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 I own nothing but my ever decreasing sanity.

Sad isn't it?

Feel sorry for me?

Reviews help with the pain of knowing I don't own any of the characters you know.

And therapy helps with the delusions that I am the great j k Rowling, but that's a different story…

Authors note:  

So I was right about my exams, I only pasted one, but I'm over it now lol.

So anyways, I wanted a lot more to happen in this chap but it was just so long and I didn't get everything done so I stopped it at an appropriate place and you'll just have to wait till next month for the rest(cruel aren't I ? mwahahaha…). It hopefully won't be as waffle-y as I think it might be; I apologise if it is.

Anyway, not a lot of news; I have added a little one shot that I'd love to get some feed back on called potions[not very original title but still]. Might get another one up in the next month or two.

Thanks at the bottom

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see you all in a month.

Yeoldecrazy1 xxx

Chapter 7:

"Checkmate."

Harry looked down at the board to see his king hang his head in defeat.

"Why do I still play you? It's been six year and I never win, and I think I'm giving my monarchy an inferiority complex. They don't even put any effort into taking down the opposition anymore."

"It's the Gryffindor in ya Harry, refuses to give up. So do ya want another game or should we get stuck into that divination homework."

"Did you just suggest doing homework? Ok, who are you and what have you done with Ron?"

"Very funny. Ya know even though we make it all up that stuff still takes a while, can you imagine how long everyone else spends on theirs. I just want to get it over with so we don't have to worry about it."

"I think Hermione has started to rub off on you ya know. You're being all responsible."

Rolling his eyes Ron got up and headed over to where he'd dumped his bag at one of the desks, "If I was being responsible wouldn't I be doing it for real instead of making it up?"

"Yeah, I suppose, but if you start to talk about exams and revision then you're headed straight for saint mungos ya hear." Following his friend he too got out his books from where he had left them and the two of them sat down and began to plot their own gruesome deaths for their insane divination teacher.

Hermione, who was sitting on one of the couches reading a book, looked up with a confused expression on her face. Glancing around her she settled back and asked "Did someone say my name?"

Ginny, who was sitting in one of the chairs staring into the fire giggled. "Don't worry Hermione. They weren't talking to you; you can go back to reading your book now."

Glancing down at the book it her hands Hermione sighed, "It would take me five minutes just to figure out were I was." Placing her bookmark at the appropriate page (Hermione thinks it's disrespectful to the books to turn pages down) she closed it and set it by her bag. "So, what's up with you lately Ginny? We haven't really got the chance to chat lately."

Ginny gave a small smile and repositioned herself so she was facing Hermione more comfortably.

"Oh, not a lot; School, homework, dreaming of a life not yet lived (she overdramatically sighs and Hermione gives a small giggle), ya know, the usual. What about you?"

"Oh ya know, the usual; School, homework, stopping Harry and Ron from destroying the entire school. And of course the hard stuff, like keeping on top of my gruelling beauty regime. It takes time to look this good."

Hermione and Ginny's eyes met and the pair dissolved into laughter.

Hermione was the first to recover, "Oh it's been too long since I've talk to a female. Honestly, I love the guys but there's only so much Quidditch talk and chess a girl can listen to before she starts to lose all contact with her female side."

"I know what you're saying; I love Quidditch and chess as much as the next person…"

"Assuming the next person isn't Ron."

"Assuming the next person isn't my brother, of course, but I have a life beyond that and, well, every now and again a girl needs to go shopping. It has to be bad for your health if you go to long without a little gossip."

"Now Ginny, this is me we're talking about. I don't gossip."

Saying this Hermione grinned and Ginny grinned back. Ginny had found that when it was just her and Hermione she was a lot more comfortable, more on equal ground than an outsider, and she had found out something not even the boys knew about Hermione. The girl was very observant, she could tell you things about their classmates that would shock the nosiest gossipers, and tell she did, every single time Hermione knew something she would tell Ginny and Ginny would tell everyone else, but Hermione always insisted that she didn't gossip. Falling into their little routine Ginny regarded Hermione.

"Hermione. Sweetie. Yes you do. You may not be a gossip Queen like Lav and Par but you have been known to spread a bit of news, and I can honestly say that when you have gossip it's usually the best."

"I have never spread gossip Ginny! Name me one instance when I did." Hermione smiled, she was very good at rationalising away what she told Ginny so it wasn't gossip.

"Who told me about Seamus Finnegan secretly dating that Slytherin, Blaize whatever her name is at the end of last year? You know everyone thinks I always have the best gossip cause everything I tell them blows them away. But I get all my info from you."

Hermione looked shocked at the very thought which made a small giggle escape from Ginny, "I did not say that. All I said was that I saw them in the astronomy tower looking very comfortable around each other. I didn't say they were dating. You said they MUST be dating cause that was the only way they'd ever be anywhere near each other and I said you MIGHT be right. See, that isn't gossip, it's chatting and some speculation. And by the way her name is Blaize Zambini and for a Slytherin she's not that bad. (A gleam appeared in Hermione's eye and leaning forward slightly she said in a slightly lower voice)But I don't think their going out any more."

