Hermione was attempting to finish her packing before the last DA meeting of the term, when Ginny burst into her dormitory. "Hermione!" she said giddily, "The most amazing thing has happened."
"Roger Davies came out?"
"What? No." Ginny flopped back onto Hermione's bed with a sigh. "It's even better."
"Okay, then," Hermione said, folding a pair of socks, "What is it?"
Ginny sat up, crossing her legs under her. "Well, you see, I didn't say anything to you, 'cause…well, I didn't anything would come of it, and I didn't want you to think…but then I went, and…I did!" She clapped her hands loudly, and beamed at Hermione.
Amused in spite of herself, Hermione said, "Did what?"
"The Quidditch try-outs were today, remember?"
Hermione shrugged. She hadn't really been thinking about Quidditch lately, except as it affected Harry and Ron – especially Ron.
Evidently Ginny was impatient with Hermione's lack of interest, for she continued, still smiling. "Well, they were, and…guess who's the new Seeker?"
Hermione stopped packing for a moment to stare at Ginny. "Not you?"
"No, I meant the other person who's sitting on your bed."
"You're the Seeker!"
"Yeah!" Ginny said, still grinning. "Isn't it great?"
Hermione bit her lip. She didn't want to guess how Harry would take it. He probably knew he'd have to be replaced, but…she couldn't credit him with enough forbearance to think that he'd easily accept it.
Ginny was still blathering on. "I mean, I've always wanted to be a Chaser, but…I thought I might as well try out, see how it goes, and then, well I'm not perfect, I mean, I'm not a patch on Harry, not to mention Charlie…did you ever see Charlie play? He's the most amazing…he should have played for England, then we might have had a chance in the World Cup…What's the matter? You don't look happy."
Hermione sat down beside her, saying, "It's just – I'm worried about Harry. You know how he is about Quidditch. I might find it bizarre and confusing, but it really matters to him, and he's having a rough year already, and…I just think he's not going to like it that you're taking his place, and…he's my best friend, Ginny."
Ginny stood up with an odd expression on her face. She made a sound of disbelief before saying, "So that's it."
"What? Ginny don't…."
"No. No, really Hermione it's fine. You know it's not like I've wanted to be on the team forever, or anything. It's not like it's my fault Umbridge is an evil cow – I didn't kick Harry off the team. But, he's 'your best friend', so, I get it, that's what you have to think about."
Hermione bristled a little, but Ginny looked genuinely upset – indeed for a moment Hermione thought she might storm out of the room. "Look, Ginny, don't think that…."
"What? I just wanted you to be happy for me, Hermione. It's kind of a big thing you know."
"Not really. You know I never really got why everyone's so all over the place about Quidditch; it just leads to bad feeling between the houses, and…even you're all upset now."
Ginny looked exasperated, and said, "This has nothing to do with Quidditch, Hermione! Can't you just say 'Well done'?"
"Oh," Hermione said, "Sorry. I didn't, did I?" Ginny shook her head. "Well…Congratulations! Getting on the team…that's not easy."
Ginny shook her head mournfully. "You didn't see the other people who tried out."
Hermione patted her shoulder. "How bad?"
"Pretty shocking. If I'd never seen Harry… I mean an actual Seeker play, I'd feel really smug right now."
Hermione smiled. "Don't let that get you down – Harry's not a fair standard for anyone. You're probably better than Cho."
"Well, we'll see won't we?" Ginny shook her head wisely.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh," Ginny said, "She was crying in the toilets again today. You do realise that's the eight time this month?"
"Well, Ginny…she is dealing with a lot, you know."
"And her friends aren't exactly being a lot of help either."
"What do you mean?" Hermione said curiously.
"Just a couple of things Michael said; I get the impression they think she's a bit of a wet blanket."
"Ginny!"
"What? She is. I mean, fair enough and all that – I liked Cedric…but she's not completely innocent, Hermione. You should hear some of the stuff Luna tells me."
"I know, Ginny, it's just you could be a bit more sympathetic, you know."
