Chapter 14: Step One

Ginny was bleary-eyed and messy-haired when she answered the door. With a yawn she said, "`Lo, Hermione. You're disgustingly chipper today. What time is it?"

"It's eight-thirty. I came by to drop off Crookshanks and Archimedes," I said, both cat carrier and owl cage in my hands.

She yawned again. "But I thought your flight doesn't leave until this afternoon."

I smiled thinly. It was true, but I was sent at this time because Harry was finally going to propose today, and I had been deployed to assure Ginny was ready on time. Clearing my throat, I said, "I was wondering if you would run a few errands with me."

Ginny looked at me flatly. "You hate running errands with other people there to slow things down."

Holding back a sigh, I let go of my tenuous smile. "Okay, I don't actually have errands. I just don't want to be alone before I leave for the states, and everyone else is busy."

My fiery-haired friend yawned. "Can't it wait a few hours? I know how you get with big cases, but you do remember what sleep feels like, don't you Hermione?"

I fought with myself. Harry's plan depended on this. I refused to let all of our planning go to waste because Ginevra Molly Weasley was sleepy. I hated doing this to Ginny when this was her one day to catch up on sleep she missed for Quidditch practice, but this was also the only day off that Ginny and Harry shared for months. Making the most pathetic face I could muster, I said, "This whole Malfoy thing has really messed me up, and then yesterday I saw Ron."

At that Ginny snapped awake, murder in her eyes. "What did he do? By Merlin I will kill him where he stands."

I snorted. "I didn't give him the opportunity to say anything. But the last thing I want is to go about town thinking about everything and then running into him and his tart."

Ginny nodded. "Although I'm sure if you hexed her you could make it out to be self-defense."

I sighed. "But that would be a little harder to use as an excuse if I hexed them both into next week."

"But the sight it would be," Ginny said a little dreamily.

"I feel obligated to remind you that she is your sister-in-law," I said.

"Yes, unfortunately. I've inquired about disowning a sister-in-law, but apparently you have to leave something in your will for them in the first place. I've decided if their relationship lasts six months I've disowning Ron and revoking his rights as my brother." Then Ginny looked me over critically. "Hermione, I love you but we are not having you go around town looking like that."

A little offended I looked at my clothes. "I'm going to be on a plane all day, it wouldn't make sense to wear something nice. Besides, these are my nice pair of sweats."

Ginny shuddered. "Hermione Jean Granger, you did not just claim to have 'nice sweats.' And then today you show up without having thought about your hair or makeup. It pains me, Hermione."

"No one is going to care!" I protested.

"You might see your ex-fiance and his wife, and you're the hot young bachelorette on the market. We are not leaving my apartment with you looking less than stellar," Ginny demanded stubbornly.

I sighed in defeat. "Fine. But can I at least put down Crookshanks and Archimedes?"

Once my pets were made comfortable in Ginny's apartment she whisked me into her bathroom and sicced her enchanted makeup brushes on me. She brutally attacked my hair, wrestling it into a classy braid.

"Wear this," Ginny demanded, shoving a flimsy sundress into my arms.

"I'm offended on behalf of my sweats," I called as she slammed the door of the bathroom.

Ginny emerged in record time, looking killer in a lacey white sundress that showcased her athleticism. "Okay Hermione, we have the whole morning before us. Besides, now you can go snag yourself a handsome American."

I gagged a bit. "Sure, whatever you say. Let's go waste time."

Following Ginny, we found ourselves in Diagon Alley in no time. Neither of us truly needed anything, so we wandered a bit. We ended up going to a new broom store where Ginny ran around like a child in a candy shop. I contented myself with the fact that I would act much the same once we got to Flourish and Blott's. She dragged me from display to display.

In the broom shop (called Atkins and Sons) Ginny and I were the recipients of many appreciative male looks. A few children trailed Ginny for a while, asking for autographs on various Hollyhead Harpies merchandise. When she went to buy her items the store owner looked excited enough to faint. Overall, Ginny and I were in Arkins and Sons for at least two hours, which felt excessive to me personally, but I still hated flying with a vengeance.

When we finally left and as soon as Flourish and Blott's was in view a small sense of peace washed over me. There would always be solace in books for me.

Ginny was laughing at me as I practically skipped through the door to where the smell of books awaited. We were laughing together until I stopped dead in my tracks, confronted by the two people I wanted to see least in the world.


A/N: Sorry for the late update, moving to and from college is always hard. Honestly, moving was worse than my finals (which were murder). But both are over now, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to post more frequently over the summer, but I'm going to be working two jobs, so for right now I'll still aim for one chapter a week. As always reviews are incredibly helpful and encouraging. I can't give an exact chapter count, but the action is going to be starting soon. Apologies for any typos, I literally fell asleep a few times while I was typing this.