Ginny found herself leaning forward too, "Why do you say that, I thought they were inseparable? They seemed like their usual love sick selves at breakfast."

Hermione pondered this for a bit and then slowly, as if contemplating that she might be wrong said "I know, but on my to care of magical creatures I could have sworn that I saw Seamus holding Pansy Parkinson's hand and whispering something in her ear. I'm not saying there was anything to it but in the past… well… have you ever noticed that any guy Blaize dates ends up dating Pansy? All I'm saying is that it's quite a coincidence."

Ginny jumped up and pointed at Hermione and, trying to keep her voice down said "SEE!!!! No one sees these things until it's too late, but you always do. Wait until I tell G cubed (this is a cute little nickname I came up with for a group called "Gryffindor's Gossip Girls" hence G cubed, you like it?), they will totally love me for getting the scoop on this. So do ya think he's cheating on her or do ya think they broke up?"

"Well first of all I don't think its right for you to go spreading it around like that, for all we know it could be completely innocent. Although I don't think they broke up…yet."

Falling on the couch beside Hermione Ginny took hold of her and physically turned the girl around to face her. "WHAT!!!! Ok, that's it. Tell me what you know right now!"

Hermione looked hesitant as if she thought it was morally wrong to say anything but both she and Ginny knew she just enjoyed having power over her friend. "Well, Seamus and Blaize were standing beside each other in Care of Magical Creatures holding hands like normal, but Blaize kept shooting Pansy these horrid looks and Pansy was just staring back at her with this annoying smug look on her face."

"So what you, um, NOT saying is that if I told the girls now they could have a front row seat for the big break-up."

"GINNY!! That was NOT what I was suggesting. All I'm saying is that if they happened to be in the pairs vicinity around dinner they MIGHT see something, that is if there's anything to see."

"Of course, because we both know that you would never suggest anything like that."

The two girls looked at each other and smiled. Just then Ginny saw Hermione's dorm mates and quickly excused herself and ran over to them. The trio was saw huddled together for a few minutes while the room was sporadically interrupted with gasps from the two and startled shouts of "No!" After Ginny finished her tale the two fifth years looked at each other with identical gleams in their eye's, and as if they could read each other's mind they turned simultaneously and headed back towards the portrait hole.

Ginny returned to the couch and sat down with a sigh. Hermione looked over and had to smile at the look of smugness that Ginny wore.

"Happy?"

"Extremely, you have no idea how exhilarating it is to feed the rumour mill."

"Yes, well… So now that you've had your gossip fix what should we do."

"Catch up. You haven't told me about you summer yet. How did it all go? Where did you go this summer anyway?"

"Well, for the first month me and my parents went to France to visit some old friends there. After that my parents went to morocco and I went to Bulgaria to visit Victor for a week."

"Oh? So how is Victor? I never did figure out what was between you two. Are you dating?"

"Victor great and no we aren't dating, it never really was like that between us no matter what anyone else says. (Hermione glanced over at Ron as she said this remembering the way he reacted to Victor last year. Turning back to Ginny she continued.) Actually at the minute he's dating a really nice girl back in Bulgaria called Sasha. I got to meet her when I went over. She practically pounced on me and decided we were best friends the first day I got there, a bit intense I have to admit but she's absolutely smitten with Victor so I couldn't be happier for them both."

"That's nice, I could actually see him with someone like that, he came across a bit shy so someone outgoing like that would be perfect for him. And it wouldn't have worked out between the two of you anyway, what with him living in Bulgaria, and what with you being in love with my brother."

As Hermione started to choke and gasp Ginny giggled and reached over to pat her on the back.

"You ok? You're not going to die chocking are you; well if you do I could always get Ron to give ya the kiss of life."

At Ginny's cheerful comment Hermione coughed again while glaring at her friend. Regaining her composure Hermione looked around to see if they had drawn any attention to themselves with her coughing fit. Satisfied that no-one was interested in their conversation Hermione turned to stare at Ginny.

"That was cruel you know."

"Yeah I know, but it was fun. If you'd seen the look on your face when I said it; it was priceless, your eyes practically popped right out of your head."

"Yeah well, I honestly didn't think you knew, I didn't think anyone knew but you're the second person today to say something about it to me so I guess I don't know everything. (Ginny clutched her chest and gasped in indignation) you will tell no-one I just admitted that, especially your brother, I'll never hear the end of it."

"Ok I won't, although it would have been fun. But who's the other person that said something to you? Was it Harry, cause he said to me he wasn't going to get in the middle of anything, he was just gonna let you two figure it out on your own."

"No, it wasn't Harry, although it's interesting to know that every one BUT your brother know about it."

"So who was it?"

"Alicia."

"Yes?" came an enquiring voice from behind them. Both girls jumped at the sound and turned to find Alicia looking at the pair with twinkling eyes.

Ginny, after regaining her breath; looked at Alicia with a similar look.

