Day Four

Ginny arrived early for their shopping excursion on Saturday morning, which was a clear indicator that she had something she wanted to gossip about. Otherwise, she would have taken the opportunity to sleep as late as possible, which was her favorite thing to do on a Saturday.

Part of Hermione hoped that Ginny had been apprised of the situation with Harry from Ron, saving her the conversation she'd planned to have while they were out today. But part of her dreaded the possibility, as it hadn't occurred to her until Ginny was literally standing in front of her in her living room that this might make for an awkward situation.

Harry and Ginny were basically the poster children for amicable breakups. They had quickly drifted back into an easy friendship after their relationship ended. Ginny dated casually for awhile after that, which hadn't seemed to bother Harry at all, before she announced that she was bi-sexual and started seeing a witch.

Harry had been her biggest advocate privately, but also publically, which just went to prove that Harry was not above using the influence his fame gave him when it was something he believed was important. And while in some cases Hermione would have disapproved, she couldn't in this one, because it had been the right thing to do and his abhorrent fame should be good for something. In fact, she had been extremely proud of him, because in this case it meant opposing Molly Weasley and she knew how difficult that was for him.

Ginny was still dating the same witch, Amanda, who was a quidditch trainer, and Hermione was sure that they loved each other and were very happy together. She also believed that Ginny was over Harry. But despite all that, the fact was that Hermione knew, maybe better than anybody else, that Ginny had spent many years firmly believing that Harry was the love of her life.

She could be very territorial and in many ways still considered Harry to be 'hers.' Hermione couldn't be sure that Ginny wouldn't consider this arrangement to be some kind of betrayal and she already had a difficult enough time making friends, and especially with other women. She didn't want to taint this friendship.

Because Ginny was early she'd also interrupted Hermione's internal debate about whether to go ahead and open the Advent calendar door for the day, or save it for later. As she had no plans to see Harry later she thought she might want to have something to look forward to.

"So I hear that you have some news for me," Ginny began after she finished brushing herself off.

Ginny was grinning impishly and Hermione almost groaned. At the very least she was in for a lot of teasing.

"Oh?"

"Oh don't play dumb, it doesn't suit you," Ginny waved her off.

"You Weasleys are the worst gossips," Hermione griped.

"I'm not even insulted," she said airily. "This isn't really gossip anyway. Ron stopped by yesterday to tell me that you're pretending to be Harry's girlfriend for all of his cousin's wedding stuff."

"That sounds like gossip to me."

"It's only one degree of separation, so I disagree, it's just information. And he was looking for advice anyway, not just talking."

"Advice?"

"Yes, because while my brother is an idiot, he's not actually an idiot, you know?"

"Sort of," Hermione laughed.

"He wanted to know if I thought the whole situation was weird. Because he thinks it's weird, even though he says that you both insist that it's no big deal. Which I take to mean that no matter what you say, that Ron- who knows you both very well- has noticed a difference in how you and Harry are behaving towards each other lately, and so he thinks there's more going on here than you're willing to admit. He didn't say all that, but I know how his brain works," she took in a heaving breath after expelling it all with that rapid explanation.

"Ron has always thought that."

"Correction, Ron always worried about that when you were teenagers. Before the two of you gave it a shot, and he was so insecure that he thought if you and Harry got together that he'd be left out in the cold. But he hasn't in years. Plus," she held up one finger demonstratively, "when he asked me about it, he didn't seem upset by the idea at all, just kind of confused. I really do think he came to me because he knew that I would understand and he wants to know how to handle it. Because when it comes down to it, Ron knows he's an idiot too, and he doesn't want to mess this up."

Despite the delicate topic, Hermione felt a little bubble of pride grow within her at her friend's maturity.

"Harry and I are just friends."

Ginny held up her hand to stop her from continuing. "Now, I knew that's what you were going to say. I even think you believe it's true. And maybe it is true," she admitted, and then paused until Hermione looked at her. "But I want to say something now, and I want you to listen, okay?"

"Okay," she responded anxiously.

"My first instinct when Ron asked me about this was to say: 'Of course Harry and Hermione are just friends! Don't be silly!' because I accepted that a long time ago. I never felt threatened by you as a teenager or when Harry and I were together. But then I started thinking about it, because I hadn't thought about it in so long, and do you know what I found myself asking?"

"What?" She asked, doing her best to keep her voice steady even as her anxiety grew.

"Why?" Ginny said. "I asked myself why are you and Harry only friends? Because from my perspective, no two people will ever love each other or complement each other better than you and Harry do. Now, maybe it really is platonic, the last thing I want to do is minimize the importance or depth of your friendship. Okay?"

Hermione nodded, she really appreciated that last sentiment.

"But what if it's not? What if you just accepted a long time ago that you were only friends, like I did, and haven't considered that maybe your feelings have changed? I don't want the two of you to miss out on something beautiful just because you couldn't see it, or because you were afraid to act on it. So, just think about it. And know that if you're worried about how people will react, you have my full support, and you'll have Ron's, and we'll be your Beaters."

Hermione did her best to analyze the many, mind boggling possibilities in that little speech but all she could bring herself to ask was: "Beaters?"

Ginny laughed, but the look in her eyes told Hermione that Ginny realized that she'd essentially just blown Hermione's mind. But she graciously didn't tease her. "You know, we'll protect you from all the bludgers any idiots might feel like hurling at you. Even if they come from our own family."

