Chapter 32- Awakening and Pet Names

"I'm worried about Seamus."

Hermione looked up from her book to find that Ginny had just sat at her table. "Ginny, can't you see I'm in the library?"

Ginny crossed her arms. "No. I had not noticed," she said sarcastically.

Rolling her eyes, Hermione said, "What I mean is, I'm studying for N.E.W.T.s. Why are you telling me this, anyway?"

"Because you're, like, my best friend. Or one of them. We miss you, you know."

"What?"

Ginny's large brown eyes were sad. "We miss you. Harry and Ron and I. We never see you anymore, it's like you're not even in Gryffindor. Being with Malfoy does not mean you can't be friends with us."

"For Ron it does," Hermione muttered. Seeing Ginny's surprised look, she continued. "He can't get over the fact that I'm with Draco. He hasn't been the same around me since he found out about us."

"He feels betrayed. I know it's not true, but that's what he thinks. He can't help the way he is, you know that. He'll understand someday."

"He'd understand if he let me explain, but he *never* lets me talk about Draco. I don't want someday to be ten years after we graduate. I want someday to be soon."

Ginny sighed. "I know you do. I do too, and I wish he wasn't being so pigheaded, but it can only be expected. I'm sorry I don't have any useful advice for you."

"It's all right." Hermione smiled. "So, why are you worried about Seamus?"

"I think he's depressed. He's stopped doing his homework, and he hardly eats. He's missed the last two Quidditch practices. Harry did an Oliver and went ballistic on him. We had to remind him that we're only playing Hufflepuff next-"

"Hey!" a Hufflepuff team member said from two tables over.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any offense," Ginny said. The Hufflepuff sniffed and turned back to her books. "Anyway, we managed to calm Harry down, but that's not the point. Seamus lost his parents, and he's taking it pretty hard. I think someone should talk to him, because he won't talk to me."

"Do you think it would help if his mother woke up?" Hermione asked.

"Of course it would, but I don't see how we can make *that* happen." Ginny pouted.

"Maybe we can," Hermione said slowly. She tapped her chin. Abruptly, she stood, pushing her chair back, and walked quickly to a shelf.

"What are you talking about, Hermione?" Ginny stood to look over Hermione's shoulder.

"There." Hermione pointed. "This spell. If it's adjusted, then it should work as a counter curse to attempted Avada Kedavra."

Ginny stared at the spell. "It should work," she said slowly, "but how will we get to the hospital?"

Hermione was thinking along the same lines. "I think we should take it to Dumbledore. He'll be able to go to Mungo's and perform the spell. It should not take more than a day, with Dumbledore doing it. He can spare that time with no negative consequences."

"Hermione, I don't know-"

"Look, it's been what, three weeks? If Seamus keeps on like you said, he won't last the term. Plus, Christmas is coming up shortly. It would be nice for him to be able to go home to his mother."

"Well…if it really will work…but he should not be told until it does."

"I agree. If it does not work, it will have a terrible effect on him."

************************************************************************

Hermione could be seen from high above as she stepped onto the pitch. Harry flew down to meet her. "Hey, what's up?"

"I need to talk to Ginny," she said. Harry sighed in exasperation. This was the second time the practice had been interrupted. The first time it had been Seamus nearly falling off his broom. Harry nodded, and he left to send Ginny down.

"What's going on?" Ron asked. "Where's her *boyfriend*?"

"I don't know, Ron, and I don't know. You should be a little more respectful to Hermione if you ever want to be friends again."

"We *are* friends, Harry. I don't know what you're talking about."

Ron was in denial about his relationship with his former best friend. Harry sighed. "Okay, we'll have to continue without Ginny for now." She and Hermione had just left the pitch, presumably to talk more privately. "Ron, get back to the hoops. Dennis, I'll have those golf balls out for you in five minutes."

Five minutes later, Harry was throwing golf balls in all directions for the reserve Seeker to catch. Harry had to admit he wasn't too bad. Ten minutes later, Ginny came bursting out of the locker room, followed by Hermione. The latter looked as though she was still talking, but Ginny was not listening.

She flew over to the Gryffindor stands, where Seamus was lying, holding his head. "Seamus, get up! Your mother's awake!"

"GINNY!" All of them heard from below. Hermione was waving the girl back down, but Ginny had to answer all of Seamus's questions.

"Yes, Dumbledore performed a spell on her a week ago. No, we were just waiting in the locker room to see if she would wake up. No, Dumbledore didn't tell us, I suppose he was busy. A house elf brought us a note from him-"

"Bet Hermione loved that," Harry said quietly, earning a snicker from Ron.

"I think Dumbledore will let you go to see her as soon as you could possibly be allowed- maybe even today-"

Seamus was gone before she had finished. He was running toward the locker room, he passed Hermione with a grin. Wanting to know the details, the rest of the team alighted on the ground.

