to read it aloud.
Dear Hermione: Your last letter didn't say as much as usual about how you were doing with your schoolwork. I'm a little worried about your grade on your last assignment in Potions; I know you've said you have issues with the Professor, but, really, haven't we taught you that personality conflicts are just part of life, and that you need to succeed in spite of that? We expect you to do all that you can, as you always have. I was glad to hear of your success in Arithmancy, and hope that this interest in an extra credit project means that you are considering the field for future study; from what I hear, arithmancy's an excellent major in college."
"You're in SIXTH YEAR!" said Harry.
"Yeah, I know," said Hermione, with a sour look, and nodded at Ginny to get on with it.
"Also, my source informs me that more men than women go into the professions that use it, so that means that when you are ready to marry you'll have a considerable pool to choose from. It's easier to listen to a man talk about his work if you have studied it also, and many men prefer intelligent women, as long as she is able to also listen to him and put his needs first. "
"Oh, good lord," said Ron. "Like you're worried about that NOW."
Hermione rolled her eyes and nodded to Ginny.
"Speaking of your personal life, dear, I'm sure that this Finnegan boy is quite nice and all, and of course I'm all for having friends, but really, dear, Irish? I'm sure that you will be able to discern the right course for yourself. After all, you don't want to be in the same position your cousin found herself in, now, do you?"
The boy in question was snorting and choking with laughter, and turning quite red. "What happened to your cousin?" Harry asked, grinning broadly himself.
"Oh, she married a plumber and has three kids," Hermione said. "Mother's quite willing to call him up on his day off and have him come fix her loo, but otherwise she's busy pretending they don't exist."
Ginny went on. " In other news, your father wasn't feeling well and so I took him to his doctor last week. He ordered some tests, and it turned out that your father's got at least one blocked artery, and from the scan has already had one minor attack. I knew instantly that it was that bad attack of indigestion I wrote you about last month. I don't want you to worry or feel you need to come home, by any means; your father's under the very best care we can find, and is back to complaining about the state of the country."
Hermione had turned white, but then normal color came back into her face. "Oh....well, at least it's being taken care of. Poor Father! But if he's complaining again he feels okay."
"You will find enclosed a little something, which I'm sure you can find a use for. Take care of yourself, and as always, we love you. Mother and Father."
Ron grinned. "Well, good thing we didn't have a bet down. Apart from that stuff about your dad, you had it perfect. IS he going to be okay?"
"Yeah, the muggle medicines are pretty good. Assuming he'll take them. Assuming he'll follow the diet he's supposed to be on." She sighed. "One more thing to worry about."
"What do you mean?" said Harry.
Hermione looked around at everyone. "Um, I'll tell you later." And she stuck to it, too, despite attempts from Ron and Harry to pry it out of her before they all scattered to class.
That night, once the common room had emptied, Ron and Harry ambushed Hermione and Ginny on their way back in from the library.
"Okay," said Harry, "it's later. We're the only ones in here, and I'd like to hear what's going on. And soon, please, since I've got an early class tomorrow."
"You've been acting strangely the last few days, Hermione," said Ron, "and that's not like you. What's up, did you break up with Seamus?"
Ginny and Hermione exchanged glances, and Hermione nodded. Good a time as any. And they DID ask. She sat down on a sofa, Ginny beside her, and waved the other two down to a seat across from them.
"Yes, Seamus and I broke up." She held up a hand to divert an outburst from Ron, and said, "It was his idea, but when I had a chance to think about it I agreed with him and would have done it myself. We're still friends, so don't you go being nasty to him. He's a nice guy."
"Okay, that covers this weekend," said Harry.
Ginny spoke up. "Ah, something you two should know.... I'm not particularly interested in spreading it all over the school, but...um, Ron? Bill's not the only one who's gay in our family." She sat back and let him figure it out, and got more than a little amusement out of the expression on his face.
"Oookay..." said Harry, shaking his head. "That would explain why you haven't been dating anyone."
"That," Ginny said, "and I did have an... interest, I just didn't think she was interested in me in return."
"But I figured out Saturday that I was," said Hermione, and took Ginny's hand in an unmistakeable "we-are-a-couple" gesture. Both boys' mouths were hanging open. Finally, Ron started to laugh. "Well, I suppose I don't need to ask if you would be interested in going to the Valentine's Day dance with me, then!" he said, through his gasps. "Of all the things...but, you know," he said, looking at her with more perception than she'd given him credit for, "you've not been just one of the girls for a long time, maybe ever. It's not just that you're smart, either. But, well, I'm glad you worked it out, and I'm still your friend."
"Me too," said Harry. "That... wasn't what I expected. From either of you."
"Oh, for heaven's sake," said Ginny with a shadow of her mother's tone. "Did you expect me to cut my hair and dress like a guy? That's not me."
Harry turned red. "I know, but... oh, to hell with it. It's going to take some getting used to, but I still like you both. Just for the record and all." He rose. "And I've got practice in the morning, so I'm going to bed. Good night, all."
Ron was still looking at Ginny as if she'd sprouted an extra arm when he wasn't looking. She finally stood up and slapped him lightly on the head. "Oh, Ron. Go play chess against yourself and let your brain settle." But she kissed the top of his head, and smiled at him when he looked up at her. He grinned back.
"I'm going to bed myself, " said Hermione. "I've got Advanced Transfiguration in the morning, and if I'm tired I'll screw things up."
"Me too," said Ginny. She walked up the stairs to the dorm with Hermione, and was surprised when, at the bend where no one up or down could see them, the older girl stepped down one step to put them level, and kissed her until she was weak in the knees.
"Sleep well, " she said, with a giggle, and was up and unlocking her door before Ginny could climb the next step.
"Paybacks are hell," said Ginny, but smiled as Hermione shut her door. She undressed, tugged the curtains around her bed, and, for all that she was feeling anything but tired after that kiss, fell asleep in record time.