That was when Hermione realized that her eyes were clouded with tears. She felt slightly guilty for doubting this witch, but mostly she felt enormously grateful.

"Thank you Gin, and I promise I'll think about it."

"You're welcome," she reached out and clasped her arm, and Hermione pulled her into a hug.

"Can I ask you a question?" Hermione asked, after pulling away to wipe her eyes.

"Shoot," Ginny smiled.

"Are you going to give Harry a similar speech?"

"No," she shook her head vigorously. "I would, if he were pretty much anybody else. But I know him well enough to know that if I say this to him, he'll probably just freak out and decide that he can't even think of pursuing anything more with you, because then he might lose you. He might even pull away from you to prevent that. Because not being as close to you would be better and safer than losing you completely."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully.

"I told you this because I know that no matter what you decide, and even if you give a relationship a try and it doesn't work, you'll never, ever let that happen, "Ginny continued." But let's face it, no matter how much he tries to hide it, his relatives really fucked him up and he doesn't know how to protect himself properly, but you do."

Hermione thought about that, and while her first instinct was to defend Harry, she ultimately concluded that this was excellent insight, and that Ginny wasn't being mean about Harry, nor would she share these thoughts with anybody else, no matter how big a gossip she might be. "You're right."

"So, in return for this great advice, I want you to make those horrible people suffer, and I expect to hear all about it. Deal?"

"Deal," Hermione laughed.

"Now, what's this?" Ginny asked, pointing at the Advent calendar. "Wait," she frowned, tilting her head this way and that, "I think I've seen one of those before."

"At my parent's house," Hermione agreed, "it's an Advent calendar."

"That's right, I remember! There are little gifts inside, aren't there?" She bounced a little on her toes in excitement. "You haven't opened it today. Well, go ahead, let's see!"

Hermione hesitated.

"What's wrong?

"Nothing," she bit her lip and sighed, admitting to herself that there was no getting around what was certain to happen once she said what she was going to say next, "it's just that Harry gave it to me."

Ginny eyed her for several long beats. "You mean, he bought you that and filled it with little treats just for you?"

"Yes."

"And you don't want to open it in front of me?"

"That would be correct."

The knowing look on Ginny's face was absolutely infuriating. But then she just said amicably: "Okay, let's go shopping then."

Hermione stepped out of her floo that evening so ladened down with bags, boxes, and garment bags that she didn't notice the other person in her flat until they were relieving her of her burden. Harry's familiar scent washing over her was the only thing that prevented her from drawing her wand.

"What are you doing here, Harry?" She asked instead.

"Inviting myself over," he quipped, then he gestured with his chin to all the bags and boxes that he'd taken into his arms. "Where would you like these?"

"Oh, just put them on my bed, I'll go through them later. Thanks," she brushed her hair out of her eyes now that her hands were free, and placed her purse in the basket taht she kept beside the floo for that very purpose.

"You know," he called out, and she could hear that he was returning to the living room, "you didn't buy nearly that much when you went shopping with me." He stepped back into the room with a pointed look on his face, but he didn't actually call her out on her subterfuge about Halloween.

"Well, Ginny has much stronger opinions about clothes than you do. And she's very insistent. I could have walked out in a paper bag and you would have told me I looked nice."

"It's true," he shrugged.

She knew that he meant that as a mere brush off, but it was actually remarkable, in that she could tell he was utterly sincere. She took a deep breath.

"One would think I'm a bad shopping companion," he continued, "you should always take Gin."

"You're preferable, actually. You're good company and I don't end up spending half a month's salary on things I probably don't need, so I'm afraid you're not off the hook."

He laughed and she could have patted herself on the back for her quick thinking, especially because she hadn't actually lied to him.

He glanced at the Advent calendar. "You haven't opened it yet today."

"Oh. No I haven't. Ginny got here early."

He just looked at it and then back to her expectantly.

"I see you don't really care that I don't like opening gifts in front of people," Hermione challenged, doing her best to look stern, but she couldn't keep a smile off her face. She was stupidly happy to see him, opening the Advent calendar in front of him felt like nothing.

"I really want to see your reaction to this one. I don't think you'll mind."

She just narrowed her eyes at him as she walked up to the calendar and opened the fourth door to reveal a flight of six perfect French truffles. She gasped. "I hope you're not here with some misguided hope that I'll be sharing these."

"I'm not suicidal. The look on your face is all I wanted. I was just bored and I remembered that you said that you weren't busy tonight. I brought a DVD."

"Oh, what did you bring?" She asked as she carefully set her perfect little treats aside.

"Die Hard."

"Seasonal," she commented, trying to keep a straight face, because she was certain he'd picked this particular film because she'd begun to suggest rom-coms every time they watched something, for the sole purpose of seeing how long it would take to break him because, bless him, he could sometimes be such a pushover. And he'd lasted longer than she'd estimated.

"And I ordered Chinese."

"Well I guess there's just no getting rid of you," she sighed dramatically.

"I'm like a bad doxy infestation."

"My thoughts exactly," she said wryly, with a roll of her eyes, as she approached him.

She put her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. "Thank you, again, and of course you're welcome to stay. I'm happy you're here."

She relished his crisp scent, the way his strong arms felt wrapped around her, and even the scratching of his stubble against the delicate skin of her cheek.

Well, that was interesting. And possibly very inconvenient.

She was either going to have to find a very nice Christmas present for Ginny Weasley, or an obscure and subtle curse to use on her. The jury was still out as to which.