Chapter Thirty-One

Hermione brushed her teeth viciously as she met Ginny's eyes in the bathroom mirror; she was damned if she would crack first. They had had…words over Harry's latest exercise in stupidity. There was something horrifying in the notion that Harry was even capable of shedding blood – it frightened her to think of it. She wanted to explain it to him, wanted him to see why she was afraid, but …even more than that, she had to admit to herself, it was satisfying to know she was right about the potions book.

Still, it was more than a little irritating that Ginny, who'd been washing her face, was still ignoring her. Hermione had planned to maintain a steely silence all evening, but she had finally reached the point where she was too irritated to care about such a small matter of pride. Besides, it was about time someone took Ginny down a peg or two.

Timing her words carefully, Hermione said, "You're acting like a real brat, you know that?"

Ginny, who'd been on her way out of the bathroom, stopped and said waspishly, "What?"

"I said…you're acting like a brat."

"Oh," Ginny said, folding her arms in an ominous fashion. "I'm the one who's being obnoxious. Well that's an interesting interpretation of events."

"No," Hermione said "It's not an interpretation. It's a fact."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh, of course it's a fact. Because you just have to be right, don't you? Like it even matters."

"Of course it matters," Hermione said. "Harry nearly killed Malfoy, you think that doesn't matter."

"No," Ginny said, "Of course I don't, but you know what? Malfoy isn't dead. He isn't. And he was going to torture Harry? What the hell was Malfoy doing that that was his first instinct?"

"So what, because Harry got lucky it's just fine what he did to Malfoy?"

"NO!" Ginny said. "God Hermione, you know it is possible to think cursing people is bad and still see that Harry didn't mean to do it. It was written all over his face."

"So what?" Hermione said. "He still did it! Maybe you don't understand what that means Ginny but – "

"Oh shut it, Hermione." Ginny said. "You're not the only one who's seen what magic can do."

"Look Ginny," Hermione said, "I just don't think you understand what's happening. Harry could have been a murderer."

"No he couldn't!" Ginny yelled, her face screwed up with anger. "I'm more than familiar with teenage murderers and Harry isn't anywhere near… That you could even…don't you even know him?"

"Yes, I know him," Hermione said. "I've known him since he was eleven, I know everything."

"Yeah I've noticed," Ginny said, her lip curling. "You've made it so bloody clear – you know Harry better than anyone, you know more about him than I ever could, 'cause he wouldn't ever want me… 'cause I'm just not good enough to know what you're doing, I'm just some bloody dead weight you've put up with all this time, just some stupid little girl you have to protect, just some idiot with a broken ankle, just some – "

"God Ginny!" Hermione said. "Would you just shut up?"

Ginny, whose face had been getting rather red, closed her mouth with a snap. She stared at Hermione, who flipped her hair over her shoulder and continued, "Believe me when I say, I don't give even half a damn which bone you broke. I really don't. Bones break, Ginny. That's life!"

Ginny shook her head, her thick red hair seeming to take up half the room. "You don't know what it's like," she said.

"The hell I don't," Hermione said. "You think Harry and Ron never shut me out of anything? Of course they did, that's what – "

"That isn't the point," Ginny said. "Do you have any idea how infuriating it is when you lot pull that 'we know more than we could ever tell, especially not to you' crap?"

"Look," Hermione said, trying to maintain something like patience, "I know it's hard for you to believe, but the stuff we keep to ourselves, it isn't just so we can keep you out. Just knowing these things –"

"Can get you killed, I know," Ginny said. "But you could just say that – you could just be honest about it, if that's all it is, 'cause honestly, Hermione, the way you act makes m think different."

"Well," Hermione said, "That's nothing to do with me, that's your bloody thing." Privately, she wondered why it was only Weasleys who could make her swear.

"Sure it is," Ginny said, her tone vicious. "It's just a complete coincidence that you don't think I'm good enough."

"No," Hermione said. "I don't. Not if you're going to act like this." Ginny's face went white, and Hermione continued. "You have nothing to prove – not to me anyway. It's all just in your head."

"It isn't," Ginny said furiously.

"Oh it is. You've got some nonsense up there," Hermione said, tapping Ginny's temple, "about being a victim or something, so you go around trying to show everyone you're not, but it's all in your head Ginny. You're the one who chooses it."

Ginny looked startled – as though she wanted to say something but couldn't think what. She turned away from Hermione and bent to get a drink of water. Her shoulders were shaking, and when she finally stood and met Hermione's eyes in the mirror she said, "I'm just so scared."

Her face looked as though it might crumple into a dozen pieces, and Hermione hugged her immediately. Ginny was shaking, though she didn't seem to be crying. She sank to her knees a moment later, her head buried in Hermione's shoulder. She was whispering. "I won't do it, I won't do any of it, I swear, I won't."

Hermione thought of the way Harry had looked after Sirius died, and understood. But she didn't say anything – like she'd said, Ginny had to decide for herself.

It was a minute or two before she seemed calm, and Hermione could finally say, "Besides, Harry clearly fancies you, so I don't know why you – "

Ginny gasped. Her hands seemed to flutter up and down as she looked at Hermione, struggling to say, "Do you really think so?"

Hermione stared at her – she had yet to smile. "Yeah."

Ginny's tone was astonished. "I've seen him…looking at me…and I'd think – I know that look, that look means… And there were things he'd say, or do, the way he kept…he was always around, especially lately, sitting beside me, or touching me, but then…. I just couldn't let myself believe it. I mean, it's Harry, and you said…and you know him so much better than I do and…"

"God Ginny," Hermione said, suddenly wanting to laugh. "Surely you've realised by now that sometimes I get things wrong. Besides, I'm not the one who sees things 'written all over' Harry's face. I have to guess."

"Yeah, but…" Ginny said, a smile, a tiny, tentative, but beautiful smile, finally gracing her face, "But you see, but you see…it's Harry."