A/N: I'm resurrecting things long thought dead this month. It's my new hobby.

God, I can't believe people still review this thing… how did y'all find it?

Anyway, sorry about the wait… I'm well aware it's been more than a year, but things have been… well, not always busy, but a lot is different. And that's going to change this a little bit, although as far as you know, everything will remain the same. I've just switched my plan around a whole lot for the rest of the fic… things in real life sort of affect fic sometimes… do you find that? Anyway, I've finally worked out a new plan, and I hope you're all satisfied with the way this is going to go in the next few chapters.

We're getting close to the slash, m'dears, although I'm really trying to keep it slow. I'm getting just as impatient as you are, believe me, and probably even more so, but there are reasons. Anyway, this chapter marks the beginning of the clear-cut sexual tension… we've all been there, some of us several (thousand) times… and it sucks. Poor Ginny ;)

If you were waiting for a Lovely, Dark and Deep Chapter, I apologize. It'll be out Friday or Saturday. Hang in there.

I would love to respond to all of your reviews… But there were wa-a-y too many… so thank you, everyone, and I'm really glad you all enjoyed it. Just a few important responses:

NariRyo: Yeah, sorry about the tiger/Kneazle thing. Poor editing on my part… the results of being my own beta. And um… sorry you didn't like it… What, exactly, did I do differently, because as far as I can tell, my writing style didn't change much. NOW, though… it's a year later… uh-oh…

OnlyHAUNTED: (In resp. to: "Is Harry gay? And Ron? And Sirius? And Remus?") We-ell… What do you think? I'm pretty sure I answered the Harry question earlier… although, maybe not, Ginny did say she "couldn't remember the last time Harry had brought a girl home", although that sort of implies that he has before. I hadn't really made any statements about that, and that was sort of on purpose… the story's not really about Harry in anything other than an older-brother-figure capacity (not that Ginny needs more older brothers!!!). Ron… who knows? I can't really picture Ron ever holding a candle for anyone but Hermione, but that's pretty much out of the question. Actually, Ron's sort of a non-entity in this fic. I feel badly about that, because I actually really enjoy writing him, but in the broad scheme of this storyline, he just doesn't fit. Sirius and Remus… Who knows? Could be… then again, maybe not. That's the thing I love about them… they're so ambiguous ;) So, my answer to that, at least for now, is: However you see them in the books, that's how they are in this fic. I'm going to try very hard not to stray from cannon as far as they are concerned. And believe me, the cannon for them can definitely be warped to suit any imagination. So have fun, and enjoy.

I hope you all enjoy this… sorry again about the more-than-long wait!

-Nymphean

Chapter 5

Hermione squinted at the book in Ginny's hand. "'Infamous South African Wizards of the twentieth century?' Ginny, what is this?" Ginny opened the book to a page that she'd marked.

"Here," She said, handing the book to Hermione. "Look at that." Hermione took the book and looked down at it. One page was taken up by a large picture of an extremely handsome wizard, and the other was covered with tiny text. The wizard was looking directly at the camera, grinning lethally. His long silver hair was tied back neatly and his black robes were impeccable. Hermione couldn't see a single crease. For a moment, Hermione had thought the picture was a muggle one. The man did not move, he simply stared back at her from the page, but after a few moments Hermione saw the man blink, and she even thought his grin had grown a little bit wider. She frowned.

"I'm still not exactly sure why you're showing me this," She said to Ginny, looking from her red-headed friend to the picture.

"Does he look familiar at all?" Ginny asked quietly. Hermione gave her a funny look.

"No… I can tell you right now, I've never seen him before."

"Check the caption." Hermione's eyes flitted to the bottom of the picture.

"'Jaapie Oudendaal, prior to his incarceration', " She read aloud. "Wait… Oudendaal…" She looked up at Ginny, who nodded.

"Yep. Look familiar yet?" Hermione blinked at the picture. Sure enough, some of the features mirrored Zuri's, now that she thought about it.

"Wow. How did you…" Hermione stopped, and looked up at Ginny. "Wait… incarceration?" Her eyes dove back down to the book, this time skimming over the text.

