Chapter 2

A/N- Thanks goes to Kitty for her excellent suggestions/beta-ing!

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, illuminating everything in the room. Not even Harry could sleep through this, so very reluctantly, he got out of his bed in the smallest bedroom of number 4 Privet drive. While reaching for his glasses on his bedside table his hand instead grasped what felt like a letter. Remembering Hermione's letter, he found his glasses, put them on, and tore open the envelope. He was very surprised to see that the letter was not from Hermione as he had expected, but from Ginny Weasley.

Harry,

I'm sure by now you've heard the news about Michael and his family. I figured that maybe you would like to talk about it. You're not the only one who feels alone now, Harry. It was only a short while ago that Michael and I ended what we had, and I would be lying if I said I didn't care about him. You and I are both coping with different losses right now, both of them terrible. I know I should be seeing you in a short time, as Mum and Dad have been speaking with Dumbledore about letting you come early. They don't think that we will be going to the Order's headquarters. In fact, I overheard Mum saying it was bad idea to ever bring us there in the first place. If we are in danger, however, we may have no choice but to go Grimmauld Place. Bugger, I really hate that dank old house. Well, Harry, I hope to hear from you soon. I know that losing Sirius must be dreadful for you, but I understand what you're going through. We're more alike than you would think.

Your friend, Ginny Weasley

Harry held Ginny's letter at an arm's length, carefully re-reading its contents. This was the Ginny Weasley who once blushed crimson at the sight of him? He and Ginny had been spending a bit more time together than they ever used to, but she had never before written him a letter. He didn't know what to make of it, but he felt slightly mollified by Ginny's letter. At least she had said what needed to be said. He had received a few letters from Ron and Hermione, each containing the monotonous small talk that lacked any real substance. "I'm fine, I hope you are doing well," or "Did you hear that the Cannons are eighth in the league? That's the highest they've been in years!" He was tired of his two best friends skirting around the issues that needed to discussed, if only for his sake. Sitting alone in a quiet bedroom, one was left with nothing to do but think, or sleep, really. While he lay on his bed, hour after hour, only one thing ever came to mind: Sirius, his godfather, the one who had died with a tainted name, all because of him. It was his fault for sending them on some huge chase, all for nothing. He had to be the valiant hero and save the day, just like he always did. Maybe he did depend on his fame more than he ever believed.

He folded up Ginny's letter and put it back in the envelope. Grabbing a quill, some ink, and some parchment from beneath his bed, he wrote her back. He was sure to let her know his appreciation for what she had said. He had a feeling that instead of him being the hero as he always was, Ginny may be the one to save him after all

Hermione Granger lay on her stomach on her bed in Ginny's bedroom at the Burrow. She was doing a Potions essay that wasn't due for another two months, but she figured it would be best to get her homework out of the way so she would have the rest of the summer to do as she pleased, getting in some extra reading, for example. Besides that, she really wanted to get her mind off the numerous things that were clouding it. The Corners, Ron, her parents, Ron, Harry, Ron, the deatheaters, Ron, Voldemort, and more importantly, Ron, had been filling her thoughts all afternoon.

Not that it was anything unusual for her to be thinking about Ron, but as of late, it was becoming too much. Her once girlish crush seemed to be blossoming into something more, something that lingered over her at all hours, something that kept her awake at night, and something that she would feel perfectly comfortable with if only she knew how he felt. She had long excepted that Ron was a bit slow when it came to matters of the heart, but she often wondered how long she would have to wait, and if he would ever return her affections at all. She liked to think that he felt it, too, the thickness in the air between them; so stifling that she could hardly breathe when he was near. Then again, this was Ron, and the whole thing could have just passed entirely over his head, like so many other things had. She believed there was a spark between the two of them, and she was still waiting for him to discover it.

Not to mention she was worried about Ron. She knew he was having some trouble coping with the attack. This was more than just an assumption, though. She had been on her way to the bathroom in the middle of the previous night when she heard some movement in Ron's room. When she had opened the door, being careful not to make any noise by tripping over the clutter on the floor, she had walked to his bedside to see him tossing, turning, and talking in his sleep. Feeling the need to comfort him, she had gotten into his bed to try and mollify him. She had stroked his hair, and left him with a kiss on the forehead, hoping that his nightmares would go away. Even more so, she hoped that Ron would not remember the incident in the morning. She wasn't sure how he would react to her attention, and would prefer not knowing about it. After completing the last few lines of her essay, she thought of something else that needed to be done. Just as she was beginning her Transfiguration essay, a knock on the door broke her concentration. "Who is it?"

