There should be a little bit more plot development in this chapter. I'm sorry if it seems slow moving but I want to put quite a lot into this fic and I don't want it to be rushed.

I wake in the morning, still holding her close. Her head is nuzzled into my shoulder and she is curled up, still clinging to me. We're lying on one of the old couches in the corner of the common room and I see that the fire is now just glowing embers in the grate.

Ginny stirs slightly and tries to pull me closer to her. I suddenly notice that her right hand is curled gently around my waist and I feel the blood start to rush to my cheeks at the feeling that it gives me. I think about moving, either her or myself, but I couldn't bare to wake her up when she seems so peaceful compared to the night before. I just content myself with watching her sleep.

After about half an hour, I feel her waking up and I pretend to sleep so that she won't wonder what I've been doing. She pulls her arms tighter round me and starts to rub my back slowly and gently. I can feel that her face is still against my shoulder and so I'm not sure if she's actually realised who I am. She starts to nuzzle my neck and I have to try very hard to control the shivers that would otherwise be coursing through my body.

I go through the motions of waking up and try to shrink away from her but she continues kissing my neck. I yawn quietly and at this she stops and starts to look up at me.

'Hmmmm…' she sounds like she is still half asleep, 'Morning Sa…. Mione?'

She almost falls off the couch when she sees me and I can tell that she is now completely awake.

'SHIT!' she looks confused and seems to be searching the room for some kind of explanation. 'Mione, shit, I'm sorry. I thought you were Samantha.' She buries her head in her hands.

'Who's Samantha?' I ask, full of a genuine need to know exactly WHO Ginny would wake up like THAT. I eye her suspiciously and she looks away, chewing her lip like she always does when she's nervous.

'She's… She's, erm, my…, my girlfriend.'

'Oh. I didn't know that you were seeing anyone. But then I guess I don't know much about you anymore. You're not exactly sharing here.'

'I…I…' She stammers, obviously getting more nervous but still, I don't relent.

'How long have you been going out?' I ask calmly, not looking at her as she might see the jealousy burning in my eyes.

'A week and a half'

She looks down at her feet and I realise why. It must have been that day, when I left her in the classroom. I feel much worse. I wasn't there for her when I should have been because I was being selfish and only thinking of myself. She hadn't been avoiding me: she' just found someone who cared enough to look after her when she needed it.

'Oh'

'Yeah'

She sighs and we both start to get up. Its still the early hours of the morning so I help Ginny gather her things and we both start to go to bed for a few precious hours of sleep.

We reach Ginny's floor and I'm about to continue up to my room when I feel her hand on my shoulder. I turn and see her smiling nervously at me. She slides her hand slowly down my arm and laces her fingers with mine. She finally gets the courage to look me right in the eyes as she speaks.

'Thank you Hermione, for last night. It was really special, thank you.' With this she smiles the first smile that I've seen in a while. 'I know I've been a bit distant recently and I owe you an explanation. I just can't tell you why at the moment, but I will, soon.'

She slips her hand out of mine and I see the door behind her open slowly. At first I think it's just her opening the door but I see arms snake around her waist and Ginny starts to giggle. I see a girl, who I am assuming is the 'Samantha' that I just found out about, with spiky black hair, trailing a line of kisses from Ginny's neck towards her ear. Just as Ginny starts to purr at the girl, Samantha notices me there and gives me a quizzical look. She stops what she is doing (much to Ginny's annoyance) and extends her hand to me. She rests her chin on Ginny's shoulder and smiles sweetly. I shake her hand with a smile, resisting all urges to scream or punch her in the face.

'Hi, I'm Samantha. You're Hermione, right?'

'Yeah, that's me. We were just talking about you' I try again to smile but I'm sure I just look very odd. 'Anyway, I was just saying goodnight, I'd better go to bed.'

I turn to leave but Ginny calls after me.

'Hey, Mione, you're coming to the Burrow for Christmas for, right?'

I turn round, grinning broadly.

'Of course I am!'

'Great!' exclaims Samantha, smiling sweetly again 'We'll have great fun.'

I turn and practically sprint up the stares, trying desperately to avoid hearing anymore giggling than necessary. God, I hate that girl right now.