There was the familiar rustle of keys, and the rush of the cold wind. Hermione was home. Ron leapt up from his chair and ran towards the front door, almost tripping over the cat.
"Hermione! You're back!" Ron laughed, picking Hermione up. Hermione, coughing, and trying to break free exclaimed, "Ron! You're hurting!" Ron released her.
"Harry and Ginny arrived two hours ago. Where have you been?"
"Traffic." Hermione answered, "Have you fed Carlos?"
"Yes. I've prepared dinner, fed Carlos, watered plants, done everything. Only– the dinner's probably cold by now."
"Oh well, I'm tired." Hermione yawned, "Say hello to Harry and Ginny for me, I'm going upstairs."
Ron stared at her, unable to comprehend her words, "What?"
"I said I'm going upstairs."
"But…what for?" Ron's voice faltered.
"To sleep, what else? Didn't I say I was tired?" Hermione answered back, climbing up the stairs strenuously.
"But…Harry and Ginny are here." Ron said, quietly.
"So? Tell them I'm happy to see them. Goodnight, Ron. Sleep downstairs tonight, alright? I can't put up with your snoring anymore." Hermione disappeared.
Ron was stunned. He stood in the hallway for minutes, trying to digest what had happened before him. Why was Hermione suddenly…so cold? He frowned and slowly entered the living room, where the silence between them was unbearable.
"I…" Ron began.
"We know what happened. We heard everything." Ginny whispered.
"I don't know…" Ron sat down and held his head in his hands, "Why?"
Harry shook his head, "She's probably had a rough time with Malfoy. The next time I see him—" He was silenced by Ginny's glare.
"I'll go up and see what's wrong, alright? You two men stay down here. This is girl business, you can't get involved." Ginny said, standing up, "And whilst I'm at it, Ron, you heat the food, we're all starving in here. Harry, you tidy up, we don't want Hermione coming down and looking at this mess, do we?"
Ginny crept upstairs, avoiding Crookshanks, and knocked on Hermione's door.
"Go away, Ron." Came a muffled voice. Either Hermione was crying, or she was talking through a pillow.
Ginny opened the door, "Hermione? It's me."
Hermione sat straight up, and tidied her hair, "Ginny?" She looked around.
"Yeah. It's alright. There's nobody else, just me." Ginny answered, "You could do with some more light in here, you know."
Hermione didn't answer.
Ginny sat down by the bed and turned on the lights, "Ron trouble?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"You bet I would, I've been having to put up with that git my entire life."
Hermione smiled sadly, "Don't worry about it, Ginny."
"You can't get rid of me that easily. Talk. What's the matter?"
Hermione shook her head.
"Spit it out. It'll feel better."
Hermione began to cry, "Ginny…"
Ginny grabbed a tissue and wiped Hermione's face, "What is it? Has he hurt you? Even if he's a git, Ron wouldn't hurt a fly, he wouldn't."
Hermione sobbed even harder and leant on Ginny's shoulder, "I don't know what to do."
Ginny nodded, "I know."
"You don't know." Hermione cried, "You don't know anything!"
Ginny smiled, "Then tell me."
Hermione shook her head, "I want to, Ginny, I want to tell you everything. But I can't. I really can't."
They fell silent for a few moments. Hermione's continuous sobbing was the only sound heard.
"He loves you." Ginny said.
Hermione looked up, sharply, "Who?"
"Ron, silly. Who else?" Ginny laughed.
Hermione smiled weakly, "I know."
"Then what's all this about?"
Hermione wiped her face with her hands, "You're right. I'm fine. It's just…I had a bad day."
"Malfoy?"
Hermione almost gasped, "What?"
"Was Malfoy giving you a hard time?" Ginny asked quietly.
Hermione faltered, "…Yes. He was—he…"
"It's all right. Come downstairs, have something to eat. Then come back whenever you want! You need some energy, Hermione. You're skin and bones."
Hermione nodded and slowly climbed off the bed, "Alright."
Ginny smiled and helped Hermione wash her face, "Come on, then, slowpoke. Snails move faster than you!"
---
Hermione and Ginny walked into the living room. The smell from the kitchen was delicious and they saw Harry sitting on the sofa watching Muggle telly, and cracking sunflower seeds.
"Hermione! How are you feeling?" Harry stood up as soon as he saw them enter.
"I'm fine, Harry." Hermione answered timidly and gestured for him to sit down. She walked over to where Crookshanks was crouching, picked him up, and stroked him.
Ginny sat down next to Harry and spoke in hushed tones, "Don't mention Malfoy, alright? Malfoy did something to her today."
Harry stared at Ginny and then to Hermione, "What? What did he do?"
Ginny whispered, "I don't know. But it can't be good, can it?" She shook her head, and then walked into the kitchen, "Ron? Do you need any help?"