Chapter 4
Back to Work
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Hermione's heart and head were racing so fast she felt like she was going to fall over from the excitement. 'I can't believe what just happened!' she told herself. 'That was so wonderful.'
Hermione was pacing her apartment, lost in thoughts of Ron and their encounter. She wasn't even aware of the time, or that it was completely pitch black around her. She kept touching her lips as if she could still feel his presence there, his caressing touch.
A loud crack was heard from the back of the apartment and Ginny came walking out of her room calling Hermione's name. As she walked down the hallway, she heard Ginny call "Ignatious." And all the lights turned on.
"Hermione? Are you home? How did your day go? Did you..." she stopped as she found Hermione pacing in the living room with an odd smile on her face.
"Are you okay, Hermione?" She asked slightly concerned. "Why are you grinning?"
Hermione stopped and smiled at Ginny. She took a few steps forward, put her hands on Ginny's shoulders, and shook her slightly. "He loves me. He said he loves me!"
Ginny looked slightly shocked at being shook but a grin started to spread across her face.
"No, way!" She exclaimed. "Ron? He said he loved you? What happened tonight? Did he kiss you? What did you say back to him? Come on Hermione…I need details!"
Hermione started to tell Ginny about what happened that night, every detail, every emotion that she felt; that she realized that she had feelings for him, all these years. Ginny just sat there, open jawed, as Hermione told her the story.
"Then, things were just starting to heat up but Harry came home. I feel bad because I just jumped up and left. I was too embarrassed to stay." Hermione finished.
Ginny giggled brightly and looked at Hermione. "Well, we both had great nights!"
"Oh, yeah? What did you do tonight?" Hermione asked, not really paying attention to her.
"Harry asked me out for dinner tomorrow night!" Ginny said with a large smile.
Hermione snapped out of her thoughts, "That's great, Ginny! I'm so happy for you! I knew he'd ask you soon!" Hermione said.
Hermione looked at the clock on wall. "Oh, my God! It's late; I have to work in the morning. I better get to bed, Ginny."
"Yeah, me too, I need to go into the office myself. Night, Hermione. Sweet dreams." Ginny said with a giggle.
After getting into her pajamas, and sliding into bed, Hermione still had the same goofy smile on her face that she had hours before. Thoughts of Ron ran through her mind as she drifted off to sleep.
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"Hey, Ginny? Did the owls return, yet?" Hermione asked as she crossed over to her desk and pulled out her chair.
"Three of them have; only one brought a reply back." Ginny said, handing Hermione the letter on her desk.
Hermione opened the letter and read it quickly, disappointment spreading across her face.
"Listen to this Ginny…" said Hermione as she held up the note and read it out loud.
Dear S.P.E.W.,
Thank you for your letter concerning your organization. In the past, supporting your cause and donating for various funding has been a top priority to me, I regret to inform you that I wish to part ways with our relationship. I feel that your cause is becoming stagnant and is no longer benefiting house elves like it once did. There is a new organization called E.N.U. (Elves Need Us) that I have decided to turn my donations to.
I do not regret this action and I hope you understand that I'm doing this to benefit elves, not to harm you.
Yours truly,
Alfred Stewart
Hermione crumpled up the paper and threw it across the room. She had to turn herself away from Ginny as tears started splashing down her front from the anger building in her. Ginny was standing in total shock looking at the now crumpled paper on the floor.
"I can't believe it. I just…I mean, what are we going to do, Hermione?" Ginny said, still in shock. "He was our biggest benefactor. We wouldn't even have this office if it wasn't for him. We can't keep this place without his support."
Hermione tried to compose herself as she turned to face Ginny. "I know Ginny! I don't know what were going to do. He was vital to S.P.E.W. He was the one who helped us get off the ground."
"And what's worse…" Started Hermione again. "He is giving another house elf group money? Who the hell started another group?"
"Lavender Brown did." Came Ron's voice from the door way.
"Hi, Ron. You're early." Hermione said, surprised at his arrival. "What do you mean, Lavender Brown? She started a house elf rights, group?"
"Yup, it's in today's Daily Prophet. Here, look for yourself." Ron said while tossing the paper to Hermione.
Ginny walked up beside Hermione and started reading over her shoulder.
S.P.E.W. Has Competition
Highly acclaimed House Elf rights group S.P.E.W. now has someone to contend with.
This past Monday, a new organization Elves Need Us (E.N.U.) opened its office doors in Hogsmead, above the renowned Madam Puddifoots Tea Room. One Miss Lavender Brown and her partner Dean Thomas have been working on getting their organization off the ground for almost a year now. When asked how they were finally able to open an office, Brown had to say:
"Thanks to an anonymous donation we now have enough money to get started! I couldn't be more excited!"
This reporter also wondered how they felt about there competition, S.P.E.W.
Thomas: "I don't feel like were in competition at all. In fact, I'm hoping that Ms. Granger and Ms. Weasley will be willing to work together with us, as a team."
Only time will tell how these two organizations work together; as long as they keep working for the same goal, things should work out for the best.
"She's such a sweet little thing isn't she?" Ginny said, frowning at the paper now clutched in Hermione's hand.
Ron looked just about as mad as Hermione and Ginny felt. "I know, I'm sorry you two. I had no idea that she even had an interest in this. She never mentioned it to me. I can't believe she did this. It's almost as if…as if…"
"As if she wanted to make me jealous." Hermione finished Ron's thought. "Why would she do this, and why Dean Thomas?"
"I think they're dating." Ginny said, weakly. "I think they hooked up after Ron broke up with her."
With Ginny's words, a stinging silence broke across the room, Hermione just glared at the floor, while Ron looked at her. On top of Ron's anger of what they just read in the paper, he couldn't help but feel a sudden tension between Hermione and him. Lavender had been Ron's last girlfriend and it had only been about four month's since he choose to leave her. He wasn't even sure why he dated her but had regretted it ever since. Lavender had always had a growing jealousy towards Hermione and now it seems she had taken her jealousy to new heights.
"Well…" started Ginny, for she had just realized her presence was unwelcome at the moment. "I think I'll step out for a coffee. I'll be back in a bit." She left the office.
The moment Ginny was gone, Hermione started to cry.
"Oh, Ron, what am I going to do? We lost most of our donation money and now we have to contend with another organization. What a great day it's starting out to be." She finished still crying.
"Hermione, it's ok. We will work everything out with the money. We will just have to look for more benefactors. I'll help you on my days off from Auror training. Like the Prophet said, if you two could work together, it will just mean more help for the house elves right?"
Ron could tell immediately that he had said the wrong thing. Hermione's tears doubled, and she turned away from him.
"You know what, Ron? You are still the same insensitive prat I've always known. I think I'll meet Ginny for a coffee. Bye." And with a small "pop" she was gone.