Many of you guessed it...
She turned her head upwards and stared. No…no. She tilted her head in disbelief and confusion.
"Am…am I dreaming," Hermione croaked.
"No, Mione…you're not dreaming."
Hermione sat up, too fast, and her vision began to sway again, but she didn't care. She hesitantly reached out, soft fingers intertwining with her own. A plethora of emotion began to build up within her. Hermione's eyes began to involuntarily water and her lips trembled as she stared into the bright brown eyes of her best friend.
"Ginny?"
Hermione opened and closed her mouth several times. She was sure that she resembled a fish on crack right now, but she didn't care. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Ginny was here…with her…in the Zabini Mansion. Hermione blinked, staring at the redheaded girl, trying to process this new information. Ginny is alive…Hermione ran her eyes over her best friend…and she looks more than okay. In fact, Ginny looked great. She looked…well taken care of.
Her best friend was alive and well. Hermione's mind was spinning and Ginny saw this.
"Mione, breathe, please. You look as if you're about to faint," Ginny said, taking Hermione's face in between her hands.
"You're-how…wh-what-I," Hermione couldn't even get a full sentence out, blinking about fifteen times per second.
Her heart was going a mile a minute. She felt so light headed. Hermione had never fully understood the term 'mind fuck' until now. She just couldn't wrap her head around all of this.
"Hermione, I'll explain everything, okay? You need to rest-"
"You're alive. You're okay. We-I…Ron! Ron was so w-worried and I, I was so worried. We didn't…I mean-"
"It's okay, it's okay."
"We didn't know where you were. You were gone! You vanished and we couldn't-and we had to leave and…," Hermione broke off with a sob, gasping for breath.
"I know, I know-"
"And then…and then we heard on the radio and… But…you're here."
Hermione pressed the palm of her hand to her forehead.
"You're here? Why are you here? How are you here?"
"Hermione, I promise, I'll explain everything-"
Hermione cut her off by throwing her arms around her. Ginny immediately responded by wrapping her arms around the curly haired witch. Hermione sobbed into Ginny's neck as the younger girl rubbed her back.
"I was so worried," Hermione cried.
"I know. I'm sorry," Ginny whispered.
Hermione continued to cry as Ginny rocked them both from side to side. Hermione wasn't sure how long they stayed like that. It could have been minutes, hell, it could have been hours. Hermione didn't care. All she cared about was the fact that her best friend was okay. She was alive and she seemed to be okay. Hermione tightened her arms around her. Somehow, they had ended up in a similar position to the one they were in when Hermine woke up.
"How have you been, Hermione?"
Hermione tensed, not sure how to answer that question and she told her so.
"I don't even know how to answer that," she whispered as she sat up.
Ginny tucked her hair behind her ears and looked at her best friend.
"I know…I know that you guys took off to…," Ginny trailed off.
"Yeah," Hermione said with a nod.
"H-how did you…," she trailed off, gesturing to the room.
Hermione sighed as she sat up further before pushing herself to sit against the headboard. She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, clasping her hands together.
"Xenophilius Lovegood said…his name. Long story short, we were caught. I want to be angry with him, but I can't. He was just desperate. They had Luna," Hermione said matter-of-factly.
Luna was safe now, though. She got out with Harry and Ron. She was okay.
"…and Ron and Harry?"
"They got out. Dobby helped them escape. At the time, I wasn't exactly in a position to leave with them. I'm one person, you know and Harry needed to get out of there."
"I'm sorry," Ginny whispered.
"I'm not. I mean, I'm not ecstatic, not even content. I'm just…accepting of the situation. I guess…I just knew that Draco would have his way in the end. Somewhere along the way, I think I realized that I was fighting a battle I had already lost," Hermione asked.
"But…I m-mean you care about him though…right," Ginny timidly asked.
Hermione glanced at her with a frown. Was it just her or did Ginny look almost hopeful? Hermione shook her head.
"I don't want to talk about this, Ginny," she whispered.
"But you do, don't you," Ginny desperately pressed.
Hermione sighed.
"It doesn't matter if I do or not. He is a manipulative, sociopathic, borderline abusive…tormentor. My feelings, that may or may not be there, doesn't change who he is," Hermione said.
Ginny remained silent for a while.