"It's just me," said Ginny as she came into the room. She sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, right next to her. Something about Ginny looked different. Hermione noticed the grave look in her usually bright blue eyes.

"Gin, what's wrong?"

She averted her glance from Hermione's. "Oh, it's nothing I need to bother you with, you've already heard about it enough, I'm sure".

Realization dawned on Hermione; Michael had been Ginny's ex-boyfriend, obviously this had to have been very difficult for her. "I think it's best to talk about it. I know you and Michael had broken up, but I'm certain this must be very hard for you".

Ginny's eyes filled with tears at the mention of his name, but Hermione still could see something else in her gaze besides sadness, however she just couldn't place it.

"I know I have Dean now, but I still can't help but feel some sort of connection to Michael, and I just don't want it!" Hermione wasn't exactly sure how this connection felt, as she had never had a boyfriend of her own, but she imagined the loss of someone that she cared for would be terrible.

"Ginny, this war is taking its toll on everyone, and it is horrible that you have to lose those you care about, but think of what you do have. You have a huge family that loves you, and are safe. You have your boyfriend, Dean, you have me, and you have Harry…" Hermione's voice trailed off as she said Harry's name. She knew that Harry knew loss more than anyone she had ever known. Given this fact, an idea struck Hermione. "Ginny, I'm sure Harry could use a friend right now in fact I bet that you could write him and-"

"Actually I've already written him," Ginny interjected, the familiar blush creeping to her cheeks as it usually did when she mentioned Harry. Despite her numerous boyfriends while at Hogwarts, Hermione was certain the Ginny still did have feelings for a certain raven-haired friend of theirs, however much she would ever deny it.

"Well that's good. Good for you and even better for Harry. I'm just at a loss of what to say, really. I've never gone through this like he has." Hermione felt that familiar flood of tears at their brink, but held them in for Ginny's sake. She needed to be as strong as she always appeared to be. She embraced Ginny in a sisterly hug, which Ginny returned.

"Am I interrupting anything?" came a sly voice from the hallway. The girls pulled apart as Ron entered the room, sporting a large grin. He must have seen Ginny's red-rimmed eyes and Hermione's serious expression, because his demeanor instantly changed. "What's happened?"

"Oh nothing, Ron, just some girl talk that got a bit out of hand," came Hermione's reply. Ron turned a bit pink at the mention of girl talk, but collected himself enough to casually inform the girls that dinner would be ready in a quarter of an hour. Hermione glanced at his retreating form a little longer than she expected was normal, for she heard some poorly-contained snickering coming from her left.

"And exactly what are you laughing at?"

"Erm…nothing, Hermione. But how long will it be before you finally just let Ron know how you feel about him?" Hermione gaped, and Ginny burst out in full giggles at her reaction.

"Am I really that obvious?"

"No, I'm just a girl and I understand these things. Don't worry, Hermione, he really does care for you. He's just too daft to have realized it, yet."

Hermione was glad to have some reassurance from someone, and perked up a bit at Ginny's comment. Maybe she wasn't silly for waiting for him after all.

"Come on, Gin, we're already late. We better go down for dinner."

"Or else mum will make us clean up dishes afterwards. Or even worse- we may have to do the laundry. You've no idea how smelly those boys get after they play quidditch. And I've had to live with it all of these years!"

At this, both girls broke out in the giggles as they hurried down the stairs for supper.

After they'd all eaten, Hermione and Ginny lay on the floor of the Burrow's living room. Ginny was leafing through one of her Teen Witch magazines, while Hermione entertained herself by finishing up her Transfiguration essay. Ron entered the room, capturing Hermione's attention.

"Do you want to go outside and have a walk? It's not dark yet and there's even a pond over in the back, near the woods."

Hermione was grateful to have something else to distract her from her homework. She could have used a break. "Sure Ron, let me just take these things upstairs. Are you coming Gin?"

"No, I'm rather tired, didn't sleep well last night. You two can go on ahead". Ginny gave Hermione a knowing look, one that made Hermione blush and Ron look a bit perplexed. Hermione sent Ginny a glare while Ron wasn't looking, as she picked up her things and went to put them in her room. This was going to be very interesting.