Chapter Five

Hermione rapped on Ginny's door impatiently. She knew it was quite likely that Ginny was fast asleep, but she was far too angry to care. She had to talk to someone, and Ginny was, beyond doubt, the best person. In other circumstances, Parvati might have been sympathetic, but given Ron's treatment of her sister, coupled with Harry, Hermione thought she might be doing some ranting and raving of her own.

And she wanted to talk to Ginny anyway. They had missed each other somewhat at the Ball, though Hermione had caught Ginny beaming at her as she entered the hall on Viktor's arm. Hermione hoped she'd had a good night – no other third years had been invited to the Ball, and she was worried she might have been lonely. At least she had looked pretty – which, as Hermione knew well, could by itself be a source of great comfort.

Just as she raised her hand to knock on the door again, Ginny opened it, a toothbrush sticking out of her mouth. She muttered something incomprehensible, and gestured that Hermione enter. The dormitory was empty, and Hermione couldn't resist slamming the door on her way in. Ginny raised an eyebrow before bending over the sink to spit out.

"Your brother," Hermione announced, "Is a nincompoop."

Ginny's eyebrows shot up, and her mouth made a small 'O' of surprise as Hermione sat down heavily on the foot of her bed. Dabbing at her face with a towel Ginny said, "What's he done now?"

Suddenly Hermione felt rather wobbly, a surge of tears welling up in her, "He said … He said Viktor only asked to the Ball to find out about Harry – it couldn't possibly be because he likes me, that's just completely unimaginable to Ron."

Ginny eyes shone with sympathy, and she said, "He's just thick. But he's completely wrong Hermione – and jealous. He just wishes he'd thought of asking you first, that's all. You know why Viktor asked you – cause he fancies you."

Hermione snorted. "Ron probably thinks I'm not pretty enough for a Champion."

And then Ginny did something that really surprised her. She hit her. In the face – with a pillow.

More from surprise than anything else Hermione yelped, "What was that for?"

Ginny glared at her. "For being stupid. You know right well you're pretty – so I don't want to hear any more of this." Suddenly looking elated, she clapped her hands and said, "Oh Hermione, you looked so wonderful. You should have seen Malfoy's face – it was a picture."

Hermione sniffled. "Really?"

"Yeah. You looked amazing … Did you have a good time?"

Slowly Hermione nodded. "Yeah," she said, "He's really nice – and we danced and everything and …"

She couldn't keep herself from flushing deeply, and Ginny bounced on her bed, saying, "Come on, now I know it's good."

Hermione stared very hard at Ginny's blanket, searching desperately for the right words, "Well, em, he … he sort of … I mean not in a bad way, but … He kissed me."

Ginny grinned at Hermione, saying, "That's brilliant – I mean … What was it like?"

Hermione found herself fidgeting with her skirt as she said, "It was … nice. I liked it, I mean … Ginny?"

By now her voice sounded so miserable that Ginny looked truly worried. "He didn't get grabby, did he? Cause if he did, Hermione, I'll … doesn't matter if he is a Champion."

Hermione shook her head sharply, "No – he was a perfect gentleman. I just, I kept wishing … that it was Ron."

She dashed a few rebel tears from her eyes roughly, and looked down at the blanket again. She didn't want to meet Ginny's eyes, and she was surprised when Ginny wrapped her arms around her. It felt good, and she buried her face in Ginny's neck for a moment, letting a few more tears leak out.

Finally she recovered herself enough to say, "This is so stupid – it was my first kiss. I should be excited, I shouldn't have been thinking about …"

"You can think whatever you want to think Hermione; there's no rules."

"Yeah but … There must be something wrong with me Ginny, I mean, Viktor is so nice, and everything and yet … I like Ron. That's just stupid."

Ginny giggled, much to Hermione's chagrin. "What?"

"Well, it's just, 'his eyes are as green as a fresh-pickled toad'? Fancying someone can make you stupid. Believe me, I know. And if you keep this up I'll hit you with the pillow again."