"Yes, it seems your girlfriend's been keeping a big family secret." Ginny sat down on the bed, and Hermione followed her, her eyes still glued to the book. "He was a Death Eater… Hated just about everyone. Muggles, muggle-borns, you name it. He was also very political, apparently… a neo-Nazi type who thought several groups other than wizards and muggles should be gotten rid of. Blacks and English in particular." Hermione looked up at Ginny. "She never told you, hm?"

Hermione was completely bewildered. "I don't believe this… Zuri never even so much as mentioned it."

"Maybe she had her reasons," Ginny said darkly, and Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"What are you implying?"

Ginny shrugged. "What do you think?" Hermione shook her head, rising, her entire body rigid and tense.

"This is ridiculous! I can't believe you went snooping around in the library to try and find dirt on Zuri! It's been clear since I first introduced the two of you that you didn't like her for some reason, but I never thought you'd since so low, Ginny."

Ginny felt a righteous indignation coursing through her. "I'm doing this because I care about you, Hermione, and I'm worried about what might happen to you, not because I don't like your girlfriend. Although, now that you mention it, she did strike me as kind of cold and a little possessive."

"Oh, really?" Hermione's anger was almost palpable, and her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Is that all?"

"Well, as long as we're being honest, I also think she treats you like garbage, and doesn't care about how you feel, which, to me, seems like a really bitchy way to treat the person you're supposed to be in love with. But then, I suppose I wouldn't understand, now would I?" Ginny was now standing as well, and the two women were face to face, neither one moving in even the slightest way.

"I don't need to hear this from you, Ginny."

Ginny laughed sarcastically. "No, I don't imagine anyone ever enjoys hearing their own doubts and insecurities voiced by someone else."

"My girlfriend is NOT a DARK WIZARD!" Hermione had never yelled so loudly at any of her friends before. Except, of course, at Zuri, but then, she reminded herself, lovers' quarrels are a completely different class, one in which all bets are off. Nuada hissed from his terrarium. Ginny, for her part, looked reasonably stunned. Hermione instantly regretted it.

"Alright, Hermione," the redhead said quietly, a lethal note still in her voice. "If you don't want me to look out for you, all you have to do is say so." She turned away. "I'll stop, and I'll try not to worry about you destroying yourself."

"Ginny, don't try to guilt me into believing you." Ginny turned back towards her with an utterly tragic look on her face.

"I'm not," she said, wearing the most earnest expression Hermione had ever seen, "I'm really not. I'm just worried, Hermione, and I can't help it. I don't think you're happy in South Africa, and I don't think you're happy with her. But I guess I should mind my own business. I can't help worrying, but I can help how I channel that worry. So I'm sorry. You can take the information and do whatever you want with it, I won't interfere, and I won't provide you with any more." She lowered her voice to an almost-whisper. "I was just trying to help. That's what friends do."

"Ginny…" Hermione did feel guilty, regardless of what Ginny said. "Listen, I know you were looking out for me, but you have to trust me here… Zuri is not a Dark Wizard. She's a really good person, and I know her well enough to know that she'd never hurt anyone intentionally. You happened to meet her on pretty bad terms, and that's a shame, because she's not usually as unpleasant as all that. She's just really insecure, and you're right; she's a little possessive. And she worries about losing me."

"And it doesn't bother you, that she acts like that?" Ginny tried her best to keep the testiness out of her voice. Hermione shook her head.

"Not as much as it used to. I mean, yeah, it's unpleasant, but it's also… kind of nice, really. Being wanted like that. Having someone care that much about you that the thought of losing you makes them just a little crazy. I just have to remind her sometimes."
"But then you fight." By now, both girls were sitting on the bed again, legs crossed, facing each other. Ginny felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her sails; she couldn't fight anymore, all she could do was listen and try to understand.

"Yes," Hermione said uncertainly, "We fight. A lot, sometimes. But it's worth it, I think. I mean… she loves me. I know that. So it's not as bad."

Ginny didn't even begin to list the gaps she found in Hermione's usually flawless logic. Instead, she fingered the pages of the library book and said, "Why do you think she'd hide this from you? Something so important, so widely-known?"

