Chapter Twenty Eight: Talks about Love

She ran away. Ran away without saying anything. Ran away like an idiot. She kissed him and just flew away to the girls' dormitories on the top speed. She couldn't help it he looked so kissable at that moment and she wanted so much to cheer him up, because he was so sad. She wanted to tell him she didn't reject him that she wanted to try, but couldn't find the words to express it. That's why she somehow found the courage in the depths of her heart and kissed him.

And a kiss it was… Frankly speaking, it was her first real kiss, but after it ended, she decided that her first kiss wasn't wasted. It was so…so…She couldn't find exact words to describe it, when she tried to locate some definitions, all her thoughts turned into turmoil, leaving only a feeling of pure pleasure and love.

When Dumbledore told her about the barrier, she, for the first time in her life, looked at him as if he was insane (of course it was inappropriate behavior and she could lose points, but his words were too irrational for her comprehension). Ron loved her? Ron loved her? Her first thought was that it was absolutely impossible, completely not logical. But then, love isn't a logical subject.

Hermione started to remember all the signs: his smiles, the looks he gave her, tiny gestures and being every time around her. How could she be so blind! But those signs seemed to be so usual, as if they were an everyday routine, as if he always loved her. Such conclusion frightened her. Is it possible to hide such a strong feeing? But then, Ron didn't exactly hide it, he just didn't put it in words.

That's why she asked him that night, if he liked her. She knew the answer, but wanted to hear it coming form his own mouth. 'Such tasty mouth… Hermione, get a grip of yourself!'

Ron wasn't an intricate guy, she asked him and he answered. Not in the yes/no mode, but from his words everything was clear. He gave himself to her and let her to decide. He didn't run after her, when she left him alone on the stairs, he gave her a choice.

And Hermione understood it; she was startled by Ron's matureness. But she was also afraid, because she didn't know what decision to make. Ron's feelings were formed and clearly stated, but what about hers? She didn't understand what she was feeling, it was such a mess! For another first time in her life, Hermione needed help and she knew the exact place where to receive it.

"Ginny!" Hermione yelled, spotting Ginny, leaving the Great Hall after lunch.

"O, hi, 'Mione. You want something?"

"Oh, yes. Can we talk in the library? I need some help," Hermione finished uncertainly.

'Hermione? Help? That's new.' "Of course, let's go, but not for long, I still have some homework to finish."

"It won't take long, I hope," she breathed out.

They found a quite corner in the Library, where nobody could see or hear them.

"Ok, spit," said Ginny encouragingly.

"Oh, I want to talk about me and Ron. Well, there isn't really me and Ron, but, I mean, I don't know exactly what I feel, and you are so experienced on this field and I thought you can help me to clear everything and…"

"Herm', stop babbling," Ginny interrupted, trying not to laugh. "You want me to give you a dating advice?"

"Dating? I said nothing about dating!" Hermione exclaimed defensively. Ginny couldn't hold back anymore and started to laugh freely and sonorously. "What is so funny?"

"The look on your face. You said it like it was something illegal: you dating Ron. What can be more normal in this life?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked confused.

"Well, it is an established fact that you will date Harry or Ron, the question is which one," Ginny said matter-of-factly.

"And why can't I date Seamus, for example?" Hermione asked, feeling insulted, not because she was a subject of gossip, but because such serious choice has been already made for her.

"I don't know. Probably, because you're a girl and they are boys and you're very close friends, conclusion comes itself," Ginny said with a shrug. "Oh, enough for the preamble, what exactly do you want me to help you with?"

"Well, you know about Ron, right?"

"His is my brother, I know him."

"Not that," Hermione said with a hint of irritation. It wasn't easy for her and Ginny wasn't helping. "That he loves me."

"Oh thaaaat," Ginny drawled with sparks of mischief in her chocolate eyes. "Yes, I know about it."

"The problem is that I don't know what I feel towards him. Of course, I like him, his is my friend. But I, certainly, don't love him. But I am not sure, maybe I am in denial, because I noticed, I was not myself lately.

It all started, when the girlfriend figure appeared. It seemed so wrong to me, him being with someone. I didn't put it like he was with someone and not with me, but still his absence was undeniable. And I felt sick form it all. Firstly I thought that I just missed a friend of mine, but then I understood that I missed not simply a friend, but I missed Ron and only him. I started to think about what he was doing, it distracted me form my studies, but that didn't bother me. Frankly speaking, I am still doing this, even at classes which I don't have with him," she added shyly. She took a deep breath and continued, "Then I started catching myself on what Ron was doing with her, I felt disgusted to no end. Surprisingly even to me, I felt jealous. I denied it to Harry and attempted to do it to myself, but in vain.

