Harry was mortified. He'd only been listening to Ginny, nothing else. All of his being was taken up with Hermione and the feeling was getting stronger by the minute. Ginny had left to write an owl to Hermione and Harry, seeing it the most practical thing to do, wrote one too.
'Hermione, there is nothing between Ginny and I, nothing! We were talking about you. Ginny knew how we felt and she was trying to convince me to go after you, she never meant for this to happen. Hermione – I love you. I never thought I'd say it, but I do. We have to talk it over, please, come back, Ginny is distraught. Harry.'
He tied the note to Hedwig's leg and gave her his instructions.
"Hedwig, I don't know where she is, but I've gotta get this letter to Hermione."
Hedwig pecked his finger, she seemed to notice that he was worried and she flew out of Ron's window, nearly straight into Errol, who was trying to fly in a straight line out of Ginny's window.
Harry knew now, he loved her! He really loved her! But she was gone. He went down to dinner, a sinking feeling in his heart.
"I don't want to start without Hermione, where is she?" Mrs. Weasley looked around the table, as if hoping that she would magically appear.
"She's not feeling well mum, she's gone to bed early." Ginny gave her the best excuse that she, Harry and Ron (who had found out from Harry about what had gone on) could come up with.
"Well, we should start then, but I'll go and check on her after dinner."
Ron grimaced, he was startled by this Harry and Hermione thing but he knew he had to cover up for her.
"I wouldn't mum, I had to borrow a book from Ginny and I almost woke her up, maybe you should wait until tomorrow."
Mrs. Weasley looked sceptical. "Do you think that's wise, Ron dear? I want to make sure that she's OK."
Ginny, Harry and Ron exchanged a worried glance, and Ginny decided that she had to come to the rescue.
"She'll be OK mum, she just wanted a good lie down, and she said she'd see you in the morning."
Mrs. Weasley seemed to decide that that was fair enough.
"OK then, but you tell me if she still isn't well during the night, OK Ginny?"
"Sure Mum." Ginny looked relieved, but it wasn't to be for long.
Fred suddenly piped up, "hey, did anyone see that purple thing outside this afternoon? I almost though the Knight Bus was down our street."
Ginny kicked him under the table. George, who was sitting next to her, got the same treatment. Ginny hissed into his ear.
"Look, Hermione's nicked off, we reckon she'll be back tomorrow, so you guys just shut up and help us cover for her, OK?"
George glanced at Fred; silently an agreement grew between the twins and Ginny to keep things as unsuspicious as possible.
"Well that's odd." Mrs. Weasley replied, "Maybe one of the neighbours is having a holiday?"