"You know it's rude to sneak up on people like that, you could give them a fright."

"You know it's rude to talk about people behind their backs, they might think you don't like them or something."

"It's rude to eavesdrop, and we weren't talking about you behind your back, you were facing us, we were talking about you to your face." Ginny smiled at her twisted logic.

"Ginny!" Hermione gasped, "We weren't talking about you at all Alicia I swear."

Facing Hermione Alicia smiled, "S'ok, I was only kidding. So how did my name come up in conversation anyway?"

"Hermione was telling me that you figured out about her undying love for Ron."

"I'm not in love with him!" Hermione squeaked looking around her desperately.

"Oh? So you just want him for his body then? Cause I have to admit the boy has a damn fine body if you ask me." Alicia said with a smirk not unlike her friend from Slytherin. Hermione blushed to her roots while Ginny pretended to gag.

"Eww, Alicia may I remind you that that is my brother your talking about? Sentences like that lead to gross, bad mental images. And of course Hermione's in love with him, she just won't admit it, isn't that right Mione."

"I'm not really comfortable talking about that, especially not here."

"Well we could always go up to the girls' rooms and talk there, then you'd have no excuse, and you'd have to tell us everything."

"Yeah, we can have a real girly chat about who we all like and plan how to seduce our prince charming." Alicia said giggling.

Hermione however had gone chalk white at the thought of spilling all the gory details of her feeling for her friend. The two girls upon seeing this looked at each other came to some sort of mutual agreement and both clasped onto one of Hermione's arms each and lifted her of her chair. Hermione only realised what was going on as they started towards the stairs.

"Really, I don't think now is a good time. I have some reading I have to finish before dinner. Oh well, maybe some other time. You can let me go now… you're not going to let me go are you?"

"Nope!"

"This is what friends are for. We can help."

"But I don't want help." Hermione pleaded as they passed the boys table and reached the foot of the stairs. Looking up the boys wore twin expressions of confusion and looked to Ginny with questioning looks.

"Hey Ginny, what's wrong with Hermione? She doesn't look so good."

"Oh, nothing to worry about dear brother of mine, she's just being stubborn about something, we'll sort it all out, everything's fine. Go back to your homework."

"No seriously Gin, why's she so white?"

Just before they carried their friend out of view the boys heard Ginny call back, "We're just going to have a little girl talk."

Turning back to Harry Ron looked confused.

"Why would that make her white, she looked like she'd been petrified?"

"Ron, this is Hermione. She hates that stuff."

"What stuff, Ginny just said they were going to talk, what's wrong with that?"

"She didn't say talk Ron, she said girl talk. That's talking about boys and secrets and clothes and make-up and stuff, like Lavender and Parvartie."

"Oh." Thinking about it Ron stared at Harry. Suddenly a small smile flitted across his face, "OH! She's gonna hate that. She hates that stuff."

"Very good Ron. Did you put in being killed in a rockslide?"

"No, but I did have a wild beast devour me near the end of the month."

"Cool. So you still like Hermione?"

"Yup. Not gonna do anything about it though; she doesn't fell the same way. Destroy a good friendship, so I'm just gonna try get past it."

"Like you've been getting past it for the last year?"

"Shut up Harry."

NOTES:

Wow, this is chap seven, and the fic is over 10,000 words!! Sorry but until this I don't think I've ever stayed dedicated to anything long enough for it to last this long and I have to say that a big part of that is thanks to you all. Getting feedback on my story is just fantastic so I just thought that I'd write and that everyone who has spurred me on with this fic, I hope I continue to get great reviews so I'll have the enthusiasm to continue to write it.

THANKS:

PAM: (blushing at compliment- me a great author, aww how sweet thankyou!) Funnily enough I was thinking about furbies when I wrote about the puffskeins lol, glad to see that came across. I actually read all of 'fantastic beasts and where to find them' to come up with the most ridiculously innocent creature there was. Saying as how you like the interactions between the harry potter crew and my delightful addition Alicia I hope this chapter will be to you're liking, even if it is sort of a bridge chapter for the next one, as always I look forward to hearing you thoughts on it.

NICHOLE MALFOY: glad you like it, and you never know, heck I don't even really know whats going to happen exactly so stay tuned to see if she spills the beans lol.

BOBBYNOTME: yeah, I just couldn't help it, they just wanted to get along I guess lol, and I don't think Ginny's the jealous-over-friends-type but you never know lol, evil aren't I? anyways let me know what ya think, I just love hearing everyone's views on it.

GENOA: ok, ok not the puppy dog eye's!!! who can resist the puppy dog eye's lol. Hey, that was cruel lol, only kidding. I hope you like this chap, but you'll have to wait a month for the next, it just works out better that way for me. See if I go on every week or whatever I'll end up reading way too many stories and unfortunately I need sleep to function, and need to work to not get chucked out of uni lol. So let me know what ya think.

NABIKI: Hey I just read that I got this review before I put up the update so I had to come and fix it to include you. Thanks, I love to hear that people like it, and I hope you like this chap just as much.