I couldn't get rid of the feeling of incompleteness, when Ron wasn't around. It wasn't the Dream Team spirit for sure, it was loneliness. Yes, Harry was also somewhere all the time and I was alone every evening in the Common room. But that wasn't simply loneliness, it was the need for him, for him to be with me, to be by my side," Hermione stopped, breathing rapidly form such long and expressive monologue.

During the whole Hermione's tirade Ginny just looked at her, not exactly listening, because she knew that 'Mione just needed someone to tell everything she bottled inside her. She herself had similar problems, when she started dating, but with one main difference – not one of her boyfriends told her he loved her, especially before they started dating.

"What help do you need, Hermione and why did you turn to me at the first place?"

"You had three boyfriends, didn't you? You know a lot about such stuff," Hermione stated.

"Yeh, three boyfriends," Ginny said with a fallen face.

"Why the long face?"

"You call me experienced. 'Mione. Yes, I am experienced, but not in love, in pitiful attempts for it. Yes, I had romantic dates and a dose of good snogging, but none of them loved me, worshipped the land I walked on. You have it, Hermione. I know my brother, I am sure he loves you more than life itself. Don't waste such precious gift, let him love you and see what will come out of it. You said, you needed him by your side then be by his side. Love doesn't have written down rules you must follow, but your heart will lead you through this difficult path."

"Wow, those were great words, Ginny. Thank you very much."

"For what?"

"For everything," Hermione stood up and was ready to go, but turned back. "I kissed him yesterday," she announced with wry glance.

"You wouldn't dare," said Ginny with one raised eyebrow.

"Why not?" Hermione asked in a tone of a professional seducer. Both girls erupted with giggles.

"You know, Hermione, you are sick."

"What?" she suddenly become very serious and touched her forehead to check on the temperature.

"Not like that, Herm'. I am more than sure that you have a wide spread disease, especially in spring," Ginny said, smiling knowingly.

"Oh Merlin, what is it?" Hermione asked with slight panic.

"You are in love," Ginny whispered.

"Really?" her cheeks became pink and her face beamed with happiness. Ginny didn't remember, when Hermione looked prettier.

"Positive," Ginny confirmed with a nod. Hermione only smiled and headed to the doors. 'What a girl! She needed me only to say it to her face. I hope everything will work out between them.'

When Hermione was half way to the exit, the Library doors opened and Ron stepped in. Everyone, who looked at him could say that he was in a foul mood, that's why you better not come near him. That didn't matter to Hermione one bit.

"Hi, Ron," she greeted, smiling.

"Hi, 'Mione," he was stunned by her sudden approach. Of course, nobody knew that she was the reason of his bad mood. He hasn't seen her for the whole day, she said nothing about yesterday's ordeal and, well, he missed her.

"What are you doing tonight?" she asked.

Ron looked at her with wide eyes, but then a smile started to crawl to his lips. "Homework," Ron answered.

"Good idea. Would you mind, if I keep you company?" Hermione took his arm in hers and walked him out of the Library, which was deathly silent, because everybody was listening to the encounter. Then, as if a switch was turned on, wide whisper, like a tsunami, spread – the gossip machine of Hogwarts started its work.

Ginny was skipping like a little girl towards the laboratory. It was six o'clock already, but she still couldn't forget the look of happiness on Hermione's face. It was so encouraging, she even forgot about nasty Herbology homework. She reached the door and waltzed into the room with a big smile, plastered on her face.

"Where did such good mood come from, Anne?"

"Oh you want understand," she said dreamily.

"Try me, because I really need some good fluids here. Because if you don't start doing something anytime soon, you'll find me buried under all this amount of work, which I may remark, is enormous."

"Work, work, work. That's all, you are thinking about," Ginny said with a scowl.

"No I have other matters in mind. For example, where the heck you are, when you should've been here an hour ago!"

"Hermione asked to talk to her. It was really important and I don't think that you have any right to demand my presence here, because I come here more often than I should. I have a life of my own," Ginny answered distinctly and sat down behind her worktable without another glance at him.

