Ginny's New Life

Chapter Eight

Hogsmead Bound

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"Ron, what are you doing? Come on, let's go in here…" Ginny said loudly.

"Wait, where is Hermione?" Ron asked.

"I told you, she's not coming today. Now will you move its bloody cold out here!" Ginny said.

Ginny grabbed a hold of Ron's sleeve and pulled him hastily into the Three Broomsticks. Once inside Ginny removed her winter cloak and looked out the window. The snow was blowing so had that you couldn't see across the street to the other shops. Ron was still craning his neck out the door looking back at Hogwarts, apparently hoping that Hermione would appear at any moment.

Ginny pulled Ron once more and pushed him down into a chair then she sat down beside him. "Ron for the last time, Hermione isn't coming it's just us today."

Ron looked defeated then took off his coat. "Okay so are you going to tell me why she isn't here?"

"Yes Ron that's the whole reason I came today otherwise I would be with Harry." Ginny said with a slice of bitterness in her voice. "But before I tell you anything I need to ask you a question."

"What?" Ron asked.

"Do you love Hermione?"

"Yes! Of course I do…I have told her that thousands of times." Ron said, sounding hurt.

Ginny leaned forward and put her face very close to Ron's, "Well then you have a funny way of showing it!"

"Wha.." Ron started to say.

"Don't interrupt me, I'm not done yet! Hermione has done everything for you and you act as if she is nothing. I mean come on, what was with those ear rings at Christmas? How long have you known Hermione? Harry knows more about her than you do! You never write her or send her anything and because of it she feels as if you don't love her anymore." Ginny said her cheeks red with anger.

Ron looked completely stunned at Ginny's triad. "I don't know what to say. Is she still mad about Christmas because I still don't understand why?"

"Because she was expecting more from you." Ginny said.

"You keep saying that I still don't…" Ron started.

"She was expecting a ring!" Ginny exclaimed causing several people in the pub to turn and look at her with odd expressions, once Ginny calmed herself down she said in a normal tone, "Unfortunately for you Hermione seems to be measuring your relationship to mine and Harry's. She doesn't like that you two are moving so much slower than us."

Ron looked completely shaken and dumbstruck. After a few moments he finally managed to spit out, "She wanted a ring…like an engagement ring?"

"Ron, I think she would have liked the ear rings if you at least knew that she didn't have pierced ears. And she just wants some sort of sign from you that you are trying to advance your relationship. You don't have to get her a ring, and she wouldn't want you too of your not ready, but do something man! Send her flowers, a love letter, hell knowing Hermione she would probably snog you for hours if you bought her a book!" Ginny said smiling at her own joke.

"Look if you need help why don't you talk to Harry. Surely you have been around when Harry has done stuff for me or read some of the letters I have sent him. I'm not saying Harry's perfect but if you were just a bit more like him towards Hermione it would help." Ginny said.

"I never see Harry! He's always in his room when he's home but he spends so much time at Quidditch practice that he's not really home much." Ron said.

"Well, even so I know that you can be romantic I mean look at the rest of our brothers. They do alright for themselves it must run in the bloodline somewhere." Ginny said.

"Ginny, you help me…you tell me what to do. I don't want Hermione mad at me." Ron said sadly.

"Alright Ron, I'll help you but if your going to keep Hermione you need to learn to take care of her."

"I'll do anything, just help me." Ron pleaded.

Ginny pushed her chair closer to Ron and leaned into him. "Alright Ron here is what you do…"

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"Time!" Hermione demanded.

"It's a quarter till one." Ginny said as she glanced down at her watch.

"Should I go now, no I should wait. But what if he is already waiting for me? No he said one o'clock." Hermione said nervously, talking to herself.

Hermione and Ginny were sitting in the Gryffindor common room the weekend following Ginny and Ron's talk. Ron had listened to everything Ginny had to say and a few days later sent Hermione a note and told her to meet him in Hogsmead at one today. Hermione had put on her best outfit and spent a good hour on her hair, pulling it back in a bun and causing little curls to fall down loosely. Ginny wasn't exactly sure what Ron had planned but she sure hoped that it was something good.

"Hermione if you pace anymore your going to run a hole in the rug." Ginny grinned.

"For the love of all that is holy what time is it?" Hermione said loudly causing several first years that passed by to jump and run away.

"Fourteen minutes till one." Ginny said.

"Ahhh, time is moving too slow!" Hermione exclaimed then walked over and dropped down into a chair beside Ginny. "I just wish I knew what he was up too. And your sure you don't have any idea?"

