Breaking Boundaries
By: Somewhere Sky

Disclaimer: Of course, as always - the rights to the Harry Potter realm of fiction belongs solely to
J.K. and her brilliant mind. Although I may admit, I shall always be slightly jealous.

Chapter 3:
Unspoken Bonds and Breakages

Hermione avoided Ginny through out breakfast, she ignored pretty much everyone actually. Harry tried coaxing her into a bit of excitement for their upcoming day in Diagon Alley but Hermione wasn't so keen on shopping for their school supplies, final year - and still bending over backwards for Hogwarts. Hermione wanted to to talk to Ron about how things ended, if they ended at all really she still wasn't so sure, and as much as she may have enoyed the excitement for school previously - well, Hermione wasn't so positive this year was going to be great at all.

Hermione saw Ginny glance her way, it was so sincere that Hermione found herself distracted momentarily from her original plan. The mutual stare didn't stay for very long, with Ginny looking away to talk to her mom, and Hermione took that as an opportunity to strike up a conversation with Ron.

"Hey Ro-" Hermione had attempted to ask before being interrupted.

"Okay kids, go on now, head to the fireplace - I'll be there in a moment, just cleaning up a bit" The old Weasley woman said to them, and as if she were God, all of the young adults and stood and directed themselves toward the livingroom. Maybe this was going to be harder than Hermione thought.

In the livingroom Ginny stood beside Harry discussing the upcoming Quidditch year, Harry didn't know where Quidditch stood at Hogwarts, if he remained Captain at all.

"We actually didn't have any Quidditch last year Harry, all torture and no fun remember?" Ginny told him.

"Sorry about that Gin - I'll talk to McGonagal." Harry smirked and wrapped his arm around the young girl, this may have been a friendly gesture to the both of them, but a few Weasley's behind stood an older witchwho's heart was breaking.

"Ron!" Hermione yelled across the Weasley clan shooting a few daggers in the opposite direction. Ron barely heard her as he walked into the familiar floo fireplace, it was "Diagon Alley!" not Hermione..

One by one the group slowly piled into the fireplace disappearing into a blast of smoke and appearing on the other side in Diagon Alley.

Hermione and Ginny were the last to go, the extra time together couldn't have been more awkward as the young witches tried desperately not to look at the other. It was Ginny who stepped up to try and break the dreadful tension between them.

" 'mione, I... I don't know what to say.." her big green eyes pleaded.

"There's nothing to say Ginny, don't worry about it." Hermione mumbled as she stepped into the warping fire. Hermione wasn't ready to hear what Ginny had to say, especially if it involved Harry.

"Hermione..." Ginny yelled to the older witch as the smoke took over her body.

"I love you..." She had whispered to no one.

Diagon Alley was one of the most magical places in all of the wizarding world. You could find anything for anyone, any toy for any toddler, something magical for those who weren't. Ginny had been saving up for years to buy herself a new broom, and so she took off with harry to find one. The Weasley parents were headed toward what was now George's joke shop. With Fred gone, they wanted to make sure George was okay running the place on his own - it did get kind of crazy with pills spilling and adorable angry creaching hopping about.

These two unfortunate turn of events left Hermione alone for the second time, but with company - only the redhead beside her was far less curvacious.

"Hey Ron" she tried to smile, but something felt out of place in this situation and so instead the corners of her mouths flimped back downwards into a neutral expression that was for the most part unreadable.

" Hermione" he nodded. He gestured with his hand towards a bench in front of the newly renovated Ollivander's Wands, Ron turned toward Hermione watching her as she crossed her legs and wiggled her hands together nervously.

"I'm sorry about everything Ron, really - I don't know what happened, I just felt like I needed to be alone, but at the same time I was so incredibly lonely. Hearing from you just made me want to hide, I didn't want to confront our relationship - I just -" she trailed off.

"It's okay Hermione, in some way I think I understand, but only kind of - it's a bit like potions I s'pose.." he said slightly confused himself as to what he was trying to say, he continue when Hermione raised her brow questioningly.

