Play cool, Hermione, she thought to herself. Slowly she turned around to face the redheaded girl she knew she'd see.
"Hermione," Ginny whispered again, only this time it was not a question.
"I think you have me mistaken for someone else. My name is Julie. Not Hermione," she said with her most convincing smile of ignorance.
Ginny looked Hermione up and down, on her face played a look of sadness. For a brief moment, Hermione thought she might have convinced Ginny she was not who she really was. Finally, their eyes met.
"You were always a good liar when it came to people who didn't know you. Unfortunately for you I was one of your best friends for six years." Hermione was still debating whether or not to keep playing dumb while Ginny continued.
"I love your hair," she said reaching out to touch it. "And the clothes. Definitely not something I'd picture you in, but it works for you," her voice seemed strained, and for the first time Hermione noticed the liquid covering Ginny's eyes. She was holding back tears. "Where have you been?"
Seeing the always strong Ginny on the verge if tears, Hermione decided she could not keep up the charade with her. She looked around and then pulled her from the Great Hall and around a corner. The began having two conversations at once.
"You can't tell anyone that you saw me here, Ginny. I'm going back to the States and staying there. In peace."
"It's been five years, Hermione. Five years!"
"Not Ron, not Harry, not your parents, not your diary."
"Do you have any idea how worried we all were? Still are?"
"I can't stay here, Ginny."
"When you first left Ron and Harry understood. I didn't. I had no idea why you left, but they said that I wouldn't understand. That you needed time after everything you had just been through."
"I did need time. Time to think."
"Five years? You needed five years to think? Thinking is one of your best subjects. It shouldn't take five years."
"Harry and Ron are right. You don't understand. You weren't there the night we fought Voldemort."
"Good Merlin! Do you guys share a manual or something? Why does everyone keep telling me that I won't understand, yet they refuse to try and make me understand."
"Ginny, your acting like we have some super cool secret that we won't let you in on just to make you angry or something. Did you ever think that maybe Harry and Ron don't tell you and maybe the reason I left is because it's too hard to talk about? Did you ever think that we didn't tell everyone the whole story? Cause I'm telling you right now, we didn't. We made an agreement not to, and the reason Ron and Harry are still living the public life and I ran away is because they apparently can handle lying better then I can."
"Really? You didn't seem to have a hard time telling me your name was 'Julie'," she spat with animosity.
"Ginny? Ginny?" another voice Hermione recognized said. It was the voice of Mrs. Weasley, and she was getting closer.
"Ginny?" she spotted the two girls, and walked towards them. Hermione kept her eyes averted. "There you are dear. We're getting ready to leave. Who's your friend?" she asked sweetly.
"We just met. What did you say your name was again?" it was more of a challenge then a question. Would Hermione be able to lie to sweet, old, Mrs. Weasley, we treated her as her own daughter for seven years.
"Julie. Nice to meet you, ma'am."
"Julie's from out of town. The States, actually."
"Oh, how lovely! I've always wanted to visit the States. Chicago and New York in particular. Have you ever been?"
"Uh, yes. To both actually. I liked Chicago better, though."
"That's what Marla Thompkins told me, you know Marla, right Ginny? She said the shopping and food was better. Where are you staying dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked Hermione.
"Uh, well, I was actually just going to take the Knight Bus home. Too far to apparate, you know?"
"Nonsense. You'll come home with us, get a good meal in you, and then you can use our Floo Network. Your hooked-up of course?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"Then it's settled. Let's go. I need to find your brothers, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said as she started walking off, leaving Hermione staring worriedly at Ginny.
"What am I gonna do? Your mum didn't notice it was me, but Harry and Ron will. They've known me to long."
"Yep. Plus the fact mum didn't have on her glasses, and she's blind as a bat without them," Ginny said, a smirk playing on her face.
"Why do you want me to be found out?" ask Hermione with confusion and sadness on her face.
"Because, Julie," she spat the name once again, "you can't run forever."
Ginny turned and walked away, and Hermione reluctantly followed her. Mrs. Weasley was standing and waiting for them at the only exit. Maybe Hermione could not run forever. But she could try to hide.
A/N: Sorry about the length. I just really wanted to get something out for you all. I hope you liked it. More stuff to come. I'll try to update once more today, but I can't promise.