"People change, Hermione," Ginny whispered.
Hermione's train of thought immediately jumped to Harry. She bit her lip and turned her head away.
"Yes, I suppose they do," she agreed.
She exhaled as she opened her eyes, staring up at the dark red ceiling. After she and Ginny had talked for a bit they simply sat there in silence, not having the need to fill it with senseless chatter. They were both just happy to be within each other's presence. Of course, there was still the big elephant in the room, but Ginny had assured Hermione that she would tell her everything when she was ready. Hermione understood that more than anyone, so she did not push, no matter how much she wanted to.
Of course, this didn't stop Hermione from coming up with her own theories. She still stood by her original notion that Ginny had been kidnapped. Now, it was obvious that Blaise was the one who had done it. Of course, it could have just as easily been Nott or both of them. Either way, Hermione was sure that Blaise was behind all of it. Her fists clenched at the thought of the half Italian boy. Her dislike for him was right up there with Draco.
She heaved a sigh before stretching. She blinked and looked around in wonder, realizing that Ginny was gone. She sat up in fright before common sense kicked in. Ginny probably had gone to get something to eat or something. She's okay, Hermione. The rational part of her knew that. The irrational part, however… She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She suddenly perked up, realizing that there were voices outside. She frowned and looked at the ajar door before gently throwing the covers back and sliding out of bed. She took quick steps to the door and poked her head through the gap. Her eyes widened when they landed on Ginny…and Blaise. They were a little ways down, but still close enough for the sound of their voices to be heard. Hermione's jaw clenched. The last time she saw him was at Bill and Fleur's wedding, standing pretty pleased with himself in the midst of chaos. His hair was a bit shorter, the wavy ends curling at his neck just under his ears, a few strands falling into his eye. Other than that he looked the exact same; as put together as ever. She narrowed her eyes.
Hermione was just about to throw the door open and demand he step away from her friend when she paused and her eyes widened in disbelief. He had gently grabbed Ginny's hand, pulling her closer and whispering something to her. She watched as Ginny shook her head and lowered it, visibly upset about something as her shoulders trembled. Hermione's eyebrows furrowed as Blaise wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. He rested his chin on top of her head, lips moving.
Hermione retreated a bit, not believing what she was seeing. She gently shook her head. No, Ginny would never… Hermione gawked as Ginny lifted her head and pressed her lips against Blaise's, burying her fingers in his hair. Hermione stumbled back in shock, away from the door, head spinning. She kept backing up until her back connected with the bed post. No, no, no…
She pressed a hand against her chest and ran the other through her hair. She felt like she had just been punched in the gut. Ginny and…Blaise? Was this…was this some Stockholm syndrome thing or-or had Ginny willingly left with him? Hermione kneeled down, hanging her head in between her knees. She was dreaming, this had to be a dream…well, nightmare. This wasn't happening. She refused to believe otherwise.
She stood and turned around, resting her forehead on the post. She squeezed her eyes shut, demanding that she wake up. Oh, Merlin. Oh, Merlin! She fought back a sob.
"Oh! You're up."
Hermione's shoulders tensed as her eyes flew open. She glared at nothing as she felt Ginny approaching her.
"Are you hungry? I'm sure you are. These past few days…"
Ginny trailed off as Hermione slowly turned to face her, a blank expression on her face. Ginny stared in confusion as Hermione simply looked at her. Hermione felt like she was having an out of body experience. The minute her eyes laid upon her best friend, something in her snapped. Hermione felt as if there were now two of her and Hermione watched as she raked her eyes down Ginny's form and up again, eyes flashing.
"Hermione," Ginny questioned.
Hermione slowly glanced at the door before looking back at her friend, head tilted in question. Ginny looked back, and seeming to catch on, turned back around with a gasp. Ginny's eyes widened as she opened her mouth.
"Hermione-"
"Get out," she whispered.
"I can explain. I-"
"You know what? That sounds like a much better idea. Please, do explain," Hermione interrupted, tapping her chin.
Ginny sighed.
"Explain to me how I have been worrying myself sick and you've been here just living it up," Hermione laughed, throwing her hands around.
"Hermione, please…"
Hermione took a step forward. Ginny took one back.