"Yeah, maybe." Ginny stood up and checked her hair in the mirror. With a grimace she turned back to Hermione and said, "I gather you might want to leave Harry alone this evening. Cho said something about 'since it's Christmas…'"
"What does that…? Oh." Hermione said, realizing abruptly what Ginny meant. "Oh, Ginny, I'm sorry."
"What for?" Ginny said, tossing her hair defiantly. "I don't care. I mean, I think she's a bit of a basketcase right now, and a really good friend, or a counsellor or something, would be better than a brand new boyfriend, let alone Harry, who's not exactly been the most stable lately, you might have noticed, but…that's all."
"Well," Hermione said, "When you put it like that…"
Ginny interrupted her sharply. "And balls to him anyway! Everything's crap because of him."
"Ginny!"
"It's true. You didn't care about the Quidditch team, 'cause of Harry, and then there's this, and…Michael's been such a git about the whole bloody thing, that really…"
"What are you talking about?" Hermione said, momentarily forgetting her anger.
"Oh! It's so stupid, Hermione, I don't want to…Well, okay, first of all, Michael found out Harry was coming to us for Christmas, right? And, you'd think most people wouldn't have a problem with that, since Harry's this old 'family friend', who just happened to save my life, and you know, has no family of his own – well, no decent, human family…But Michael got all thick about it."
"What's there to get thick about?"
"Exactly!" Ginny said. "I told you he was an idiot. Anyway, he got the idea that he could come stay the night or something…Like my Mum would let me have a boyfriend over, and anyway, I want to keep him as far away from Fred and George as possible."
"Not to mention Ron." Hermione interjected.
"Yeah. Nothing sinister about that, right?" Hermione shook her head. "Anyway, when I explained all this, he got really weird, like I was doing it on purpose or something."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. She was willing to bet that Ginny, out of irritation with Michael, had become uncooperative and then sullen, in very short order. Ginny seemed not to have noticed however, for she said, "Anyway, I suppose I shouldn't care. You know what Michael's like; he doesn't realize the effect he has on people."
"Yeah," Hermione said blandly. It wouldn't be fair to point out that this was a trait he had in common with another dark-haired male fifth year in Ginny's life.
Ginny seemed to make a concentrated effort to think about something else, for she squared her shoulders and said, "Do you think Ron'll have enough guts to take advantage of the occasion?"
Hermione shrugged. She didn't want to admit out loud to hoping for just that – every time she thought of it, of Ron under the mistletoe, of Ron being impossibly suave and charming, of Ron and kissing…well, adrenaline surged in her stomach, and she had to try not to blush.
They would be walking back from the DA, and he would be…complimenting her on one of her hexes, or…even better, he would want a rematch, and even though Hermione knew she was better, she'd still give him the opportunity to regain his pride, and then…instead of Stunning her, he'd use a Summoning Charm, and take her up in his arms, and touch her hair, and his voice would be deep and sexy as he said…
"Could I copy your Potions essay?"
Hermione shook her head determinedly; there was no point, no point at all in fantasising about Ron waking up to himself any time in the next year. She knew him too well to imagine that he could be anything but useless when it came to taking advantage of Christmas, and the season of goodwill, and mistletoe.
Ginny seemed to sense her mood, for she sat down beside her, nudging her with one shoulder. "I tell you what," she said, "Reread that letter from Viktor…"
"Letter from…Oh blast!" Hermione said.
Ginny looked confused. "What?"
"I never answered it! Viktor sent it to me nearly three weeks ago, and I never answered him. I better do it now, Ginny."
"You can't do it now," Ginny said, checking her watch, "We've to go to the DA in fifteen minutes."
"What's he going to think of me, leaving it so long?"
"Just explain," Ginny said dismissively, "He knows it's an exam year, and…he's not stupid, he can probably guess the rest."
"Yeah," Hermione said, chewing on her lip. She was usually so good about these things.
"Come on," Ginny said, "We've to leave in a minute, and I want to get changed."
"Why? You look fine."
Ginny shook her head at Hermione. "Honestly; Michael needs to be reminded why he doesn't want to fight with me, ever again."
Hermione raised her eyebrows, and Ginny giggled. "Okay," she said, "I want to wear a pair of jeans that don't have grass stains on them. Happy?"
"Sure." Hermione said, trying not to laugh.