"You can throw all the ingredients and stuff together, but it still may not brew right...I guess we didn't chop the gillyweed correctly? Come on Hermione, you led me to believe there was something between us, we were in the middle of a war and you attacked me!" Ron laughed at the memory, which made Hermione smile.

"I know, I ... I do want to be with you.. it's just different now that's all. things will be different I mean... with us - if you could even call us that. I'll try my best Ron, I can be more creative, I'll do more, be more, whatever it takes I'll -"

"Hermione.." Ron bit his lip.

"I'll help you with your homework?"

"Hermione it shouldn't have to be a chore to be with me! You should just want to!" Ron raised his voice exasperated with the brunette.

"I do want to be with you Ron" she whispered, shrinking a little on her side of the bench. Ron had placed a hand on hers and softly placed his other hand on her cheek turning her chin to face him.

"No you don't 'mione.." Ron said, his voice seeming both sad and confused.

"Ron.." Hermione tried once more... and that's when he kissed her, he just pulled his body closer and his lips had met with hers. but Ron pulled away quickly with a final peck on the cheek.

"See? Nothing Hermione. We're just friends who got a little ahead of themselves. Besides - you'd probably rip my head off before term even started, and I don't think McGonagal would like it so much. I may not blow things up like Seamus, but my goblet always has a tail." He smiled giving a quick wink, to top it all off Ron gave Hermione a final hug before they walked off to find the others.

***
"What about this one Ginny?" Harry asked her, pointing directly at the new Nimbus Premium, the lasted racing broom said to "have incredibly magical albility to improve even the worst broomsmen" Ginny had a good laugh and made a note to bring it up with Hermione later, and than it hit Ginny - there wouldn't be a Hermione to chat with anymore, no late night talks, no Hogsmeade trips - no friendship.

Ginny knew so very well that she was pushing Hermione away, but she also knew so very well that it would be better if Hermione knew nothing of Ginny's love.

"It's not me Harry, it's far too flashy." Ginny demanded while stroking the handle, it had nothing that stood out to her, shopping for a broom was Hermione's equivalent of reading a good book - it just had to fit right in her hand. The right smell, the right touch, that specialness could only be shared by the owner.

Harry sighed and wandered off into another area of the shop, Ginny hardly knew where she was. Harry had brought her to this place saying he had caught a quick glimpse of it while briefly in Diagon Alley during his Horcrux search, even though Hermione, Ron and Harry had been spotted by a few death eaters Harry had miraculously managed to store the broomshop information in his brain. Ginny didn't want to admit that she was impressed.

While concentrating on not thinking of Hermione, Ginny had been distracted while looking at the broom display, she had passed by several fine broomsticks - not noticing a single feature about them other than something or other was bringing up memories of the brunette she was pathetically longing for. One broom, down at the end had broken her Gryffindor obsession, and in a sprint Ginny collided into Harry at the end of the display and she became in awe of the beauty before her. The broom had a simple design - it looked, spelled, and felt like just an ordinary broom you might find in a muggle home, but what was so special was that this broom held an enchancement that instead of inhancing your athletic abilities - it "This is a partnership where I ask you to be only you, and in return your personal best shall flourish". Ginny decided at that moment to frame the tag.

It was a humble broom. Which made Ginny's day - she was an excellent Quidditch player, the last thing she wanted to do is show off, so instead she found a broom that was doing the exact thing she lived by - being itself and wishing that everyone else do the same. After purchasing the broom and walking out of the store with Harry, the whole family had united at George's shop - standing in front of a shelf of puking Pastills and love potions - Ginny looked at Hermione for what seemed like the thousandth time - and she realized that her broom must have known exactly who she was for it to know that she wasn't being herself.

Diagon Alley was one of the most magical places in the wizarding community, but what you find inside - is even far more magical - because only magic knows when a girl is lying about what truly was in her heart.

Another Chapter! Fantastic. Now I realize we may not know just yet how the broom is so magical, but I promise you'll find out sooner or later! Thank you for all of the reviews!I am so glad that you are all enjoying it, I also appreciate you respecting my artistic slow-ness in writing. You always have to establish a background! Read & Review!

Somewhere Sky