"Explain to me how I had to watch your brother lose his mind as he practically stayed glued to that damn radio, listening for something, anything about you," she whispered.
"Hermione," Ginny tearfully whispered.
Another step forward. Another one back.
"Explain to me how I had to listen to him cry himself to sleep almost every other night. How we had to wake him up from the nightmares that plagued him night after night about his poor, sweet baby sister and all sorts of danger she could be in," Hermione continued.
Ginny's cheeks were streaked with tears as she looked at Hermione, silent and pleading. Her back hit the wall as Hermione stepped closer, her eyes boring into Ginny's. The next time Hermione spoke, her voice had dropped, a calm, chilling tone that gave Ginny frostbite with her next words.
"Explain to me, Ginny, how we drove ourselves crazy with worry, wondering where you were…if you were okay…if you were even alive while you were here spreading your legs for him," she said with a sneer.
Ginny shoved Hermione away from her.
"That is not fair! That isn't fair, Hermione! You act like I wanted this to happen. I didn't ask for this, okay? This hasn't been easy for me. I have struggled so much with this," she cried.
Hermione slammed her hand against her chest with a gasp.
"Oh! Oh, no! I- I'm so sorry. You're right, I can see just how much you've been struggling with this," Hermione mocked as she gestured to the door.
"Hermione, stop it!"
"I can't even look at you, right now," Hermione said, turning away.
Ginny reached out, grabbing her arm. Hermione spun around and slammed the other girl into the wall by her shoulder.
"Don't. Touch me," she hissed.
Ginny sobbed.
"Hermione-"
"Get out."
"You're not thinking clearly. You're mad. Please, please, just let me explain," Ginny cried.
"I don't want to hear any explanations. I don't care," Hermione shrugged "…you want to be a Death Eater's whore, you go right ahead."
The words had barely left her lips before the sound of a slap resonated throughout the room. Hermione stared at the floor in shock as she slowly reached up to touch her burning cheek.
"Oh, God. Oh, no. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm… I didn't mean that, Hermione. I didn't…"
Hermione flicked her hair out of her face as she stood upright. Ginny was shaking her head, her hands on her cheeks.
"I didn't mean to do that, I didn't! I'm so sorry, Hermione. I just… Talk to me about this. Please… I thought that out of all people you'd understand-"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It just means…I know why you're acting like this. I know that you're just displacing your own feelings-"
"I'm what," Hermione quietly questioned, warning in her voice.
Ginny seemed to finally collect herself as she sighed.
"I represent what you fear most. You saw Blaise and I and it was like…like looking into a mirror. You saw yourself and…," Ginny trailed off.
Hermione crossed her arms over her chest.
"Who? Who did I see, Ginny," Hermione demanded.
"Malfoy! You saw yourself and Malfoy. I'm doing what you're afraid to do and it makes you angry because you want to do it. The fact that you want to do it scares you."
"Well, aren't you just the little therapist now," Hermione mocked.
"Hermione, stop-"
"What I want to know is, what could you possibly be getting out of this? I mean, with Blaise it's obvious that he's a sick son of a-"
"It isn't like that, Hermione! I love him! He loves me too!"
Hermione stared at Ginny and blinked, before bursting into a fit of laughter. She doubled over, the crazed cackles filling the room as she clutched her stomach. She straightened up after some time, the laughter dying.
"Oh my! Oh, Merlin. I get it. I definitely get it now. You're right, Ginny. Now, it all makes perfect sense. You're just stupid," she said, lighting hitting her forehead.
"Hermione-"
"He's using you! Believe me, I've been there…"
"No, no, he's not like that. At least, not with me. He cares about me and…and after that whole thing with Harry, I never would have thought that I-"
"My, my. He really did a number on you, didn't he," Hermione questioned, squinting at her friend.
"Hermione…"
"He's got you wrapped around his dirty little finger. I never would have pegged you for this type of girl, Ginny. What, is the sex that great?"
"Shut up! You don't know anything. You don't understand and you don't want to. You're afraid of what's going to happen if you do-"
"Stop diagnosing me. You're dead to me," Hermione spat.
Ginny closed her eyes and breathed.
"You're upset and confused and conflicted. Everything you say in this room is going to stay here. I understand, Hermione. I thought the same things about myself. Sometimes I still do. You just need time."
