Chapter Seven: Strange Emotions
"Hermione?"
Moonlight spilled in through the windows. It must have been at least two in the morning.
Hermione made no attempt to show she had heard Ginny.
"I know you're awake, Hermy," said Ginny, purposely using the name Hermione hated being called by; Hermione twitched, "So I'm just going to say it: I know you're jealous. And don't even try to hide it."
Hermione still didn't answer. She stared at the floor where a pool of moonlight lay.
"And I know you know what that green-eyed monster is. And no, I don't mean Harry when he's had only three hours of sleep." Hermione fought the urge to laugh; Ginny continued, "Hermione, just know that I'm here if you need someone to talk to. Alright?"
Hermione nodded, despite her effort of hiding any sign that she was awake.
"Well, good-night."
"Night, Gin."
Ginny smiled and closed her eyes.
--
"Is it my turn yet?"
"Five more minutes."
"You said that five minutes ago." Madison pointed out.
"Fine then. Ten more minutes" Haley said absently.
"Hale-ey!" Madison stomped her foot.'
"Oh what are you going to do on it? Listen to Phantom of the Opera? You already have your cd." Haley retorted.
"Okay, I might have been aiming to do that. But that isn't the point. You've been on for two whole hours already!"
"I have things to do on it, that's why."
"When are you two going to get off the internet?" said Ginny.
"I'm not on! Haley is. She's been on for two hours!" Madison cried indignantly.
"Haley, don't you think you should do something else?"
"Like what?" said Haley distractedly.
"Like-" began Ginny, but she was interrupted by the door of their room bursting open and Dean and Seamus bounding in.
"What's up?" said Dean casually, flopping onto the bed.
"What are you doing in here?" demanded Ginny angrily.
"What? We're not allowed to say 'hi'?" said Seamus, sitting on the desk next to the computer, "That hurts."
"Well, you aren't supposed to be in here." Ginny said pointedly.
"Well," said Dean, mimicking Ginny; Seamus laughed, "We just came in to invite you to go somewhere with us, but--" he continued, ignoring the look of interest on Ginny's and Madison's faces, "--seeing as you don't like us in your company, I guess we'll just have to leave. Come along, Seamus."
"See ya." Seamus waved to them all, and he followed Dean toward the door.
"Wait!" said Madison. "Where did you have in mind?"
Luna looked up interestedly from painting her nails a bright yellow. Hermione continued to read her book, but her eyes weren't moving.
"We were going to hang out by the pool. We're having a little party type thing. You know, drinks, food, etc. etc."
"When?" said Luna, concerned.
"Party starts at eight. Pick you up at seven thirty." said Dean, and he and Seamus strolled heedlessly out of the room.
"What time is it?" said Madison the instant they had left.
"Two." replied Haley, looking at the clock on the computer.
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
"What am I going to wear?"
"Hmm…A party by the pool. I have no idea what you would wear when you might be swimming. What do you think?"
Madison rolled her eyes, "That's not what I mean."
While they continued to have their discussion about what Madison should wear, Ginny went over to Hermione.
"You coming?" Ginny asked her, sitting down opposite her.
Hermione gazed thoughtfully at the bottle of banana nail polish Luna was still using.
"Yeah." she looked up at Ginny, "Yeah, I think I'll go."
(A/N: This is probably the shortest chapter. I know I say that a lot, but it is, isn't it? Well, there was going to be more, but I decided to split it up into two chapters, because Hermione has certain feelings that are quite different in each chapter. So I couldn't really sum it up into one chapter. Well, I guess I could… But it wouldn't be the same. Any who, the next chapter should be up almost immediately. If I'm correct, it should be only a little longer than this. Thanks for the support from all my reviewers!)