Hello again! It's been so long, and I'm very sorry for keeping you waiting, but here it is. I had to deal with graduating, a funeral, trips to the emergency room, birthdays, the list goes on and on, and well... Forgive my slowness! Enjoy!

Closer

Chapter: 7

Ginny finally made it up to the library, and as she suspected, she found her friend sitting at a small table in the back nestled between two rows of shelves. Hermione was so enthralled in her work that she never even noticed when Ginny pulled out a chair and sat down right beside her.

Ginny stared at Hermione for a moment, hoping she would be noticed, no such luck. "Hey, 'Mio-"

"For Merlin's sake!" Hermione jumped, "Gin, you really shouldn't sneak up on people like that!"

Ginny shook her head, her chin length red hair bounced slightly. "I did not sneak!" When Hermione just rolled her eyes and turned back to her books Ginny continued before losing her attention. "Anyway, I was wondering, what's up with you? You were sure in a sour mood this morning."

Hermione snapped the tiny book shut and fixed Ginny with a stern gaze. "If I had wanted an interrogation, I would have stuck around for one. Besides, nothing is up rather than the ceiling!" She admonished as if Ginny were a dumb little girl who couldn't possibly understand what she had just been told. She continued mumbling something about silly American slang.

Ginny stood and glared down at the older girl who was packing her things. "Well you do owe me an explanation if you plan on treating me like this!"

Hermione finished with her things and swung her bag over her shoulder while getting up. "You want an explanation do you?"

Ginny nodded, looking up at her.

"Alright then. I. Hate. Your. Worthless. Brother. Not to mention, I am none pleased with the other idiot who calls himself my best friend." She narrowed her eyes at Ginny, "Is that clear enough for you?"

She gaped a minute before she looked back up at Hermione, "But... I mean, what did they do to you? I'm well aware that they are both rather thick at times. But, honestly, it couldn't have been that bad."

Hermione sighed and put a lid on her temper, she couldn't take it out on her best girl friend. "Well, neither of them actually did anything. It's just..." She paused to think a minute, "I'm terribly disappointed in both of them, Ronald especially. He didn't... he should've... they both..." Hermione was getting more and more frustrated by the moment. She looked at Ginny. "Oh never mind. I can't say now.... Maybe some day..."

Ginny made a face and was about to speak up but Hermione pushed past her and disappeared through the library doors before she had a chance. Her farewell echoed lightly off the walls, or Ginny imagined it did.

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In the common room Ron stretched and yawned. Ginny had come back and when they asked her what happened, she just shrugged and they gave up for the time being. It was beginning to get late, and he had just finished his last homework assignment. "I'm off to bed. You done yet?

Harry looked up at him. "Almost.... half a scroll more."

"Right then. 'Night." Ron said on another yawn. "I swear, all this work is going to be the end of me."

Harry half-smiled. "I know what you mean. 'Night Ron."

Ron waved and walked off to get to bed. Harry went back to his work.

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About ten minutes later, the common room was empty and Harry was looking back at his completed paper with relief. He stood up to stretch his legs when Hermione came bustling in. "Hey Hermione."

Hermione looked up from collecting a book she had dropped on her way in. "Hi." she responded dryly.

Harry watched for a moment as she righted herself and made for the stairs to the girls dormitory, then he out-paced her and stood blocking her way. "What's wrong with you? This is the hundredth time today we've all tried to talk to you, and at least the 30th time I myself have tried."

She glared daggers at her green-eyed house-mate. "Look here Harry, I am tired. I don't want to talk about this now and you are blocking my way. Now please, move!"

"No, I won't, not until you tell me what we all did to get you so huffy in the first place." She tried to move past him, but he was faster. Finally with a greatly exasperated sigh she turned and put her books down on one of the tables.

"I simply refuse to speak to someone who so easily breaks his promises. I'll spend the night out here in the common room if I have to."

Harry's jaw dropped, "What are you talking about? I never broke any promise, hell, I don't even know what promise you're talking about!" He began to pace the room a little, looking angry.

Hermione who had sat down looked at him in shock for a minute, but then it melted into a deep-set frown, "See what I mean? You can't possibly have meant to keep your promises, can't possibly have been my friends, if you don't even remember them!" She whispered scathingly, her eyes already brimming with tears.

His anger faded and he went over to place a comforting hand on her shoulder but she shoved him away and was on her feet in a seconds time, "Don't touch me!"

Harry looked lost, but then asked her calmly, "Please 'Mione, just tell me what promise it is we broke." When she responded by merely looking down he continued, "I know, I admit, I'm stupid for having forgotten and I'm sorry, but we can't make it up to you if you don't tell what's wrong."

She turned glaring at him, "Don't you remember? Three years ago, at the end of the summer, we were all at the burrow, after we had all packed up to come back to school? We were sitting outside after you and Ron finished playing quidditch with the rest of the Weasly's, we all promised each other to always be there for one another, when we most needed help. We promised we would do our best to defend one another?"

Harry nodded signaling he remembered. He pulled out a necklace with a little wing charm on it. "These were supposed to burn brightly whenever one of us was in trouble..."

Hermione continued, "Well, this summer I needed your help, and I know I sent out the signal almost continuously, but you never came."

It got very quiet then, Harry's look of guilt did not escape Hermione.

"I'm sure you were busy with more important things." Harry got up to interrupt but she put a hand up, halting him, "It doesn't matter now. Maybe you simply couldn't come but... Ron" The tears now spilt out and cascaded down her cheeks and she continued with a very shaky voice, "He was right there.... and he, he didn't do anything!" Her voice was dying and she swallowed to get it working again, "He just turned and walked away!"

"Please Hermione wh-"

"No! Stay away from me! That's as far as I'll tell you, don't ever speak to me again!" She ripped her own chain with a wing charm on it off and threw it at his feet before stalking off to bed.

Harry looked down at the shiny little chain at his feet and covered his face in guilt and defeat.

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Well, now we know it wasn't Ron as most of you suspected! Please, read and review and as always thank you so much for reading.

Love,