Hermione leaned against the bed post.
"Tell me, what exactly are you going to do when he tosses you aside in the end," Hermione questioned.
"Hermione, he loves me-"
"And how can you be so sure? He's just like the rest of them, Ginny. In my opinion, he's the worst of them all," Hermione said with a shrug.
Ginny scoffed, taken aback by that statement.
"Excuse me? Have you met Malfoy?"
"I have and Draco has always been very upfront about who he is. I may have questioned it once, but for the most part, he's pretty open about the fact that he's a manipulative, possessive, sadistic, selfish piece of crap. Blaise on the other hand…"
Hermione stared Ginny down.
"Well, I can happily say that he is the shadiest son of a bitch I've ever met."
Hermione shoved Ginny away from her as she charged.
"Don't talk about him like that!"
"I'll say whatever I want about him because it's the truth."
Hermione caught Ginny's hand in her own, tightening her grip.
"I've asked you twice already. I'm not going to ask again," Hermione said, nodding towards the door.
"Take it back, Hermione," Ginny demanded.
She scoffed and was just about to tell her to shove it when Ginny slammed her hand into Hermione's face, slamming the back of her head into the bed post. Hermione reached out and grabbed the fiery tresses, slamming Ginny's face into her knee. She tackled the other girl to the ground before she had time to recover. She pinned the girl down with her knees, gripping her shoulders and shaking her.
"How could you, Ginny? How could you do this? Look what he's done to you!"
Ginny fought to get Hermione off of her, but Hermione didn't go gallivanting off hunting for Horcruxes without being properly trained.
"You are my sister! You're the closest thing I've ever had to one! How could you do this," she cried, the dam finally breaking.
"Get off of me!"
"What will Ron say? What will your friends and family think," she shrieked.
"Hermione!"
She hadn't heard the door open. Didn't even notice they had company until she was being hauled up. She kicked and flailed against the hold.
"Let me go," she screamed.
She recognized the body that was against her back and that only drove her crazier.
"Get her out of here, Blaise," he growled.
Hermione's eyes landed on the dark haired Slytherin with fury as he consoled a crying Ginny. As Draco pulled her away from the couple, she grabbed a book on the nearby coffee table and hurled it at Blaise. It missed and she reached for the table itself.
"I'll kill you! You hurt her and I'll murder you!"
It smashed against the door just as they closed it in time.
"Stop this, now."
She screamed, jerking in his hold, taking them both down. She turned on him, clawing at his face and neck, anything she could get her hands on.
"This is your fault! I hate you," she screamed as she shoved him.
He caught one hand, struggling with the other. She twisted out of his grip and hurled her fists at him, satisfied when she struck again and again.
"You took everything from me," she shrieked.
She had him on his back now as she fought.
"My education…"
Swing.
"My friends…"
She dug her nails into his neck.
"My sister…"
Punch.
"My sanity," she bawled.
She sagged, all the fight leaving her as she scooted away from him, her back connecting with the wall. She tangled her fingers into her hair as she sobbed, inconsolable. She rocked back and forth, mind spinning. Her heart…her heart was breaking. She didn't notice Draco crawling closer to her, not until he touched her leg. She kicked out, not wanting him anywhere near her. It seemed that he didn't care. He grabbed one arm, ignoring as she scratched him up with the other and pulled her into his arms.
She fought against him, definitely leaving bruises. He tightened his hold as he rested his chin on the top of her head, her back to his front.
"Stop, Hermione."
This only spurred her on as she thrashed against him.
"Hermione, stop! Cut it out," he harshly demanded.
He flipped them over, his form pressed against her own. He pinned her down, hand pressed against the small of her back, her face turned towards the door. Her vision blurred again as she started to cry, all movements halting. Her nails scratched against the floor. Her form trembled as he pulled her up into a sitting position. She hung her head and let out wheezing breaths, Draco's arms tightening around her. He used one hand to brush her hair to the side, running his nose long the back of her neck before pressing his lips against the skin. His breath warmed her skin, causing her to shudder as he whispered:
"You still have me. You'll always have me, Hermione."
Don't kill me. I've had this scene between Ginny and Hermione written out in my head before I even had the first chapter done. Believe me, it's necessary.