"Hermione?" repeated Ginny, puzzled at the look of horror which had appeared on her best friend's face when she had walked into the room.

"Ginny, uh, I was just...um..." stammered Hermione, fully aware of how stupid she must sound. "I was just, um, having a bad dream, you know how it is...it involved you, something terrible...it felt so real, thats why you heard your name..." her voice trailed off. Ginny looked unconvinced, but she decided not to pursue the subject any further. Instead, she merely nodded and came to sit down on the edge of Hermione's bed.

"You know you can tell me anything, don't you Hermione?" Ginny told the older girl. "I mean, if there IS something bothering you at all, you know I'm always here for you." She took Hermione's hands in her own as she spoke, feeling worried as she noticed that her friend's face looked rather distant as she did this.

"I know Gin, and I appreciate it, I really do. But honestly, I'm fine, as I said, I was just having a nightmare...I'll be fine in the morning, I'm certain of it," Hermione tried to smile at Ginny, hoping that no further questions would be asked.

"Ok I believe you 'Mione, I was just worried about you, thats all. Just remember to come to me anytime you do need to talk, I don't want you keeping any secrets from me, do I?" Ginny grinned at Hermione, before giving her a hug.

"Thanks Ginny, you're the best," Hermione said, returning the hug, feeling slightly better.

Once the younger girl had left, finally convinced that Hermione was really alright, she tried once again to sleep. But every time she tried, images of Ginny would creep into her head. Eventually, she gave up. It was useless trying to sleep when something this big was preying on her mind.

What the hell am I going to do? she thought to herself. I can't go on like this...

Throughout the day, Hermione tried to concentrate on her schoolwork. It turned out to be a failed attempt, as she barely heard one word any of her teachers were saying. In the end, Professor McGonagall suggested that maybe she needed to go to the hospital wing, as she looked rather unwell. Hermione gratefully accepted the excuse to leave the classroom, but instead of going to Madam Pomfrey, she went to the Gryffindor common room instead. To her surprise, she found Ginny there.

"Gin? How come you're not at your lesson?" asked Hermione, wishing now that she had gone to the hospital wing instead.

"Oh I forgot to do the homework we had set, so I pretended to feel ill so I could catch up with it now. What about you? Aren't you supposed to be in Transfiguration?" Ginny said, wondering what could be causing Hermione, of all people, to miss one of her lessons.

"I wasn't feeling well, so I was sent to the hospital wing. I didn't go there though, I thought I'd just come and lie down for a while," said Hermione, just wanting to go to her bed and avoid any more questions.

Ginny looked at her closely for a while. This time, she was convinced that Hermione was lying, and that something was bothering her. Then she said, "Hermione, what's wrong? And I mean truthfully, I can always tell when there's something on your mind. Please, tell me?" she pleaded. "Don't tell me its nothing either. I know you better than that!"

Hermione sighed. It was no use, she was going to have to come clean. She didn't want to lose Ginny, but she knew perfectly well that Ginny wouldn't let the subject drop until she told the truth. The problem was, she was scared to actually say the words out loud. But she had to.

"Ok Ginny, I'll tell you what's on my mind. You won't like it though, and you probably won't want to know me once I've confessed," said Hermione, trying not to get upset. "But I hate the thought of keeping secrets from you, so I'll be honest. I'll come straight out with it and say that, uh, I love you. I don't just mean as my best friend, but as much more. I never stop thinking about you, you're forever on my mind, and thats whats causing my lack of sleep. I'm in love with you Gin, I have been for a while. There you go, tell me you hate me. I'll understand." With that, the older girl turned away, trying to hide the tears that were now running down her face.

Ginny was silent for a few minutes, looking stunned at what she had just heard. Finally she spoke. "You mean...you like girls? Wow Hermione...I never knew that. I always thought you were mad about Ron. So did everyone in school! Wow...this is definitely a surprise!"

Hermione turned back to look at Ginny, trying to control her crying. "You hate me now, don't you? I wouldn't blame you."

Ginny came over to Hermione. "Hermione! I do NOT hate you! In fact...well, you may find this hard to believe. But, I, uh, I feel the exact same way about you..."