Then the Rain

It seemed Ginny Weasley had just fallen asleep when her discordant alarm clock buzzed in her ear.  "Great," she whispered sarcastically. "And just when I began a good dream." Ginny hopped out of bed with a yawn and pulled on her robes.

It was a naturally beautiful autumn day. The sun was sparkling over the vast Hogwarts grounds. The sounds of people talking and owls flapping were echoing into Ginny's bed chamber. However, it was a Monday, the day Ginny had been dreading. Today she would be piled with homework and classes. Her fourth year at Hogwarts was tougher than she expected it to be, but she tried to have a good attitude about it.

"Hey, guys!" she exclaimed as she spotted Harry and Ron sitting in the common room. They smiled and nodded back, returning her 'hello'. "Do you know where Hermione is? I want her to come to breakfast with me."

"Oh, you just missed her," Harry replied. "Just went down to eat. But we could come if-" But before Harry could finish his sentence, Ginny sprinted across the room and out of the portrait hole.

Breathing heavily, Ginny burst into the Great Hall and scanned the room for Hermione. Upon spotting her, Ginny walked quickly toward her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hermione, I need to talk to you." By the very serious look on her face, Hermione could tell this was important.

"Okay, what's up?" The two had just entered Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Well," started Ginny, ignoring the wails and moans from Myrtle's stall. "Well, it's about…you know."

"You mean …him?"

"Yeah…I-I think I like him again. I can't help it. It's just, you know he has been acting so kind lately, he smiles now. He even apologized to me last week for being so rude to our family. I don't know what to do! Help me, Hermione, please!"

"Wow Ginny. I really don't know what to tell you," Hermione said with a puzzled expression. "Um, well, he is starting to be really nice lately, you're right. He hasn't called me a 'mudblood' all year! And I hear people talking about how he really changed over the summer when is dad died. It's like he was transformed." Ginny sighed deeply and looked at her feet. "You know, maybe it isn't so bad that you like him. I heard Parvati and Lavender whispering about him the other day. They think he's really cute. And they are Gryffindors, too!"

"But Hermione! Listen to yourself! This is your enemy, Harry's enemy, my brother's enemy! It's forbidden to even say "hello" to him! Much less be in love with him," Ginny practically screamed.

"Love?" Hermione said, looking bewildered. Ginny, now extremely embarrassed ran out of the bathroom to the common room. "Love," Hermione repeated to herself, still shocked.