'Brilliant, Draco. Absolutely brilliant. You needed help and now you'll surely get it. Why do I ruin everything all the time? She was in a good mood and now she is sulking on her workplace, probably, cursing her very coming here. I got so used to her being here every evening that really forgot that she must be here only three times a week. Still, for some unknown reason, she comes everyday.

Why can she be so happy today? Must have found a date for the Ball. And I screwed it up for her. What a pig!' Draco marched to her table. "I am sorry."

"For what?" she spat, without taking her eyes from the parchment she was reading.

"For being so selfish. You have your own life and I can't interfere in it because of my caprices. The guy must dance on the ceiling by now," he finished with a small smile.

"What guy?" Ginny asked, shocked by such outcome.

"Your date for the Ball who made you so happy today," Draco explained to her, as she was a five-year-old.

"Oh, it wasn't that," Ginny answered, her face burning.

"What was it then?"

"Why are you so eager to know? You have plenty of work to do, as you've said yourself."

"Well, it must be really big, because there aren't many things now to be happy about," Draco said with a hint of sorrow.

"We need to make more antidotes?" Ginny asked, blush forgotten and panic kicking in.

"No, no, I just described the whole picture."

"It's pretty personal and I am sure, you won't like it."

"What? Potter again?" Draco said, crossing arms over his chest.

'Why when he speaks about Harry and I, I always hear jealousy in his voice?' "No, it's not about Harry, but you are rather close. Ron and Hermione are together at last."

"And? What is so fascinating about it?" Draco said frowning with confusion.

"Oh, it's not easy to explain. You see, Ron has been in love with her for years! But only now Hermione understood that she also loved him and they made up!" Ginny finished with a squeal.

"Is Granger also blind that she didn't see a puppy behind her?"

"That was really rude, Marko. Ron is not a puppy and, well, you know Hermione. Always somewhere on a research, homework, Head Girl duties, she isn't quite a girlfriend material but, I am sure, Ron will soon make a woman out of her."

"Are all males in your family like this?" Draco asked smirking.

"What do you mean?"

"They haven't even started to date properly and you say he'll soon make a woman out of her."

"Not like that, you pervert! I meant…that's a girl thing, you don't need to know about it."

"As I understood, you made her see the light in her love life. When did you become an adviser in love affairs?" Draco asked with irony.

"She said, I was experienced and all, but she just wanted confirmation of her feelings. I am surprised nobody noticed it before, only Harry did, but also only a month ago. It was so obvious, but Ron was always around and it was like a rule to him to be there, but when he left for another girl, she started to miss him. One values something only when one loses it. I bet they are now sitting close together in an abandoned classroom, doing homework, but they are together and that's a start," Ginny finished with a smile.

Draco only shrugged. "That's not my business."

"Yes, but you asked and I told you. Why did you ask in the first place?"

"Was just interested what can make you so happy, that's all. Strange that you are so glad, because you must be jealous instead," he turned and started walking to his cauldrons.

"Jealous of what?" Ginny asked indignantly.

"Of their happiness, because they are together and you're alone. Because you desperately want to have a boyfriend, but you don't have one," Draco stated matter-of-factly.

"You…you," she stood up and stormed to stand in front of him, poking him in the chest with her index finger with almost each word she said, "If you are so self centered, don't think that others are like you! Yes, I admit that I am a bit jealous, but it doesn't stop me from being happy for my brother and my friend who found each other. Because they can find peace in each other instead of living in Hell around them! All you can think about is your damn potions and you can't appreciate the feeling that keeps a lot of people alive in the times like these! As you said earlier: love isn't your business!" with that Ginny showed him her back of the head and returned to her table.

Draco was taken aback by her outburst he didn't know how to react. As Ginny said a few days ago he didn't know what love was. She was right, that's why he didn't know the way how smoothly walk out of this discussion without hurting her feelings, but in the end it turned even worse. The only thing he could do know was to turn to his damned potions and he did it.

For an hour they worked silently. The only sound that could be heard if it was real, was the sound of the smoke, coming from Ginny's ears.

'How could he say that! That I am only jealous because I don't have a boyfriend! How can he even read me so well! Dammit. He didn't accuse me of anything, but it really hurt. Marko again reminded me that I am alone, well, I have him, but that isn't the relationship I am looking for. I want love in my life, but he doesn't know what I am talking about, that's why gives his cynical remarks,' her eyes grew wide. 'I completely forgot he doesn't know what love is!' she looked at his back with pity. 'I hope, he'll understand some day.' "Marko?"

