Chapter 13: It was a Thursday

It was a Thursday the first time it happened. Hermione and Ginny were sitting at Gryffindor table, working. Harry and Ron were a few seats away, Harry sitting between Ron and Hermione. As Hermione sat there, she wasn't really working, but rather daydreaming. Of course, no one noticed. Except Ginny. She had been watching Hermione closely ever since New Year's Day. And Ginny was watching Hermione daydream while thinking. She startled everyone by suddenly speaking.

"Well, see you later guys. I want to get in some flying time before it gets too dark." She was speaking to everyone, but looking straight at Hermione. She, of course, didn't let on to anything, but the wheels were turning and Ginny knew it. After a moment of panic, she went back to her book, deciding she couldn't possibly know. How could she?

It was a Saturday the second time it happened. It was a Hogsmeade weekend, and Hermione was with Harry and Ginny (Ron was in the hospital wing after an attack from a plant). In the middle of the conversation, Ginny stood up and backed up.

"Do you mind if we leave early? I was hoping you could practice with me, Harry."

"Sorry, I can't. I have to 'brief' Ron on the classes he missed. Is there someone else you could ask?"

"Well, I would ask Hermione, but she doesn't like flying." She cast a glance at Hermione before looking back to Harry.

"Oh, sorry Gin. You know how bad I am." She smiled sheepishly on the outside while going crazy with worry on the inside. She knew. There was no way that she couldn't know, not with all that she'd said. She would have to do something about it. The problem was, she didn't know what.

It was three days later when Hermione finally concluded the best way to deal with it was head-on confrontation. Really, that was only plan she could come up with, and she didn't want to tell Draco about it. Since Ron was still mad at her, she decided to just ask Ginny if she wanted to eat lunch in her common room, and they could talk then. Once there however, she didn't know how to begin. Thankfully, Ginny saved her the trouble by starting out.

"I'll be honest. I was really shocked to see you flying. Even more shocked when I realized that you were with a boy. But what shocked me the most was that you seemed to love it. And you told me you hated it. I'm assuming you were with the boy you let slip in Hogsmeade that one day."

Hermione heaved a sigh of relief. Ginny didn't know it was Draco. It was all okay then.

"So, you don't know who it is, right?"

"No, it was too dark. I didn't believe it was you until I heard you laughing. I was hoping you would trust me enough to tell me who it is." She looked at Hermione imploringly.

"Well, Ginny, it's not that I don't trust you…it's just…Okay, yes it's because I don't trust you, but it's not your fault! I want you to be sure about that, it's all me. I'm sorry, but I'm just not ready Gin."

"But you trust with guy? Enough to fly with him?" She sounded hurt.

"Yes, but that's only because we wrote so many letters this summer, and we just… we live the same lives. I mean, I can tell him things I can't tell you because you wouldn't understand, and he does."

"And how do you know I won't?"

"Because you're a genuine person. Your eyes are open to the world, and mine aren't. Ever."

"So what, you're saying you're not genuine?"

"To a point I am. I'm just saying, you don't see all of me. The parts you do see are real most of the time, but you don't see it all. Do you get what I'm trying to say?"

"I think so. Hermione, please. I want you to trust me. I want you to trust me with everything. Anything. No matter what it is."

"Ginny, it's just, it's like a moon flower. It's such a beautiful flower, and you can't only see it in the darkest night. I have a dark side that brings out the flower. And he's the only one to see it. To want to see it."

Just as Ginny was about to reply, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Hermione exhaled.

"Well, we'll talk later, right? We should get going."

"Yeah." Ginny's reply came out as a sigh.

Soon enough, it was nearly time for Easter Break. And Hermione had very carefully avoided the subject of Draco. Hermione had come to a decision though. Even if she wasn't quite ready to talk about it, she would tell Ginny. Even if she didn't want to, she had too. Hermione had come to the conclusion that if she didn't let Ginny in; Ginny would start to pull away. And seeing as Ginny was one of the two truest friends she had, she really didn't want her to leave. She came to this conclusion the same night Draco started a very casual conversation while sitting on the couch.

"So…what are you doing for break?"

"Reading. Outside. Ron hasn't apologized and I refuse too, and I'm always telling myself I need to spend more time outside. What are you doing?"

"My mother wants me to come home."

"Oh."

He started to play with her fingers. Soon after they got together, he discovered that she could bend her thumb into a ninety-degree angle backwards, and she discovered that he liked to play with her fingers whenever he was nervous.

"So…Did you want to maybe come to my house for break? He tried to play it down by speaking casually, but it didn't really work, as it was such a big thing. Of course, Hermione, being the same, replied as if she was speaking about the weather they were having.

"Sure."

"Cool."

They went back to being silent.

A week later, Hermione was standing in front of the barrier between Platform 9 and ¾ and the muggle world. Hermione was thrilled to be going to Draco's house and was having a hard time hiding it. The train ride had gone surprisingly well, only interrupted once by Draco's snide comments. Mr. And Mrs. Weasely had met them at the station, and Hermione had to tell them quite a tail about her cousins picking her up (it's really annoying how they're always late!) before Mrs. Weasely felt alright with leaving her there. Just as they were leaving, Hermione pulled Ginny in for a hug. Quietly, she whispered into her ear.

"It's Malfoy."

She pulled away, and gave Ginny a significant look, and had the pleasure of laughing when Ginny realized just what she was talking about. She turned her back on a stunned Ginny and acted like she was going to the bathroom. Once in there though, she made sure no one was there, and shrunk her luggage. Then she got into a stall, and apparated to the bathroom stall of a small café. Going to the front part, she immediately saw Draco sitting at a table, looking dubiously around him. She sat down without even looking at him.

"Sorry I was late. They didn't want to leave me."

"It's fine. Let's get going." They stood together and Hermione followed him out to a black Bentley. He opened the door for her and then got in from the other side. Once he told the driver to go, he noticed Hermione was shaking. Upon closer inspection, he discovered she was shaking with silent laughter. A second later, she erupted with giggles.

"What's so funny?" He managed to catch 'nothing' between the peals of laughter.

"Then why are you laughing?" Understanding nothing she was trying to say, he just said.

"You can tell me after you've stopped."

This only made her laugh harder. Draco sighed, then told the driver to turn the radio on. Five minutes later, Hermione suddenly stopped laughing and then shushed Draco when he tried to talk.

"Oh, turn it up! I love this song!" When she started belting out the notes, he understood why he was shushed. Soon the song was over, and she told the driver he could turn it down.

"Man, I love that song."

"Yeah…" Draco wasn't sure what to say.

"So anyway, I was laughing because it was just so quiet, and I'm just so happy, and it just happens.

"Ohhh…" He nodded in understanding.

"Yeah."

They had pulled into a large stone roundabout driveway. And looming before them was a large, beautiful house. Draco stepped out and arrived just in time to finish opening the door for Hermione and offered her his hand. Taking it, Hermione continued to stare at the house while muttering her thanks. Still holding her hand, he led her up to the door, and just before they entered, he squeezed her hand in reassurance.

"Don't be nervous. She'll love you."

Op, that's the end. Next chapter, Ginny and Hermione will talk, and Hermione meets Narcissa. Sorry about the wait you guys. I really didn't mean it. I tried updating Memorial Day weekend, but something was wrong, and today was the first day actually let me log in. I'll type up 14 tomorrow. I only have to go into school on the last day for 1 block. And you can bet your ass I'll be wearing pj's. Well, night!

Dizzy