A/N:
Some people say that 13 is an unlucky number. I don't agree since I've reached this many chapters and that's nothing short of a miracle.

Who Knows

By: Carla P.

Chapter 13: Confessions

Just as she had stepped out of her most favorite room in the entire castle, Hermione decided that fate was something that even their brand of magic couldn't define. That day was a day she wouldn't have, in a million years, have thought would ever happen. The best thing to correctly define it was that it was something.

It had been rather vexing considering that she had practically broken off her ties to the two people who had become her first two friends in Hogwarts and that it had all been because of her.

It had been absolutely surprising since she had interacted with Draco in friendly terms for the first time in her life and she had actually not minded it. She had been glad of it, actually.

It had been infinitely maddening because she had heard her two 'best friends' talking of her behind her back and speaking of her as though she were some kind of thing they could control.

It had been terribly confusing especially as she had never really expected that any boy would ever like her in the way that Ronald seemed to like her.

But it had been undeniably gladdening since she had affirmed that some things were going great in the world outside hers and she was happy since it was to Ginny, who was very close to her and to Draco, whom she had just discovered actually had meritorious qualities.

All these, was what made her think that that day had been really something and that knowledge made her smile and shake her head.

In the midst of her contemplation, thinking of the two hours she had spent with Draco in the library exchanging stories and information, she was feeling oodles better in a weird way and, unfortunately for her, she was not paying attention to what was happening around her. This was when a certain redhead crashed headlong into her while looking for someone.

At that precise moment, when two bodies had attempted to occupy the same space and failed, only two words could be heard echoing in the deserted hallway on a holiday midmorning:

"Oomph" blurted out Ginny, muffled, as she collided with Hermione and went crashing face first onto the other's midrib.

"Hey!" protested Hermione as Ginny bumped into her midsection that made her fall back with the redhead atop her.

In silence, only two looks were also thrown that morning in that desolate corridor between its two inhabitants:

Hermione threw an annoyed, exasperated glare at the foolish person, who had come sprinting down that hallway at breakneck speed without any care and concern thus making her fall flat on her back.

Ginny aimed a guilty look armed with a sheepish smile at the person she had blindly and stupidly run into in haste without any caution.

Suddenly, at the revelation of each other's identity, two identical smiles magically appeared on the two girls' faces simultaneously, blocking any possible cause of a disaster or a brawl.

"Ginny! What is with all the hurry? Are you looking for something? Or someone?" asked Hermione, still on the floor as she watched Ginny scurrying to stand up.

"I'm sorry Hermione. I guess, I didn't think anybody would be here this morning. And yes, I was— am— looking for someone." answered Ginny, as she held out her hand to Hermione to help her off of the floor, which the other gratefully accepted.

"It's all right, Ginny. I'm fine. Are you?" Ginny nodded her confirmation and Hermione continued, "Well, Ginevra—"

"Hey! What's with the full name, did I do anything wrong or are you sick? I mean, even my mum doesn't call me Ginevra, Hermione!" Ginny responded to her real name with wide eyes and an outraged tone, something Hermione answered with an amused grin.

"Nothing, it's just that you've been a naughty girl." said Hermione in a paradoxical, teacher-like manner, wagging her finger comically.

Ginny rolled her eyes and responded, hands on her hips, "And why is that, Ms. Granger?"

"Well," continued Hermione in the same way, "you've been keeping a secret from us."

"Oh yeah?" scoffed Ginny, "And from what veritable fountain of information can you base such an accusation?"

"Ha!" barked Hermione uncharacteristically, "stop these games Gin. I know about your secret loveli—"

As Ginny realized what Hermione had been about to say, had jumped forward and cut off Hermione's flow of words before she had finished the last one. Ginny's eyes widened in warning and she said in a hushed tone, "Shhh… Hermione, don't go shouting it around school! What if someone hears you? I'm dead! Especially if it reaches Ronald… then I'm really dead. Not to mention it might shame my family immensely if I don't explain everything fully first."

Hermione reacted with a piercing glower and pointed at the hand still cutting off her ability to converse, not responding to what Ginny had just whispered.

"Fine, I'll let go. But only if you promise to hush." Ginny warned, still in soft tones.

Hermione nodded her head in affirmation if only so she could have control of her mouth back.

Ginny, satisfied, released her vise-like grip that had been constricting Hermione's mouth.

"Ah" Hermione breathed as she massaged her jaws, the circulation of which had been cut off when Ginny had grabbed her rather forcefully.

"All right, now that I can finally talk again, why did you keep this— for lack of a better word—relationship with 'him' from me for so long? I mean, aren't we that close or haven't we known each other for years for you not to trust me enough to want to tell me?

Ginny sighed and said, pulling Hermione to the side and into an empty classroom, "I wanted to tell but there were three reasons." holding up three fingers.

She counted off:

"One, I wasn't really sure he loved me sincerely. I wanted to verify its reality first before I could possibly venture out to let the world known about it. I don't want to crash and burn… Again." This statement was accompanied by a grimace.

"Two, I had to think of a proper, foolproof way to let you guys know without Harry and Ron trying to kill Draco with you three shouting at me for my lack of judgment." This time, she looked dead serious.

"And, three, honestly, would you have believed me of I was the one who told you instead of Draco?" finally, her face showed an amusement which meant that she still knew how to poke fun despite of her situation.

"I guess I would have thought you crazy and would have rushed to Mungo's" Hermione said after analyzing Ginny's responses.

Ginny laughed at this and hugged Hermione for cutting her such slack and being the real and true friend she had always considered her to be.

Pulling up two chairs, the two friends discussed everything that had been disclosed by Draco that morning in the library.

After about an hour or so and every question answered; every doubt destroyed, Ginny said "Now that we've talked about my love life, Hermione… It's your turn…"

"Huh?" Hermione replied with a confused voice and her brow high above its usual position, as she shot her friend an incredulous stare.

And with a mischievous glint in her eye, Ginny said, "Harry…"

A/N:
I know, absolutely lacks substance… I just don't want to mess up the story by telling you all about Ginny and Draco's story, which doesn't affect any portion of the present story. So, if you truly think that I cheated ten minutes from your life by reading this, tell me so… But if you think it was worth the ten minutes, tell me so too… so I can spend 30 more minutes making something meaningful for you…:D Sorry if it was shorter than the previous chapter…Again, before anything else, I just want to comment on a phenomenon I just recently discovered… In Chapter 9 of my story.. I asked people for 13 reviews and I got 16.. When I didn't, I got 6… Now, I'm not forcing you to review just so I'll update because I know that I will whatever happens, anyway. But my story and my writing gets better as I hear more of your comments.. So, can I expect that you would like me to make a story that YOU would love ME for making.. It's your call… And you wonder that I only updated now… I've been depressed… I mean, I only got 3 reviews for a chapter with 300+ hits… Please… All I want is at least 10 reviews… It's my 17th birthday, people… Have a heart…