A/N: Well, here's the second chapter! It's also a bit on the shorter side, but you'll have to deal with that for the first few chapters as I catch up to where we left in Ginny's POV. On the plus side, it means I'll probably update more quickly!
Since Ron admitted his feelings for Lavender, things have been difficult for me. It's true what they say...that ignorance is bliss. Things were easier before, because at least then I could imagine that Ron liked me back. Now I know how Ginny felt all those years with Harry. It's painful.
Ginny's lucky though. It looks like things are finally starting to work out with her and Harry. I've seen them hiding out in the library lately, heads close together and speaking in low whispers. I've seen the way they joke around and playfully push each other at dinner. And I've seen the looks. Ginny's looking at Harry, not quite the way she used to, but the same longing with a touch of new maturity. I know that she still loves him, even if she denies it. And Harry...well, the continually surprised look on his face is really entertaining. It's like he's seeing Ginny in an entirely new light and isn't quite sure how to react to it.
I thought that Ginny would bring up the new developments in her relationship with Harry on her own. But when days went by and she didn't talk about it with me I was surprised. I would've figured that she'd be bouncing off the walls. Finally I decided to bring it up myself. I cornered her in the sixth year girl's dormitory one night after dinner.
"So, what's going on between you and Harry?" I asked with a grin. If I couldn't have my own romance I planned on living vicariously through Ginny's.
"Nothing," she replied with a straight face, "What are you on about?"
Why was she trying to keep it a secret?
"All those hours you two spend in the library these days, studying," I said pointedly. I knew that I was right when I saw the shocked look on her face. I was about to start asking questions like 'When did it first happen?', 'Has he kissed you yet?', and 'When are you going to tell Ron?' when all of the sudden I realized the reason that Harry and Ginny were keeping their relationship secret. Ron.
"I won't tell Ron if that's what you're worried about," I quickly added, "though I don't think that he's as against the idea as you might assume."
It was true. Ron would probably be overjoyed if Harry and Ginny started going out. After all, he's been wanting them to get together since the end of our fifth year. One time, after he'd tried some subtle hinting that had backfired and convinced Harry that Ron thought he should ask out Luna, of all people, I asked Ron why he thought that Harry and Ginny should end up together.
"Well," he'd said thoughtfully, "Ginny's my sister. She's loved Harry since she set eyes on him, but she still doesn't cut him any slack. She understands him, sometimes better than we do, because of the whole thing second year...Harry needs somebody to love him and Ginny has lots of love to give. She deserves the best and Harry's it."
But back to my conversation with Ginny -
"Wait. Me and Harry?," she sputtered, "Hermione, you've got this all wrong. Me and Harry aren't together. Good lord, like he'd...anyway, that's not what it is at all. We've just been looking up new plays for Quidditch. Slytherin's got an especially strong team this year and - "
Ginny's an exceptionally good liar- she's got a lot of Fred and George's mischievousness in her- but I wasn't fooled.
"Ginny," I said as I held up a hand to stop her protests, "You don't have to make things up. I just wanted to say that I'm happy for you. I can only imagine what it must feel like to finally be together with the guy you've always wanted."
And I had imagined it. Often. I'd imagined what it would be like to hold hands with Ron as we walked into class. I'd imagined stopping our fights by kissing him in the middle of a sentence. I'd imagined going to Hogsmeade with Ron, not as friends, but as something more. Sometimes as we sat in the Three Broomsticks drinking butterbeer I'd even go so far as to imagine that it wasn't the four of us just sitting there having a good time, but me and Ron on a double date with Ginny and Harry. It's amazing how easily someone can give in to imagination if they want it badly enough. I'm sure that some people speculate that the reason I throw myself into my studies is that I want to control what happens, control life. In reality all I really want to do is escape it.
"Hermione," Ginny's voice broke me from my thoughts, "What makes you think that there's something going on between me and Harry?"
I was surprised by the way that Ginny worded the question, but if she wanted reassurance, I'd give it to her.
"Well," I replied, "It's the way that he's been looking at you lately I guess, as if there were something about you that quite surprised him. And the way that you always get that sparkle in your eyes when he comes in the room. Plus," I added with a smile, "if you want to hide it you've got to come up with something better than going off to the library for hours. Everybody knows you both hate to study and Quidditch won't start up for another month. Good try though."
And with that I walked out of the room, leaving a stunned Ginny behind me.
A/N: I'm looking forward to reading your comments!
aschowin - Thanks for saying that you're impressed with my stories...it does wonders for my self esteem ;) As for the different POVs, it is a bit more difficult to write some characters than others, but I like the challenge.
Britt Davis - Sorry that it makes you sad, but don't worry, it won't end up that way. I'm a huge H/R fan myself and I couldn't let them end up unhappy, could I?
FreckledIrishMaiden - I'm glad that you like how the story is done in 4 parts and that you think it's awesome. It's fun to write and reveal details that make sense of why characters reacted certain ways earlier in the story.
CoPaCaBaNa - I know that you want them together, but you'll have to be patient ;). Rest assured though that I'm the type of girl that loves a happy ending.
Carrie Weasley - Here you go ;)
eedoe - I agree that Hermione often puts on a brave face for things because she doesn't like to admit to others that she's been hurt. I also believe that Hermione and Ginny are close, after all I'm sure they can relate to each other well with everything that happened and there are some things that Hermione just can't talk to Ron and Harry about. Plus, there are hints that they talk a lot more than is shown, like how Hermione knew about the whole Michael Corner thing. Glad you liked Harry's reaction and how it subtly gave the answer to her question. If only Ron hadn't been an idiot about the whole thing right? As for your guess as to what happened after Hermione left the room, that's exactly how I'd write their reactions too. As always, I love to hear from you.
BballShorty118848 - It was great to get all of your reviews (including the ones for the other stories). Thanks a lot for the compliments. I'm looking forward to hearing from you again.
Essie - I think you figured out Hermione's issue exactly - Hermione's emotionally involved and therefore isn't as observant and rational as usual. As for the short chapters, I'm just doing that to catch up to the point where I left off in the last story. Don't worry, they'll get longer. It's nice to hear that you're looking forward Harry's POV. I'm looking forward to writing it. I tend to prefer H/G fics myself (those are the ones I usually write), though I also like the R/Hr dynamic. I'm looking forward to your comments.
dreamy-crazygirl - Yep, she has no clue. Glad you're liking it. :)
J.Rhaye - I think it's always the case that you realize things about other people's relationships and personal reactions that you don't see in your own. Hermione will eventually let up on Ginny, but it will take a while. We still need to go through her experience of the events and move on to the detention. Glad you liked the beginning of the story and thanks for saying that my stories are cool. :) I love getting your reviews.
Bitter Cocoa - Hope this wasn't too long of a wait ;).
MonicaChandler4Ever - I'm glad you like my fic. I'm also a big fan of friends and esp. the relationship between Monica and Chandler. Hope you liked this next chapter!
eckles - Thanks for the compliment!
x Confused Girl x - Thank you so much for the compliments. I'm really glad that you like my stories and have been anticipating this one. It is sad so far, but I'm a sucker for a happy ending so you don't have to worry too much ;)
Sad Strange Little Girl - Glad you love it! Hope you liked this chapter too. :)
Marauder Angel - Thanks!
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