AN: Hi! Here is the new chapter! It took some time, but I hope that you like it and give me a lot of feedback! I will try to have the next chapter up soon, but I can't promise anything…
Thank you to all of you who rewived on the last chapter and the AN. You helped me a lot! A special thanks to LadyKnight, Thank you!
Thanks to my beta Aavander.
Chapter XIV
Hermione was still tired when she woke up the next morning. She replayed everything that the voice had said over and over in her head the night before and she hadn't slept to well. But at least she hadn't been in the dark place. She turned around. It was strange not to smell anything; she had always loved the smell of the air in the morning. It was the smell of a new day. A new day with new possibilities and new things to learn. It was pure and full of life. And now it was gone. She sighed and raised herself from the bed. It was a new day.
When Hermione came into the common room, after her last class, it was almost deserted. She sat down in a chair by the fire. She was exhausted. It was so hard to hide that she couldn't smell. It had been hard to hide her not eating, but this was worse. She didn't know why she was hiding it from everyone, but she just didn't want anyone to find out. She didn't want them to feel pity for her. She didn't need their pity. And she could not tell anyone else. Especially not after what had happened the last time she was in the dark. She had to sort this out before she told anyone.
Ginny came into the common room and looked around. When she spotted Hermione, she came and sat down next to her. She sighed. Hermione smiled.
"Bad day?" She asked.
"Yes, I'm really tired. I met Malfoy at lunch break and Ron spotted us and now he is mad at me. I don't like it when he is mad at me." She got a strong look in her eyes. "But I won't back down on this one. I want to help you!" She smiled at Hermione. Hermione smiled back at her and gave her a hug.
When they broke apart she said, "I will talk to Ron."
"Thanks"
Ginny closed her eyes and sat back in the sofa. They sat a while in silence. Both had enough with their own thoughts. Then Ginny sat up.
"I forgot! I have a plan."
"What?" Hermione sat up and faced Ginny.
"I think I am starting to get something from Malfoy."
"How?"
"Well... I think I know have I can get the antidote. The only way for me to get it is if he gives it to me or if I go to his house and nick it, right?"
"I guess?" Hermione looked questioningly at her.
"And we both agree that he is not going to just give me the potion. So I need to get an invitation to his house."
"Yes, but how is you going to manage that?"
"I think that the only reason he is hanging out with me is that he want to get himself shagged. And irritate Ron." She added like an afterthought. "Let's be real. It can't be any other reason. So if I say I won't do anything with him at school, he will have no other option that to invite me to his house."
Hermione looked at Ginny
"But Ginny, you don't... I mean you can't do that for me. I don't want you to, to, to..."
"Don't worry Mione. I won't do anything. I will just go there, get the antidote and get out again. Nothing more."
"Okay. But I still don't think you have a chance. I am sure the place the Malfoy's keep their potions is closed of and guarded."
Ginny smiled a sad smile. "I know, but I will try. I will try it for you."
Hermione sat in the common room all night. Ginny went to bed early and no one else was disturbing her. Ron and Harry was out and playing Quidditch and when they comedy back she had almost fallen asleep in her chair. Actually she had said to herself that she didn't want to fall asleep. She didn't want to go back to the dark place and right now. She felt more like talking then sleeping. Ron and Harry sat down on both sides of her. She smiled to them and said, "How was your Quidditch?"
"It was nice. How are you? You look a little tired," Harry looked at her with concern in his eyes.
"I am fine," Hermione smiled back, and then she turned to Ron.
"Ron, you have to leave your sister alone."
"What?"
"You heard me."
"But look at the way she is behaves..."
"I don't care how she is behaving. She is trying to do something good and you are making it even harder for her."
"But you should have seen her and Malfoy today. They were..."
"I don't care Ronald." Hermione crossed her arms and made it clear that it was nothing to discuss. "It goes in on her that you are mad at her." Her eyes soften. "She loves you, you know that?"
"Yes, I know." Ron looked down. "I love her too. That's why it is so hard to see her with Malfoy. I am afraid that she will fall for his charm and that he will hurt her."
"She is a big girl now; she can take care of herself. She knows what she is doing. We talked about it and she has no illusions about her relationship with Malfoy."
"That's good." Ron looked up in Hermione's eyes, "I will try not to be mad at her, I really will."
"That's all I can ask."
Ron sat silent for a moment then he got up and said. " I think I will go to bed. I'm tired."
"Goodnight Ron," Hermione said
"Night."
Hermione and Harry sat quiet after Ron had left them. Hermione had her own thoughts to worry about and Harry sat and looked at her. At least Harry broke the silence.
"A penny for your thoughts." He smiled. Hermione smiled back.
"It is nothing. It is stupid really. I… I just… " She sighted."I just have too many thoughts and everything just spinning in my head."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, not really. I just want to forget all about it."
"Do you want to play chess?" Harry asked.
"Okay." Hermione smiled, "But you know I am really bad."
"That doesn't matter. We don't play to win." He grinned. "Or at least you don't."
"Very funny." She sat up the game and sat down on the floor next to it, "Just sit down and play and we will see who wins in the end."
Hermione smiled. It was wonderful to just forget everything and play a game with Harry. It was all she needed right now. Harry smiled to and sat down opposite of her.
"Yes we'll see. Must the best man win."
"Woman."
"Okey, must the best man or woman win."
"That's better."
AN
Love