Disclaimer: J.K. owns Harry and all the characters in the story.

WHITE LILIES

CHAPTER SIX: THE SUSPECTS

"It was so close, Gin, so close!"

I wasn't able to get to sleep after that exciting, suspense-thriller that happened in my room this evening. I don't know if it's the effect of coffee or it's because my heart won't stop on beating extremely fast and my mind was buzzing or something. I went down to the common room, stared at the fire and tried to read a book to take my mind of things but it didn't work. I sat there for minutes, hours, days – honestly, I don't know how long. Then, like she knows I was there, Ginny came and she wasn't surprised to see me up. She asked me how long have I been there and I told her I don't know. Then I burst out and told her every detail of what happened in fast forward. I had to repeat it again because she said I was so fast.

"Wait, wait, wait," she said, shaking her head. "You said you fell off your bed?"

"Yes," I said, blushing. "I was so desperate to reach the lamp so I fell."

"Okay," she nodded. "He ran out of your balcony?"

"Yes."

"And he just disappeared?"

"Yes."

"Maybe he apparated," Ginny said.

I stared at her. "How many times do I have to tell people that you can't apparate at Hogwarts?"

"Okay, okay," she said, apologetically. "But – how?"

I bit my lip. "There are two possible answers. It's either he jumped off my balcony and into the nearby tree, and that would hurt," I added, "or he ran into Harry's room , and that would land him in a lot of trouble. I didn't hear any riot inside Harry's room so he probably jumped off."

"Probably," she said, unconvinced. Then her eyes widen. "No, wait! The other one's possible, too!"

"Huh?"

"Think, Hermione! You're not dumb, are you?"

I was quite insulted by that so I got my mind working. Two possibilities. One, jumped off. I said it was the one but Ginny said that he ran into the other room. He couldn't get past him without a couple of jinx or bruises except...

"Are you saying that that guy was probably Harry's friend? Cause he didn't beat him up when he got in his room."

"No, Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed. "What I meant was he could be Harry!"

"No!" I said in disbelief. "It's impossible. He's not Harry! I'm sure of it."

"How sure are you, then?"

"I don't know! He could be someone else!"

"And who else could he be?"

At that precise moment, the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and it admitted a disgruntled Ron. He walked in then he noticed us and gave a surprised yelp. But we were much more surprised to see him in – er – in that state.

"What are you still doing here, Ginny?" he said, ignoring me. "You should be asleep! Go to your room! It's still early!"

"And since when did you care?" Ginny snapped. "Where have you been, anyway, and – uh – what happened to you?"

Ron was a total mess. His hair was ruffled and leaves and twigs were sticking from it. His feet were muddy and – are those freckles or scratches?

"Quidditch," Ron said too quickly. "Er – I fell into a tree." I caught his eye and he blushed.

"Quidditch? At this late hour?"

"Look whose talking," he retorted. "I can see you chatting at this late hour, too! What are you gossiping about anyway?"

"It's none of your business," Ginny said, simply.

"If I know, it's about boys –" he looked at me and added, "and secret admirers."

"Give Hermione a break, will you!"

"You're not my mother to tell me what to do," he said and he stormed off to the boys' dormitory.

"I'll tell mom about this," Ginny fumed.

"Ginny," I said as an idea popped into my head. "He could be Ron!"

"What? Are you mad? Ron?"

"Look, this guy could've jumped into a tree and tonight, Ron fell into a tree!"

"So?"

"He could be him! Maybe he was just using Quidditch to cover up that he was the one who's giving me those lilies every night!"

"What about those arguments both of you are having every morning?" she asked. "Ron's jealous of the mystery guy!"

"I bet he's faking," I said.

"But what about Harry?"

"I know. He's still one of the suspects," I said. "This is weird. We now have suspects and both of them are my best friends!"

"So, what's your plan? Are you going to do anything about it?" Ginny questioned me.

"Of course," I replied. "And I'll be needing your help."