Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine, never mine.

WHITE LILIES

CHAPTER FOUR: GINNY'S PLAN

"It's you," he whispered.

I froze. Did I hear it right? Did he just say it was me? I think I better clean my ears because I'm starting to hear things that are quite impossible for me to hear. I stared at him open-mouthed. Then he just collapsed in fits of laughter.

"You should have seen your face!" he chuckled, holding his sides. "Got you at that, huh, Hermione?"

Then I realized what he was trying to say and my face turned scarlet. Of course. He was only joking. It's not me. It's impossible to be me. Harry will never like me that way. And the truth hurts like hell.

Damn you, Potter...

"That wasn't funny, Harry," I murmured quietly, avoiding his eyes.

"Did you really think I was talking about you?" he asked me. He was still smiling.

How could he do this to me? I thought he was serious when he said that. I should have known. I guess I need to stop on dreaming. I have to wake my self up.

"I – no! Of course not!" I stammered. "Why should I? I mean – I know you'd never think of me like that!"

"Why not?" he asked me. I could sense disappointment in his voice but I ignored it. I might be imagining it again.

"It's because – I, uh – you're my friend! And we'll remain like that forever – right?"

His face fell but he recovered immediately. "Yeah – of course. Friends. Friends forever. Right."

Then there was silence between us. He kept on staring at nowhere and I pretended to read again but I couldn't understand whatever I was reading. I had enough so I slammed my book. He snapped back out of his reverie and looked at me questioningly.

"It's getting cold in here, don't you think?" I said. The atmosphere suddenly became cold after our conversation. I couldn't stand this anymore. I need to get away from him. I need to think. "I'm going back to our common room to warm myself up. Coming?"

"You go on," he muttered. "I'm going to walk on the grounds. Clear my mind of – things."

"Okay," I nodded. I stood up from my chair and stalked off without looking at him.

"Honestly, I envy you."

Ginny and I had a little chat that evening in my room. Ginny was sitting on the sofa and I was on my bed.

Ginny is the only person in this place who would understand me and I could open my heart into. Well, she's the only person besides Harry. But do you think I could tell him my problems if it involves him? If you're thinking that I should tell Lavander and Parvati, you're completely out of your mind. I mean, telling them my love life is like telling the whole school about it. It will spread faster than you could say 'secret.' Before the day ends, you'll be an instants celebrity. Everyone will talk about you, steal secret glances at you, and whisper things at your back. Stuff like, 'Look at her. She's not even pretty!' and 'She's just smart and she's a Head Girl that's why that guy likes her' and 'what did he see in her? He's probably blind...' and things like that. No secret is safe with Lavander and Parvati, I'm telling you. But there's always Ginny. And she's jealous of me.

"And why are you so jealous of me?" I asked.

"It's because you have Harry for a best friend and you have this guy who always gives you your favorite flowers in the middle of the night, coming in your room, watching you sleep..."

"You envy that?" I said, incredulously. "Yes, I'm lucky to have a guy like Harry with me all the time but I wouldn't want to have those flowers if it means that one of my best friends would be mad at me for receiving it."

Ginny snorted. "If you're talking about Ron, don't mind him. I'm sorry for myself for having a brother that's the biggest git!"

"Yes, he's quite a git, I know but he's still your brother and he's still my friend."

"Well, a friend shouldn't act like that! He should be happy for you, Hermione. Besides, I envy you because you're so lucky."

"And why am I so lucky?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow.

"Because this admirer of yours is a gentleman."

"How come you said that?"

"Simple. He gets in and out of your room without you getting shagged to death!"

My jaw dropped. Ginny burst into laughter.

"Ginny!" I exclaimed. "Stop that! You're scaring me!"

"I'm just being honest, Hermione," Ginny said as-a-matter-of-factly. "He enters and exits here without you noticing because you're asleep. He could do horrible things to you while you're snoring –"

"Hey! I don't snore!"

"I know you don't."

"You know what?" I said, standing up. "I better ask Professor McGonagall for a new room."

"What's the matter?" she asked, surprised at my sudden decision.

"You're frightening me! What if he decided to shag me one evening?"

Ginny laughed at that. "I never imagined you saying that word!"

"It's just a word!"

"Okay! Fine, fine...but don't you want to see this guy's face first?"

"Of course I do. But how?" I asked her.

She smirked. "I've got a plan."