"Hermione I told you, I gave him some good advice but I have no idea what he has planned for you today. I'm still shocked that you said you would go, you never leave the castle unless it's a scheduled Hogsmead weekend." Ginny said as she absently petted Crookshanks who was curled up on her lap.

"I know I don't want to leave but I'm just too curious." Hermione said.

"You better watch it Hermione or you may just become wild!" Ginny laughed at the frown that Hermione gave her. Ginny looked down at her watched then back up to Hermione. "You better head outside so you can apparate Hermione you only have a few minutes."

Hermione jumped up, looked around the room as if someone had shocked her. "Oh no, where is my cloak its freezing out there. How does my hair look? Am I dressed alright? What if Ron does something stupid?"

"Hermione calm down! You already have you cloak on, your hair looks amazing and I love your outfit. If Ron does something stupid I'll kill him…stop worrying it will be fine." Ginny said. "Now you better go!"

Hermione gave Ginny a hug and said, "Thank you for helping." Then she wrapped her cloak around her tighter and headed out the portrait hole.

The moment Hermione was out of sight Ginny jumped up (causing Crookshanks to hiss loudly as he landed on the floor) and ran to her room. She searched for a moment in her trunk until she found a shiny silver plated mirror that she had come so used to holding. She examined her reflection for a moment then said loudly, "Harry Potter."

Ginny thought for a moment that Harry wasn't home then the familiar swirling and foggy image grazed the surface and Harry's smiling face came into view. Harry smiled toothily then kissed the mirror as if he was kissing Ginny. Ginny giggled at seeing Harry's squished lips up against the flat surface.

"Harry you looked like a fish when you did that!" Ginny said still laughing.

Harry just smiled, "So what's up you don't usually talk on this until night time."

"I wanted to know if you what Ron was doing with Hermione today." Ginny asked.

"Is he meeting her today? It's not a Hogsmead weekend is it?" Harry asked.

Ginny looked annoyed, "So you don't know then, Ron sent Hermione a note and had her meet him Hogsmead outside of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."

"Really, I don't have any idea what he is up to but I hope it's something good, for his sake!" Harry said.

"Yeah me too because if he screws up I think she may break it off with him. You should see her Harry she has nothing but sulk since Christmas. But enough about Hermione, how are you, how is Quidditch going?" Ginny asked.

"Our last game of the season is in a few weeks. We didn't make the tournament because before I started they lost over ten games but if I choose to stay on next year I bet we win more." Harry said.

Ginny smiled, "Your awfully sure of yourself there Potter."

Harry looked embarrassed, "I guess so, I listen to fans to much I suppose that's what they keep talking about."

Harry and Ginny talked for hours. They went into more detail about Harry's Quidditch and weather or not he was going to play the following season. Ginny discussed how things have gotten better at Hogwarts sense she hexed the Slytherin's. But most of all they talked about what exactly they were going to do once she was out of Hogwarts, which couldn't come soon enough for either of them.

Ginny had completely lost track of time and when she realized that it was dark outside and Hermione wasn't home yet she started to get worried. "Harry, is Ron home yet?"

"Hang on let me go see." Harry said as he got up and left the field of vision of the mirror. Ginny waited as she heard his bedroom door open and his foot steps as he walked around. Then the footsteps got closer and he returned once more. "No he isn't back yet, I'm sure they will be home soon."

No sooner had Harry said that when a loud crack could be heard from outside of Harry's bedroom. Harry got up, mirror still in hand and walked out into the apartment. Ginny could see Ron's feet as the mirror hung to Harry's side. Harry and Ron exchanged words but Ginny had a hard time hearing. A moment later Ron's face appeared in the mirror and he was ginning from ear-to-ear.

"Hello Ron, how did your evening go?" Ginny said returning Ron's smile.

"It was great Ginny, beyond great it was perfect. I'll let Hermione tell you she should be up there in a minute." Ron replied.

Harry's face appeared in the mirror again and at the same time Hermione came busting into the room looking as if she was floating on air. Ginny looked back down to Harry and said, "I'm going to chat with Hermione I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Alright goodnight Gin." Harry said as the mirror went foggy and back to its normal reflected surface.

Ginny tuned to Hermione who was slipping into her pajamas and taking her hair down for the night. As Hermione pulled a pin out of her hair and a large brown curl fell down Ginny saw it. A sparkling diamond silver ring was resting perfectly on her ring finger as if she had always worn it. Ginny jumped out of bed, grabbed Hermione's hand and examined the ring.

"That's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!" Ginny said breathlessly.

Hermione beamed and wrapped her arms around Ginny then whispered in her ear, "Ginny, were going to be sisters."