Disclaimer: Same crap as before . . .

Author's Note: This part is in 3rd Person point of view, through Ginny's eyes. I hope it's not too confusing for you . . .

Twenty-One

Dear Ginny,

I don't know what I'd do without you. I mean, you're probably never going to read this, because if you're as angry at me as everyone else is, you're never going to speak to me again. At least I have a way to get my feelings out without the trouble of knowing my words could be spread throughout the school.

My whole life, he has acknowledged me as Hermione, the know-it-all; Hermione, the Muggle-Born whom Malfoy makes fun of; Hermione, the bookworm. It was never anything more than that. I didn't want to love him as more than what I did. I didn't want to give him a reason to love me back. I guess everything took over and I lost myself in my quest.

You've been there with me the entire time. You were like my diary – someone I could tell all my thoughts and feelings to. And you've kept my secrets for all this time. You've known about how I feel about your brother, and I can trust that every time I said something mushy and lovey-dovey about him or whatever, you'd hurl inside. But at the same time, you tolerated all my love talk. Now, before I leave this school a wise young woman ready to face the world as an adult, I need you one last time.

What did I do wrong?

Well, that's a stupid question. I know exactly what I did wrong. The first thing I did wrong was to break up with Ron in the first place. Well, maybe that was okay. After all, I was only thirteen, and we were bound to break up sometime.

The second thing I did wrong was to start going out with Malfoy. You knew about Operation Jealousy, and I know you didn't approve of it, but you went along with me anyways. I was a stupid, lovesick fool who was too blind to see what I had. I could have just looked across the room and seen him standing there and known that everything would be okay, but I wasn't that smart.

The third thing I did wrong was to take it as far as I did. It was bad enough that I went out with Malfoy in the first place, but I didn't have to let Malfoy corrupt my life. I mean, I let the bastard (yes, I did just cuss) make fun of the person I was trying to get in the first place! That was probably the stupidest thing I've ever done. And now, it's all over.

Harry hates me because I hurt Ron. Malfoy doesn't hate me exactly, but he cheated on me, and that's a huge blow to the pride. I'm not sure if you hate me, but if you're following along with everyone else's example, you definitely do. All the Gryffindors hated me to begin with because I dared kiss a Slytherin, and worse, that Slytherin was Malfoy. And, of course, Ron hates me. Do I even need to say why?

I suppose that's all I can say without going into the details. I just want to make it clear that I realize how truly wrong I was, and how in dating Malfoy, I lost the most faithful lover and the truest friend I could ever have. So if I leave this school a sad young woman who keeps to herself, you'll know that I've always appreciated you, and you'll know that no matter what happened this year, I am still the same person inside.

Love always,

Hermione

Upon reading the letter that was placed on her bed that morning, Ginny Weasley was torn. She wanted to help her friend, but she also wanted to stay true to her brother's wishes, which were clear that he did not want anyone associating with Hermione. After all, she had broken his heart. What was she to do? The letter cried out to her, as though her friend was pleading for her assistance.

"Ginny? What are you doing up there?" a voice called from the Common Room. It was a voice she recognized as Harry's.

"I'll be down in a minute!"

"Hurry up!"

Hastily, Ginny threw the creased piece of parchment into the pocket of her robes, fixed her hair in the mirror, and ran downstairs to join her beau.

"What took you so long?" Harry asked in a hushed tone. "I've been waiting for you."

Ginny smiled to herself and said, "I just had a note on my bed I was reading."

"From whom?" Harry asked.

She smiled again, put a finger to his lips and said, "Never you mind. Now, are we going to go outside or aren't we?"

"Of course we are. Here, put the Cloak on. Remember, this is against school rules . . . it's long after dark . . ."

Harry threw the cloak over Ginny and together they snuck out of the castle. As they walked, Ginny felt Harry's hand on her back, guiding her through the castle. She knew the way, of course – she had been out a couple of times with Michael Corner. Of course, they hadn't gotten far since they had no Invisibility Cloak, but she still knew the way. She didn't mind him guiding her, though – she liked his presence.

They broke out of the castle as quietly as they could and closed the large doors behind them.

"We're out," Harry murmured. "Nice sneaking. No offense, but I didn't think you'd be able to keep quiet."

"Hey!" Ginny cried, slapping his arm playfully.

"Come on; let's get farther away from here. We don't want to be seen by one of the teachers through a window or something," Harry said. He took off the Cloak so that it would be easier to run. Gently, he took her hand and brought her far away towards the lake where no one could see them.

Once they reached the lake, Harry took out his wand and conjured a large blanket. He motioned for her to sit and said, "Ladies first."

Ginny giggled and said, "Why, thank you, young man." She plopped herself down on the blanket, and he sat down next to her. She slid over closer to him and gently laid her head on his shoulder.

"Oh, Harry, I didn't think we'd ever get together. Especially after my first year," she sighed.

"Well, you said you'd gotten over me just when I started to realize I liked you, so I didn't have the courage to do anything about it. And then the dance came, and you were dateless, and so I just . . . I dunno, I guess I just got brave. I'll tell you, Ginny, of all the scary situations I've been in, asking you out was the scariest," Harry replied.

"Really? Why?" Ginny asked.

"Well, I didn't know if you'd say yes. Do you know how nerve-wracking that is, standing there and wondering if you will be rejected or not? It's a huge blow to the pride if you are. I know, trust me," Harry said, recalling the time in his fourth year when he asked Cho Chang to the Yule Ball.

"Well, Mister Potter, I am quite glad you overcame your fears," Ginny said.

Harry smiled gently and looked deeply into her eyes. This was truly what he wanted. He leaned into her and kissed her. She accepted his kiss, and even kissed him back. He put his hand on her neck and compelled her to keep going, and she did.

Once it was over, he laid down on the grass and Ginny laid her head on his chest. She felt the gentle rise and fall, the steady pulsation of his heartbeat.

"Oh, I dunno what we're going to do if your brother finds out," Harry murmured.

"Honestly, I thought he'd be okay with it, but after the way he looked at us at the Ball . . ." Ginny continued.

Suddenly, she remembered the note in her pocket. She sat bolt upright so quickly that Harry jumped.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Speaking of Ron, I need you to read something," Ginny said, whipping the note from her pocket. She threw it to Harry, who read it with wide eyes.

"Hermione wrote this?" he asked. Ginny nodded and Harry said, "Wow. She went out with Malfoy to make Ron jealous? And you knew about it? Why didn't you stop it?"

"Because. I just wanted her to be happy. She was so intent on doing this. It wasn't necessarily Malfoy she was going to go out with. It was just that he asked her out at the Ball, and she thought it would be the perfect opportunity. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen," Ginny said quietly. "I feel like I should show this to Ron, but . . . I dunno. I'm afraid Hermione will be mad at me."

"She doesn't have to know," Harry said deviously.

"What?"

"We just tell Ron to read it, but not to mention it to Hermione. He'll keep his word. I agree with you that he has to read it – maybe he can patch up the hole they ripped in their friendship."

Ginny stared at him and said, "Wow. That was really poetic, Harry."

"You didn't know I went that deep, huh?"

"No, I didn't."

Harry sighed and said, "Well, we'll give it to him in the morning. For now, let's just worry about us."

Ginny pocketed the note and laid back down on Harry's chest. This was why she loved him – he was always able to help her out with her problems, even if they seemed petty to him.

"This is definitely the most pleasurable position I have ever taken," she murmured.