CHAPTER 3

Saturday, 6th September – the common room, 5:31pm

Another day, another load of work. All completed of course. I unlike some persons who shall remain nameless (cough, cough) actually took advantage of the afternoon and completed all my schoolwork. I also managed to get through half my transfiguration extra work. As it turns out, each envelope is supposed to last for a month – not a week. A month! I don't know how they expect me to space that out, I managed to do half of it in three days. Speaking of which, apologies for not writing but it's been so hard to get a decent ten minutes on my own. What with school work and Lav and Pav and Ginny's boy troubles (more on that later), it's a wonder I've had time to breathe. Anyway, in regards to the extra credit stuff I'll have to be much more careful and pace myself over the next few weeks.

Well, I've rather a lot to say about Ginny – the fiery redhead actually came to me for advice this morning and usually it's the other way around. Anyway she collapsed next to me in an armchair and moaned, "Hermione! I need help!"

Of course, I kindly put all of my own inner struggles aside and said compassionately, "Ginny, whatever is the matter? It would be my greatest pleasure to help you sort out your angsty adolescent dramas." Well, no actually. What I really said was, "Yes, what?" a bit snappishly because I was up to a really good part of the book I was reading – I was revising the history of transforming charms and I was up to the bit where Frederic the Fetching starts to invent ways of turning his hamsters into hippopotami. Anyway, she got huffy and said, "Well fine, Miss Thing, I won't pour my heart out to you."

I immediately felt bad and apologised. She smiled and said, "No worries. What I was going to say was that I really, really, really need your help."

"Well, what about? If it's about schoolwork then I can draw you up a timetable-"

"No, it's not about school," she cut me off hurriedly. "It's about . . . well, it's actually to do with . . . um . . . Harry, actually." She blushed profusely.

Now I was very interested indeed.

I probed a little bit, "Ok. What seems to be the matter? You two aren't fighting, are you? You seem to be getting along perfectly amicably-"

Again, she cut me off. Ordinarily I would have been annoyed but this time I wasn't. "No, you see that's just it! We are getting along amicably. Like, friends. Just as friends." She sighed heavily. I could hardly keep myself from shrieking. I knew it! I knew she still liked him! And I had a feeling that he liked her too.

I said, "So I take your feelings for Harry have continued beyond the 'just friends' stage?"

"Yes!" she moaned. "And it's awful, absolutely awful! I like him so much but I know that he'll never like me because I'm younger than he is, and why would he want me? Harry likes girls who are smart and proper and poised, and I'm – not."

To be honest, I could vouch for that. Ginny was hot headed, impulsive, emotional and not a person you wanted to cross, but she had a heart of gold and was insanely loyal to her friends. She was also smart and bitingly funny, and in a moment of need, the exact person you'd hope to have on your side. In short, an ideal best friend – or girlfriend.

So anyway, I sat her down and said gently, "Look, Ginny. Whilst you are by no means prim or proper, you are still a wonderful, charming character and I'm sure that it's not out of the question that Harry might like you like that, one day. Maybe even he does already, who knows?"

As I said this, Ginny's eyes grew wide with elation. She said, "Do you really think so?"

I replied, "I don't see any reason to believe otherwise. If you want I can have a talk with him and see if there are any other girls he might like."

Ginny nearly fell off her seat. "Are you nuts? He'd guess it in a second! No, I absolutely forbid you to do anything of the sort."

"But I'd be subtle. I am after all the queen of subtle."

She snorted. I was mildly irritated.

"I still don't think it's a good idea. No, if you say a single word about this to ANYONE, least of all Harry, I'll . . ." suddenly a mad glint came into her eye, "I'll tell Ron that you like him."

This time, I actually did fall off my seat, much to the amusement of a few passing first-years. Ginny shot them a glare and helped me up. I spluttered, "WHAT! What are you talking about?"

She rolled her eyes dismissively. "You know. You. My brother. Hearts a-fluttering?"

UM, NO!

"Ginny, no! I don't like him, at least not like that!"

"Fine. I can see you need to work this out for yourself. I'll leave you to it and when you have decided that you do, let me know, ok?"

Right. Whatever.

Ugh, Ron the Snoopy One has just leaned over my shoulder and is trying to read what I'm writing – again. I asked him very politely to please not do that as I am trying to write (well I said something a little more to-the-point actually) and he got all huffy and was like, "You're not writing another letter to Vicky are you?"

At which point I actually got really annoyed – for real. Since when did he care about my personal life? (Well all the time, when Viktor was involved). But aside from that? Hmm? How about never! And why should he care anyway? It doesn't affect him!

He's leaning over me now, trying to talk to Harry who's making moony eyes at Ginny. Am I the only one who's picking up on this? Sometimes I think I live in a swamp – the only living organism with more than half a brain cell. Now, now Hermione, my brain is reprimanding me. We must not get uppity. It is not a becoming quality at all.

Anyway, Ron is still leaning over me – oh my gosh, what was that? It felt just like the bottom of my stomach just dropped out. I haven't got that feeling since I was a tiny little girl in third form, at my primary school, and I was nine or something. I had a massive thing for this boy called James Lockington, but our (not) relationship quickly ended after I saw him canoodling with Gwendolyn Hertforty outside the loos, when I went to clean myself up after some know-nothing incompetent twit spilt green paint on my blouse in arts and crafts. But anyway.

So, after that story, that point of it was to show that the feeling I just felt was possibly related to a romantic "interest" per say. But . . . Ron? Never! He's nice and all, but you know, he's Ron! Just because he's currently leaning over me, in close proximity to me, and I can smell his nice clean boy smell . . . oh dearie me. This really isn't good. Not at all. My heart and my stomach did that annoying twisty jumpy thing again. Oh, I know what it is! I'm just feeling a bit funny because of what Ginny was just going on about. Silly little flipperty gibbet that she is.

So . . . of course it's nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Isn't it!

Author's note: hi everyone! I'm sorry! ducks to avoid barrage of pointy things thrown at my head I know I've been awful . . . and slow. I have excuses but you probably don't care. And I'm also sorry for posting the same chapter twice! Silly accident of mine. Anyway, I'm back now and I will not ever be as slow updating again! Thanks to all my lovely reviewers, you guys are stellar and I cannot tell you how warm and fuzzy it makes me feel when I read all your nice things! If anyone has any stories of their own then I will happily read them and return the "Good Review" favour! Just let me know! Thanks again! Peace and love