Hermione seemed to have a little more trouble explaining this away. She pushed compulsively at her cuticles, her eyes sternly focused away from Ginny's. "I don't know. I'm not exactly happy about it. But I'm sure she has a reason." She furrowed her brow. "She's never said anything about her father, not one thing… all I know is that she grew up with her mother, and saw him very infrequently." She sighed. "I don't know… maybe she assumed I already knew, or had figured it out. Or maybe she was just worried about my reaction. Anyway…" Another huge sigh. Ginny almost felt bad for uncovering the truth and revealing it to her friend. "I don't think she has anything to do with it. I'm sure you don't believe me, but she really is a good person. And I know she's never had anything to do with the Dark Arts. She's even worked to combat them."

Ginny worried away at her lip. Hermione seemed like she was being completely earnest, and Ginny felt like she'd been unnecessarily cruel. "Hermione, I'm sorry. You didn't know about this at all, and I just jumped all over you for something that, really, is not your fault and has nothing to do with you, other than by association. I shouldn't have gotten involved." Hermione shrugged.

"It's okay. I understand where you were coming from." She looked up and there were tears in her eyes. Ginny immediately felt worse.

"I made you cry," She said, feeling like she might start as well. "God, I'm such a jerk…"

"No, no…" Hermione shook her head forcefully and wiped angrily at her eyes with the back of her hand. "It's not your fault, it's just… there are so many things to deal with right now, and I can't control any of them, and it's just…" She sniffed, still wiping at her eyes. "It's good to have a friend who cares enough to help, even when I think I don't need it." Ginny leaned forward and threw her arms around Hermione, squeezing her as hard as she could.

"I'm sorry," She whispered in her ear. "I wish things were easier for you."

Hermione buried her face in her friend's shoulder. "They'll get better. It's just been a emotional couple of days."

They held each other for a long time.

Ginny blinked several times to clear the sleepy haze from her eyes. It took her a moment to realize that she and Hermione had fallen asleep the previous night almost immediately after their fight. All Ginny could remember was the screaming, followed by the tears, and then a few whispered, comforting words from both parties and a hug that lasted, apparently, through the night. Their arms were still wrapped around each other, albeit less tightly than they had been the previous night, and they lay facing each other. Ginny felt herself flush at the intimacy of the embrace, and closed her eyes again, feeling slightly uncomfortable staring into Hermione's peaceful, sleeping face. She felt Hermione's arms tighten around her, and her entire body tensed. Hermione sighed, and Ginny could feel her breath against her face.

"Ginny…" the youngest Weasley opened her eyes, looking with confusion upon her friend.

"Yes?"

Hermione's eyes blinked open, and she took in the sight of her slightly more conscious friend. "Ginny! Uh… hi," She said, sounding slightly confused, and then she laughed a little nervously. "We fell asleep last night, didn't we?" Ginny nodded. "Oh God… look at us… I'm still in my clothes!" Ginny had to laugh at that, and felt herself ease up as her friend sat up. "At least you're in your pyjamas." Ginny stretched her cramped limbs and grimaced.

"Yeah, well I almost wish I stayed in my clothes… it's ten, and we open at eleven on Sundays, so I've got to get myself dressed and ready." She jumped out of bed and stomped sullenly towards the closet. "Work sucks, Hermione. Why does work suck?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ginny, you love your job."

"Oh. Right." Ginny grabbed her towel and started towards the door. "You just say that because you get free pets out of the deal." Hermione grinned and headed for Nuada's cage. The Quetzalcoetl promptly wrapped itself around her wrist.

"I don't think he appreciates the term 'Pet'," Hermione said, stroking the tiny serpent gently. Ginny just stuck out her tongue and headed for the bathroom. Hermione watched her go. It wasn't until the serpent tightened it's grip on her wrist that she snapped out of her reverie. A strange, embarrassed feeling filled her, as though she were a small child being scolded by its superiors. She looked down at her companion with a frown. "Oh, what?" When the serpent hissed in the direction of the door, Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't you start in on me now. That's the last thing I need."

Ginny closed the bathroom door as quietly as she could. She didn't want to wake Harry, figuring that avoiding questions about the previous night was probably the best course of action. Once safely inside behind the locked door, she dropped her towel and fell clumsily against the counter, her forehead pressed to the cool glass of the mirror. She looked forward into her own too-close eyes and, flushed and trembling, examined what she saw there.

"Merlin," She whispered, close to tears, "What is wrong with me?"

Well, that's it for the time being… we're getting to the good parts, I swear. Stay tuned!