"Hm?"

"I am sorry. I mustn't have said all those things to you. You don't need to know any of it…"

"You were right," Draco interrupted her babbling, "and you know it, so don't make excuses. The private life of yours and of your friends isn't my business," he cut short.

"But I think there is a problem: it can become your business."

He reached her so quickly that she almost jumped on her chair. "What do you mean?" 'She thinks I can become a part of her private life?... What the Hell are you thinking?'

His face was inches from hers, Ginny even shuddered under his intent gaze. "I mean Hermione made another prediction: the Boy was saved by it once, he can be saved by it again."

"It doesn't make any sense to me," Draco tilted his head up. (Ginny sighed with relief – his closeness made her too nervous). He was a little disappointed, the talk was really about business: Potter and Voldemort. He was sick from it already. They were the topic of every talk on every corner. He couldn't even mix the potions he wanted or make any experiments, because he was too busy with assignments which certainly had the purpose connected with the War. That damn War, his life was filled with it, everything around was only business and no leisure time. Thanks to his little Sun with the name Anne, he could still react adequate.

"Well, I am sure, you understand that the Boy is Harry," Draco nodded with a grimace on his face, "and there is something that can save him from Voldemort for the second time. Do you know why Harry stayed alive after his first meeting with Voldemort?"

"Because he is Harry Potter?" Draco asked sarcastically.

"No," Ginny reproached. "Because his mother protected him, the love of his mother protected him."

"You mean that love can destroy Voldemort?" Draco asked unbelievingly.

"Why not? You yourself said it was a powerful thing."

"Quite gryffindoric," he smirked.

"What does this suppose to mean?"

"Well, you know the motto: love saves the world. To my mind, it's pathetic."

"If you think, it's pathetic, maybe you can share some slytherin love traditions?" Ginny said smugly, thinking she cornered him.

"There is nothing to tell," Draco said with an I-got-you-now smirk.

"Slytherins don't have love traditions?" To Ginny it sounded like absurd, because she still thought everybody must love and care for each other, she knew there can be a world without love, but couldn't believe it was under her very nose.

"No, we don't."

"But you date, right? You yourself had couple of girlfriends…"

"Seventeen."

"Men," she rolled her eyes, "Ok, you had seventeen girlfriends. You don't love anybody, but the girls could love you – of course, there is nothing to love," she said with a playful smile, Draco answered with a respectful smirk, "but we, women, are trusting creatures and can be stupid to fall under your charms."

"Maybe you have stupid creatures for women in Gryffindor, but we have another dating rules in Slytherin."

"Rules?"

"Exactly. We date, snog, maybe shag, change partners from time to time for a change, then marry the most suitable candidate and produce an heir. Simple and effective, maybe even pleasant, if you're lucky and have a good taste."

"But that's awful!" Ginny exclaimed.

"If I remember right, 'awful', is just another adjective used in Gryffindor to describe slytherins, so don't think much about it," Draco said indifferently.

"How can you talk so easily about this! Like having breakfast or go shopping! For Griffindor's sake , you're born to have an arranged marriage and you think about it like about choosing this robes or the other! That's disgusting!"

"The point is, Anne, that it means nothing to me, this girl or the other. No, this came wrong, I wanted to say, it means nothing to slytherins. Everything is arranged in a life of a slytherin, especially now. Every slytherin is a Death Eater, because his father is a Death Eater, and there is nothing that can change it."

'He corrected himself, because it means something to him? Can he have true feelings somewhere inside him?' "I can prove you wrong," Ginny said firmly.

"Try it."

"The Prince of the Slytherin is here and not there."

To that Draco couldn't say anything. He just stared at her as if saw her for the first time. She wasn't a slytherin slut or a trusting creature from Gryffindor, she was smart and frank but at the same time mysterious, and Draco liked this in her. He liked everything in her, but it was above his admittance.

Ginny didn't like the look Draco gave her. She didn't like it not because it was nasty or disgusted, but because she didn't understand what it meant. It was something of approval and understanding. Ginny couldn't ask him what he wanted to say with it to her, because he just returned to his work, stirring soundlessly some green potion in a purple cauldron.

Ginny sat for a while, studying the movements of his hands above the cauldrons then stood up, came to him and, putting her hand on his right shoulder, whispered to his ear, "You belong here, not there."