"Okay, okay." Hermione couldn't quite contain a laugh, though she still felt rather overwrought. Determined to get it all off her chest she said, "I told him you know."

"Really? What did you say? And you know, if you told him, and he didn't sweep you up immediately and kiss you, then sod him."

Ginny's vehemence was slightly off-putting, and Hermione said, "He is your brother you know."

"My brother who offered me to Harry like an unwanted pet. I'm not feeling very loving at the moment."

Hermione saw the unhappy look crossing her friend's regular features and said, "What did Harry do?"

Ginny shrugged, though she looked extremely miserable. "Nothing – just sat there. Didn't even say a word." She actually had to swallow a sob at the end, and Hermione put an arm around her. "I'm the stupid one Hermione."

"How was it with Neville?"

Ginny managed a smile. "It was great – you know Neville, he's a sweetheart. Well, he had to go up to the Hospital Wing for a bit in the middle, but it all worked out."

A brief impression from the evening flitted back to the forefront of Hermione's mind, and she said, "Yeah – I thought I saw you dancing with Cedric Diggory, or was I just going mad?"

Ginny shook her head. "No – I did, for a bit. He's really nice – he introduced me to some Ravenclaws in your year." Her voice was suddenly nonchalant as she said, "Do you know Michael Corner?"

Hermione looked at her suspiciously. "The one with overly long dark hair – always bellowing away at the Quidditch matches? Good at Potions?"

"Well, I don't know about the last one, but … yeah, I think so."

Hermione nodded, watching her friend carefully, but Ginny seemed completely relaxed – whereas, whenever she spoke about Harry her entire body seemed to tense.

"It's just, I got talking to him, and … he seems pretty nice."

"Yeah," Hermione said, desperately trying to remember any defining personality traits of Michael Corner's. "He's a nice guy."

"Yeah – I think so, anyway, not that it matters. I'll probably never see him again."

"Maybe …" Hermione was thoughtful; there was something she'd been meaning to say to Ginny for a couple of weeks now, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity, but … She sensed Ginny was still too overexcited for it to sink in.

"Anyway," Ginny said, shaking her long hair out down her back, "What did you say to Ron?"

"Oh," Hermione said, "I just told him that … if he hated Viktor asking me out so much, he should ask me next time."

Ginny gaped at her and said, "Go Hermione!" She laughed as if from shock. "What did he say?"

Hermione felt suddenly sheepish. "I don't know – that's when I came running up here. How am I going to face him tomorrow Ginny?"

"With perfect dignity and composure, as you always do."

"Yeah right. I'm perfect nothing."

"I don't Hermione – I used to be so jealous of you, cause, the way you carry yourself, it doesn't seem like you're afraid of anything … I wish I could be like that." Ginny's voice was wistful, and even though Hermione knew just how wrong she was, she couldn't help but be flattered.

"That's not true Ginny; but thanks."

Ginny grinned. "Sure – what are friends for?"

Hermione giggled, "Shouting at in the common room apparently."

They both laughed at that, and it was several moments before Ginny said, "It'll be though – trust me."

Hermione shrugged. "I hope so."

"And I know so – so there." Ginny looked around her, and something seemed to strike her. "You know – all my dorm-mates are gone so, if you wanted to … I'm sure Louise wouldn't mind if you slept in her bed."

"Really?"

Ginny nodded vigorously. "Yeah – and, I want to hear more about the Ball."

Hermione nodded, deep in thought. "Right … right. I'll just – get my toothbrush."

Ginny clapped her hands, bouncing where she sat on the bed. "Great! Mum never let me have slumber parties – I think I have some Chocolate Frogs round here somewhere."

As she swung her head over the side of her four-poster, Hermione made her way to the door. She was called up short by Ginny saying, "And Hermione, could you bring Crookshanks? I really like him."