"What's wrong with you, Hermione? It's good news."

Ginny obviously did not know as much as Hermione did. Hermione had a sorrowful look on her face.

"Mrs. Finnigan's mind was affected by the spell. Not the one that brought her back, it wouldn't do that. She can't remember her husband, and she thinks Seamus is dead."

Ginny, and the rest of them as well, stared at her as though she had a head growing out of her back. "It was supposed to be all right," Ginny said quietly. Tears were forming in her eyes. Ron, in his caring-big-brother kind of way, went and gave her a comforting hug.

"It will be all right, Gin. Soon, it will be all right. Dumbledore will be able to fix this. Or someone will."

Under the circumstances, Harry ended the practice early. No one could keep their mind on Quidditch, anyway. But Harry himself needed Quidditch to take his mind *off* things. He released the Snitch, letting it disappear before rising in to the air to hunt for it.

When finally it was too dark to see straight, Harry caught the Snitch one last time and took it inside with him. He was met with the sight of a confronting Seamus, and a confronted Ginny.

"Why didn't you tell me the rest, Ginny? Why did you let me think she was better?"

"I didn't know, Seamus, honestly!" Ginny cried desperately. "At least she's awake now! Seamus, please calm down."

"I would rather my mother *had* died than live like this. I can't even see her."

"Hey!" Harry said. He could not stand to watch anymore. Ginny had backed fearfully against a wall. He had not seen her like this since…probably his second year- her first. Five years ago. "Don't blame Ginny for this. Don't you even *think* about blaming Ginny."

"Harry- no," Ginny breathed, shaking her head. "I can do this myself- stay out of it."

"You know what, Harry? You're always trying to interfere in everyone's business. I'm not going to give you the chance anymore. I quit."

"What?!" Harry and Ginny burst out simultaneously.

"That's right. I don't want to be on your team anymore." He threw his broom down and stalked out, fuming.

Ginny turned to Harry, her eyes large and wet. "How could anyone mistreat a broom like that?" she whispered, and ran out.

Harry wished he could comfort her, but he was too stunned by what had happened. *This* was the true goal of Voldemort's killings. Friends fighting. Division among the same side.

This was what Voldemort wanted, because how could they fight him if they were too busy fighting each other?

"Seamus, damn you. Can't you see Ginny's in love with you?" Harry hit his head against the wall- a little harder than he meant to. He put a hand up to the back of his head, rubbing the sore spot gently.

************************************************************************

"Hermione, we need to talk."

"Yes, Draco?"

"I just heard something rather- disturbing."

From her face, she did not have any clue what he was about to tell her. Making a face, he proceeded. "You know that name you came up with for me?"

"Pinecone-muffin?"

"No."

"Sugar-baby?"

"No."

"Angelcake?"

"No."

"Googly-bear?"

"That's the one." Draco grimaced again. "You haven't been… telling people about that name, have you?"

Hermione blushed, not meeting his eyes. "I may have let it slip to Ginny when Parvati was within earshot…"

"Great move, Hermione. Now everyone's going to be laughing at me *all* the time. I don't want that name anymore."

"Oh, but honey, it's *so* cute! Please."

Damn. She was so…how could he put this…sexy when she begged. "Fine," he grumbled. "But I'll tell everyone I call you 'sweet cheeks'."

"So? I like that name. It's amusing."

"I'll tell them I don't mean the ones on your face."

"What- Draco!! You can't! You wouldn't know, anyway."

He would if he had his way, but he did not want to tell her that. Obviously she would not appreciate a comment like that. "Well, do you *have* to tell everyone the embarrassing names you come up with for me? Or, a better question, do you have to tell *anyone*?"

Hermione giggled. "I suppose not. As long as you'll let me call you Snoogy-Woogy Wips in private."

Draco almost gagged. "Where did you come up with that?"

She grinned. "I didn't. My mother did. In some letter or other, when she was mocking Dad's pet names for her."

"I don't think so."

"I'm sure they'd all be interested to know about that *other* name. You know the one-"

"Yes! Don't say it. Fine, call me what ever you want, just don't tell people."

A few minutes later, Draco cursed silently. Was she going to win *every* argument?

End Chapter 32

I am crushed under the weight of more than 200 reviews!!!!!!

At least one person was confused about this…the spell I meant was *Cruciatus*. The spell I wrote was *cruciatus*. People were tortured into confessing…I took it from something we were talking about in school. Get it?

Ah, the whole Sirius in the mirror thing…it doesn't come up again, so I'll have to explain in an author's note. Blah. Simply put, Sirius is a reflection. So he's somewhat insubstantial, but he's also *magical*…so he can do stuff. It's hard to explain. Even I am not sure what I mean.

Review for googly-bare confetti!