Chapter Seventeen Back to School

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Disclaimer: Nothing in this story is owned by me, all property of J K Rowling.


The weeks passed and soon Hermione was back out of the hospital wing and settled into the Gryffindor dormitory again. Everywhere she went people whispered and stared as if worried about her health, but nobody said anything to her. She had a strange feeling that Professor Dumbledore had specifically told people not to.

And as for the bruises, Madam Pomfrey made her drink a potion that took away the worst and the bones fully healed. Some of her skin that was still damaged slowly faded back to its usual porcelain colour, but the internal bruises didn't fade.

School was around the corner again, and Hermione prepared herself for working hard. But no longer was her heart in it; she just wanted to distract herself from feeling pain. Harry and Ron were very kind to her and protected her like bodyguards, neither of them mentioning the bitter fallout before. Hermione didn't feel angry with them, because she thought if she had been in their situation, she would have probably acted the same.

As for Draco, she rarely saw him, and whenever she did he avoided her eyes and sat away from them. The only good thing that came out of Hermione's miscarriage was that he no longer taunted Harry or Ron- he just totally ignored them. Hermione was very pleased; she hated him with a passion. After all, he had killed her baby. After eventually accepting this, the pain had only increased but she kept it to herself, confiding in nobody.

It was the first Monday of January and everyone that had gone home for the holidays had returned the previous day; the Great Hall was full of the sound of laughter and chattering over breakfast that morning. Hermione chewed her porridge mechanically and spoke to no one.

"Oh no, look who it is," Ron said, through a mouthful of toast. The three friends looked up to see Cho Chang coming over, now in her seventh year. Her long shiny black hair was tied back in a bun and she somehow looked even prettier. Harry placed his arm around Ginny, who was sitting to the left of him.

"What do you want?" Ginny said rudely, eyeing her with contempt. Cho ignored her.

"Quidditch is coming up again, Harry," Cho said, and looked over to Ron too. "Both of you. I've been told to send the message around, so I'm just, you know, passing it on."

"Well you've passed it on now," Ron said bluntly, though he was still goggling at Cho.

"Yes…" Cho said, staring at Ron and blushing a little. Hermione sat up a little bit more, amazed and temporarily lulled out of her indifference. "Hey, the Tornado's are doing pretty well in the league, aren't they?" she smirked. Harry remembered the last time Cho had properly spoken to Ron; they had argued because Cho supported the Tornados Quidditch Team.

"S'pose, but the Chudley Cannons are way better," Ron argued, his toast forgotten. "Did you see the save the Keeper made?"

"Yeah but nobody can match the Tornado's Chasers," Cho said, sticking her tongue out a little bit.

"Aren't you supposed to be passing that message on?" Ginny snapped, looking so fiery she was almost sending off sparks..

"Oh yes, I'd better be going," Cho said wistfully. "Later, Ron… that's your name right?"

"Yes," Ron said, blushing a little.

"Oh, Ron Weasley isn't it? You're a great Keeper by the way… Gryffindor won the Cup last year because of you. It was a great save… rivaled the Chudley Cannons," she said cheekily.

"Bye," Ginny said meaningfully.

"Okay, bye," Cho said, doing a cute little wave and sauntering off, Ron staring after her, his mouth wide open.

"Ron, you are so stupid," Ginny said exasperatedly. Harry scowled at Cho, who was walking away and looking back at them, smiling. "Honestly, she's so pathetic… you don't like her anymore, do you Harry?"

"Of course not," Harry grinned absentmindedly, and kissed Ginny gently. She wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed again, Ron looking away, pretending to make sick noises. He didn't really like the idea of her seeing anyone but if it had to be someone, he was glad it was Harry. Ginny had really increased in confidence and was forever kissing, cuddling and being affectionate to Harry, much to everyone within ten feet's irritation.

"I'll never act like them," he laughed to Hermione.

You'll be eating your words later on, she thought grimly. She had a strange feeling that it wouldn't be long before he'd be exactly the same…

The day passed agonisingly slowly. Hermione was rapt in all the lessons and made eager notes, but she found she was only doing it to distract herself from the empty feeling she felt inside. After the lessons had ended, Hermione sat in a corner by herself in the Common Room, revising History of Magic dates and facts. She wasn't disturbed until…

"Hermione, do you mind?" Ginny asked cautiously. She sat down next to Hermione and eyed her like one would eye a wild animal.

"I don't bite," Hermione said wryly, and Ginny giggled nervously.

"I just wanted to say…. Oh Hermione I'm so sorry!" Ginny burst into tears, her face creased up with worry. "I never meant to let it out and I'll never forgive myself, ever…"

"It doesn't matter," Hermione said honestly. "It's the truth. I really couldn't care anymore."

Ginny stilled looked nervous, and then threw her arms around her friend's neck, startling Hermione. "You are so forgiving," she sobbed.

"Aaah, Harry," Hermione said, looking immensely relieved to see her best friend. "You going to take away this crying wreck?" she was joking, but only half.

"Of course," Harry beamed, lifting Ginny up and kissing her neck. "C'mon," he smiled, taking her hand and leading her away. Ron marched over and saw his sister leaving with Harry, before smiling in relief.

"Thank God for that," he said bluntly. "She's been doing my head in all day." Hermione was never happier to see someone. True, Ron was a little stupid, overly proud, too honest and far from sympathetic… but you could always count on him for loyalty, and most importantly, honesty.

"Ron," she said, and hugged him tightly. More than ever she relied on him nowadays, especially as Ginny and Harry were so wrapped up in their own little world. She realised that he no longer stiffened up anymore when she touched him, and didn't blush violently when she pecked him on the cheek… in fact, she was pretty sure he had totally gotten over her.

And she was pleased- because she had her best friend back and everything was going to be okay. She needed a best friend again- someone she could hug and talk to without fear that they would want more from her. She wanted him all to herself, so she always had someone there for her…

"You're the best, Hermione," he grinned, hugging her back. "And… and I was totally stupid before. We'll never mention it again, alright? We're best friends… and that's all. I thought it was love, but I was wrong…" he sighed dreamily, his mind obviously elsewhere.

He's going to leave me too, Hermione thought with dread. He'll fall in love with someone, and then I truly will be alone. After all, everyone else had left her… Harry, Ginny, Draco (thank God, she thought), Parvati and Lavender had no time for her any more… hell, even her own baby had left her. Was it Ron's turn to go?