Chapter Eight

Sacred Information

Hermione wasn't sure how to handle this new situation. On the one hand, she was proud of Ginny for ignoring the prejudices and giving Draco a chance. On the other... Malfoy?

Hermione shook her head. She didn't have the right to judge Ginny's decisions on love. After all, she herself was in love with Ginny's older brother.

It started innocently, but all things do. Hermione had met all of them that first summer after school started. Ron was clueless as usual. the twins were hazardous to your health. Percy was entirely too stuffy and Bill was way out of her league.

But Charlie... merlin there was something about that man. He was shorter, only a few inches taller than she herself was. He was cute in all the right ways and smart too. God, did she love that in a man. And he was well built, broad of the shoulders and strong of the chest.

She pushed impure thoughts of Ginny's brother out of her mind as the girl in question entered the room.

"Hi Ginny." She announced cheerfully, applauding herself for not stuttering.

Ginny smiled beautifully. Hermione hadn't failed to notice that over the past few weeks Ginny had gotten more and more happy, more confident since the last Hogsmede trip. She had also noticed the same look on Pansy Parkinson's face since the bleach blonde had dumped Theodore and started dating Blaise. They were happy, Hermione realized.

She felt a dull ache in her chest.

She pushed aside her own inadequacy and motioned her friend over. Ginny, still smiling, crossed and sat beside her on the couch.

"What's up?" She asked.

"I know about you and Malfoy." Hermione blurted. She didn't see the need for secrecy this time.

Ginny blinked. "What?"

"Ginny, I saw you-"

"No, I mean what do you know?" Ginny demanded. "Do you know that we sneak around just to be together? Do you know that we work on homework together? Do you know that he makes me laugh? Do you know how long we've been together? Do you know that in all this time he's never once tried to feel me up? Do you know that Dean tried on our first date?"

Hermione stared at her. "Ginny... I didn't... But you have to know, it will kill your family!"

Ginny rose. "I know! I know!" She turned back sharply. "But, you don't know how he makes me feel!"

"Ginny... is it enough?"

Ginny was silent, staring at the floor. "I... I don't know."

"You're talking about betraying everything you and your family stand for!"

"Am I? My family stands for love. Am I really betraying it?"

Hermione froze. "You love him?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes. Yes I do. And I will be damned if I stand idly by. I will not just be shunted to the background."

She had grown angry and turned purposefully towards the door. Hermione rose and grabbed the younger girl's arm, turning her back to face her.

"You love him?" She repeated, earnestly.

"Yes."

"Does he love you?" Hermione persisted.

Ginny paused. Then, "Yes."

Hermione exhaled sharply. "Damn." She ran her fingers through her hair. Then she looked at Ginny. This was how she should be. She should grab Charlie by his tee shirts and make out with the damned boy.

"Alright then." Hermione said, spinning to gather her books. "It will take me a few days, a week at most, but I think I can help."

"Help with what?" Ginny asked blankly.

Hermione smiled at her. "Getting everyone's approval."

(A/N: I've had the idea for the next couple chapters for about a year now, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. When I finished this chapter, I put two and two together. As for what's gonna happen, you'll just have to wait and see!