Chapter 47

"Hermione!"

The librarian turned at the sound of the familiar voice. Jogging down the hall, Ginny Weasley hurried to catch up. She came to a halt beside one of the clear glass windows. Outside, the sun was beginning to set.

"I've been looking all over for you. I wanted to apologize for earlier. It's just that, well, Neville and I..." Ginny trailed off suddenly looking awkward and embarrassed.

Taking a sharp intake of breath, Hermione tried to not immediately snap at her friend. She was still a bit irritated about earlier, not to mention embarrassed for her own sake. She didn't like coming across people who were only moments away from stripping. All right, they weren't, she reminded herself. But I still didn't like it.

"It was just when he wrote me that he was coming here and I had to be here for the baby shower anyway, it seemed like a good idea to see each other. The library was the one place we could make up a story about why we were both there and..." She sighed. "We got caught up in the moment. We didn't expect there to be anyone in the library at the time. Normally there isn't anyone besides the librarian, which is now you, in there. We didn't think; we just acted. We hadn't seen each other in two weeks, it just happened. I'm sorry you caught us like that and I'm really sorry about the little girl. I didn't realize there was anyone that young here."

Ginny looked down at Hermione trying to read the other woman's face. For a moment it looked like Hermione was going to give into her urge to lecture, instead she simply sighed heavily.

"I can understand wanting to be close to your boyfriend," she said calmly. Then her expression changed to perplexed. "Incidentally, how long have you two been dating?" Hermione stared at her friend.

"About two years. It's been on again, off again, but I think he's serious this time," Ginny answered.

"And no one knew?"

Ginny shook her head.

"We didn't think his grandmother would approve, so we hid it from everyone to be on the safe side until Neville had established himself and could get away from his grandmother's influence. That is one scary woman. Even Professor Snape would be terrified of her," the red head joked, trying to make the situation less tense.

"Well, we've all had our share of secrets," Hermione muttered. Shaking her head, she sorted out what she was going to say next so that it didn't sound too harsh. "That still doesn't make the fact that you two were making out in the library any better. Now I know," she held up her hand for silence as Ginny started to defend herself. "That it's hard to be separated from your boyfriend. Merlin knows Viktor and I did our share of cuddling and kissing when I first got to Bulgaria this summer. But we did it in private, for the most part, or places that were acceptable for us like clubs and discos. There was little danger that a spying five and a half-year-old or even a stray First year or two would find us. Ginny, I don't want to tell you how to run your life, but I want to caution you about doing things in the appropriate places. We're not students here anymore, the things we got away with then we can't anymore."

"I know; I'm sorry, really sorry. Percy lit into us on it, and I pretty much expected the same from you. Thanks for not screaming." Ginny sounded regretful, if not a bit irritated, Hermione realized. Whether she was irritated at being lectured or just the situation, she didn't know. "I'm just glad it was you and not Professor Snape who saw us," Ginny said after a minute. "Neville and I promise not to do anything like that again while we're here."

"Thank you. I'd rather not have the joy of explaining to Cassie why you weren't wearing your shirt." Hermione winked and smiled at last. The other woman chuckled.

"She's a cutie." Suddenly she frowned. "Natalie said she was Draco Malfoy's daughter and that he's the new DADA teacher."

Hermione nodded.

"So does this mean there is a new Mrs. Malfoy we need to be looking out for?" She was obviously worried that there might be a resurgence of old battles fought between her family and the Malfoys.

"No, just a Mr. Potter," Hermione assured. "Malfoy's not married."

Ginny looked confused. She opened her mouth to say something, but Hermione grabbed her arm and lead her down the corridor.

"Come with me, we'll go see Harry, he'll explain everything."