Disclaimer: Who's that lady that owns it all again? *ponders* Hmm...I think that her name's J.K. Rowling. Is that it? Yup, that's it. *nods firmly* J.K. Rowling owns it all. ^_^

A/N: I know people are reading, but I'm still low on reviewers! Not that the reviewers I have aren't spectacular, because they most certainly are! *showers cookies upon my loyal reviewers* But for all those who read and don't review--please review. It makes my day--I promise it does. *puppy dog eyes*

The rest of the day Hermione was jumpy. She kept well away from Ron and Harry, knowing they would just wonder what was wrong with her now. She had planned what she was going to say to Draco all day. She'd tell him that he was a rat bastard for telling his friends about what had happened last night, then trying to cuddle up with her today. Then she'd slap him and storm off, and this whole dilemma with Draco would be over.

Confident in what she was going to say, Hermione slipped out of her bed once midnight had passed over the land. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt, knowing that it would be cool outside. Then she crept downstairs into the common room and came face to face with Ginny, who was lounging leisurely on a couch, swinging one foot absently and reading a book.

Ginny looked up when Hermione froze in the doorway. With a predatory smile, Ginny closed her book. "Well well, Miss Granger. And where would we be going so late at night?" Ginny asked with a devilish smile.

Hermione glared at Ginny, hoping to make her back down. "None of your business," she said, her nose in the air.

Ginny ignored that act, knowing that Hermione would like nothing better than for Ginny to leave her alone and just go to bed. "Is that so?" Ginny asked complacently. "You wouldn't be going to meet a certain Slytherin, would you, Mione?" Her eyes twinkled as Hermione squirmed.

"Of course not," Hermione muttered. "Where'd you hear a ridiculous notion like that?" She stared resolutely up at the ceiling, refusing to look at Ginny and let the other girl see the lie in her eyes.

Ginny smiled to herself. Oh, it was lovely to see Hermione squirm. It was so rare that Hermione was discomfited that it was a pleasure to watch her. "Well," Ginny said, tapping one finger against her lower lip, "I might have seen a certain girl snuggling up with a certain Slytherin boy today in the hallways outside the Great Hall."

Hermione's head snapped down and she glared at Ginny. "You were spying on me?" she asked, outraged.

Ginny smiled wryly. "No, I wasn't. I was going in to eat lunch and to talk to Harry when I saw Draco pull you into a corner. I started to walk over to make sure that he wasn't hassling you, and I saw your little. . .tete a tete."

Hermione growled at Ginny's choice of words. "We did not have a 'tete a tete'," she muttered.

Ginny arched one eyebrow. "Oh really? And what would you call it?"

Hermione squirmed again, and Ginny watched in delight. "A meeting," Hermione muttered. "Just. . .a meeting was all."

"I haven't seen many meetings like that one," Ginny said archly. "You both nearly starched my clothes with the heat rising off you. I'm surprised there aren't scorch marks on the floor."

Hermione scowled furiously at Ginny. "Why are you up?" she asked in a disgruntled voice. "Are you going to tell me not to go meet him?"

Ginny settled back against the pillows on the couch with a cat that caught the canary smile. "Not at all," she said, amusement brightening her eyes. "In fact, don't let me keep you."

Hermione narrowed her own eyes. "What's the catch?" she asked suspiciously.

Ginny smiled gently and rose. She caught up one of Hermione's hands and squeezed gently. "There's no catch, Hermione. I saw what you looked like when you were with Draco today. You felt something--and you had the same look on your face that I do when I look at Harry."

Hermione sputtered. "Why--Gin, that's ridiculous! You and Harry are--well, you're--"

Ginny smiled. "You can go ahead and say it, Hermione. We're in love. It's not a crime," she said gently. "And if you feel for Draco even a fraction of what I feel for Harry, then I want you to go out and meet Draco tonight." Ginny squeezed Hermione's hands. "Because even if it is with Draco, Hermione, I want you to feel that."

Hermione's eyes stung with tears and she impulsively hugged Ginny tight. "No wonder you're my best friend," she sniffled, and Ginny laughed.

"I know," she said modestly. "It's because I'm perfect, isn't it?" She preened, then laughed at herself. Then she gave Hermione a little push. "Go on. Get out of here. You'll be late."

Hermione smiled brilliantly at Ginny and hugged her swiftly and then dashed out of the room. For one moment, it felt like she was sneaking off to a clandestine meeting with her lover, where he would hold her and kiss her and tell her that he adored her. It was almost too easy to forget that she was going to meet Draco so she could tell him that he was a miserable git like she had always known he was and then leave him to stew in his own juices.

Once Hermione was gone, Ginny settled back down on the couch, sighing with pleasure. Although Hermione was a year older than she was, at the moment Ginny felt like an older sister, and she liked the feeling. She liked seeing Hermione all flushed with pleasure and happy. Merlin, Ginny so rarely saw Hermione truly happy, and she loved to see it. If Draco could make Hermione happy, then Ginny would put aside whatever differences she had with him, and embrace him in thanks.

Smiling to herself, she picked up her book again and opened it. A few minutes later, Harry came stumbling down the stairs, knuckling at his eyes. He peered blearily at her. "Gin? What are you doing up so late?"

Ginny smiled serenely at him, putting her book down again. In the darkness of the common room, the light from the warm fire flickered over her features. Her long, silky red hair tumbled over one shoulder, and the firelight brought out the strength in her face and the delicacy of her bones. She looked like a serene Madonna, and even through his sleep clouded mind, Harry caught his breath at her beauty. Ginny smiled and held out one hand to him. "C'mere, baby. Come sit with me for a while." Obediently, he came to her and laid down on the couch and put his head in her lap.

She sifted her fingers through his hair in a steady, soothing rhythm and felt him start to drift back to sleep. Feeling supremely content, Ginny started to softly hum to herself, and felt Harry sleepily press a kiss to her abdomen. "Love you," he murmured, already half asleep.

She smiled, her eyes shining with tears of joy that she wouldn't shed. "I love you too," she whispered, but he was already asleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Aww...I got all sniffly writing the Ginny/Harry scene. *sniffles*

Reviewers:

Shaney of Goldenlake~ Thank you! I'm glad you like it. ^_^

Auden~ Here's the chapter you were waitin' on! Well...I mean...here's the next one. *laughs* I hope you like this chapter as much as the others. ^_^