A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay- I actually had this chapter written but wasn't sure about what would happen next (I had two alternatives). I finally think I've settled on one so we'll see how it goes. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and/or added this story to their alerts/faves. It's what's keeping this story alive! :)

JK owns it all.

Chapter 4.

Ginny and Hermione had agreed to meet for lunch the following Wednesday. In an attempt to keep her sanity Hermione had done everything in her power to keep herself distracted - the last thing she wanted was to over analyze what could happen at this lunch. With an unusual pep in her step Hermione arrived to her office Wednesday morning to find an owl waiting for her holding a piece of parchment. Her heart sped up as she read the note:

Hermione,
My apologies but I won't be able to make it to lunch today. I have actually fallen sick with the flu and the coach has insisted I stay home. I'm truthfully sorry and I hope we can reschedule soon.
Ginny

Hermione felt her heart ache and fought to keep some unruly tears at bay. She was a fool for allowing herself to set her expectations too high. Of course the Ginny Weasley would blow her off- she probably made other plans. Pull yourself together Hermione! The girl may be actually sick. Yes, that could be it, couldn't it? Agreeing that giving someone the benefit of the doubt was much more logical, Hermione had spent the next few hours contemplating whether or not she should visit Ginny anyway. Yes, it did seem a bit forward, but it would also show that Hermione was committed to a friendship with the younger girl. Besides, she had been looking forward to see her for most of the week anyway; this was as good as an excuse as any.

Grateful that Ginny had given her her address during their exchange through owl, Hermione apparated outside of the younger girls flat with a soup in hand.

Taking a deep breath she knocked on the door and waited, her hand fidgeting with the hem of her coat.

"Hermione?"

"Harry? Oh! Hi! What are you - what are you doing here?" shock and confusion were evident in her features.

"Oh, well Mrs. Weasely told Ron to drop by to check up on Ginny but he got stuck at the office so I decided to drop by instead." There was a pause "Wait, what are you doing here?" he asked curiously.

"Oh- Ginny and I were going to get together for lunch but she owled saying she wasn't feeling well." She held her bag up feeling very foolish. "I brought soup"

"Great, well come in then!" He smiled at her and she walked still feeling unsettled by Harry's unforeseen presence.

"Ginny is in her bedroom. Go ahead she'll be happy to see you. I told you you two would get along." With a small smirk he took the soup from her hand and took it to the kitchen.

Hermione opened the door to Ginny's bedroom slowly hoping that she would be asleep so she could quickly retreat from this all together awkward encounter.

"Hermione!" Ginny shouted in surprise.

She quickly straightened herself up on the bed and gathered the napkins that were spread around her. Hermione gave the girl a few seconds to arrange herself, knowing how she would feel if someone dropped by unannounced while she was sick. Despite the fact that Ginny looked a bit paler than usual the older girl couldn't help herself from noticing the form fitting white tank top the younger witch was wearing. For crying out loud Hermione, control yourself. The girl is sick. Turning her gaze to hide her flushed cheeks she quickly moved towards a chair that was near Ginny's bed and sat down.

"What are you doing here? Sorry I didn't mean- it's nice to see you" Ginny finished lamely with a smile.

"Thanks, my apologies for dropping by unannounced. I had some free time and thought you might enjoy some soup" The younger girl remained silent, her eyes searching. Noticing that she didn't have the soup in hand she continued "Oh, I have it to Harry on my way in, I wasn't sure if you were awake or not."

At the mention of Harry's name Ginny cringed inwardly remembering he was in the other room. Harry... oh goodness why did he have to come over? Wait, it's perfectly normal for him to be here. He's a friend, friends do that. Yes, perfectly normal. Still part of her couldn't shake off the annoyance she felt at him for interrupting one of the few moments she'd had alone with Hermione.

"Thank you, you really shouldn't have. I'm a mess. I swear I don't remember the last time I got this sick."

"You look good." Hermione responded before she realized the implications of her words. "I mean for being sick- not a mess anyway. And thankfully you have plenty of people to take care of you so you should recover quickly" she added in one breath.

"Ha, yes well, I'm still surprised Harry is here."

I am not. Hermione thought feeling jealousy curse through her again. She pushed the feeling away, with more effort this time around.

"Well, I suppose we all want you to get better. Anyway, I really can't stay for long. I need to head back to the office. I hope you feel better soon... and that you like the soup. It's probably nothing close to Mrs. Weasley's but... " Hermione's rambling was quickly interrupted.

"It will be delicious I can smell it from here. Thanks again Hermione, you really shouldn't have... but I'm glad you did." She blushed and looked down at her comforter feeling like a 13 year old with a crush. Get your wits about you Ginevra. She's going to think you're mental.

Hermione nodded with a shy smile and stood up.

"We should reschedule lunch soon." The redhead added trying to prolong Hermione's inevitable departure.

"Sure, just let me know when you are feeling up for it" the brunette added stopping in front of the door.

Tomorrow. Ginny thought. But she bit her tongue knowing there was no way she could actually bring herself to say that.

"Great!"

"Please recover first though. And feel free to owl me if you need anything - I'm serious." The older witches words poured with concern for the redhead.

"Sure mum" she retorted playfully. The brunette just laughed and shook her head as she became strangely aware of how familiar being with Ginny felt.

With a thankful smile the younger witch settled down on the bed and looked at Hermione with drowsy eyes.

"It's strange isn't it? I feel like we've been friends our entire lives, but at the same time I feel so …."

Ginny's eyes closed before she could finish her sentence. Hermione let a string of curse words escape her lips when she realized that her medication had kicked in and she wouldn't be awake for a few hours.

How do you feel Ginny? The older witch was frustrated beyond belief- not necessarily at Ginny but at this. This inexplicable and definitely unexpected situation she was thrown into against her will that was quickly destroying any sense of coherency and normalcy in her life. Pushing her, forcing her to evaluate the implications of what she was starting to feel. It was making her doubt, question, act impulsively, recklessly; it was making her want, desire, crave, yearn. It was making her passionate, loving, vulnerable, but above all it was making her fear. Fear the unknown; fear likely rejection, fear knowing what it would be like to be complete but having to settle for a life full of emptiness instead.

With turbulent thoughts thrashing in her mind, Hermione felt the desperate need to shake the redhead awake and have her finish her sentence- a quiet voice of rationality, however, reminded her she would be totally out of line. Honestly though this whole situation was beyond unsettling. It was very unlike Hermione to be completely in the dark about anything- uncertainty unnerved her. Even with Harry and Ron she was usually able to read them fairly easily – Ron more than Harry. But Ginny was a complete mystery. A taunting puzzle she was eager to solve. A foreign passage more complex than anything she had ever cracked in Runes. A challenge that was luring her in like the sweetest mermaid melody seducing her pray, and Hermione was entranced, she needed to figure this out, for better or for worse. After all, since when did Hermione Granger ever give up on a challenge? I am going to do this. I am going to befriend Ginny Weasley. She knew befriend wasn't the word that had come into her mind at first, she knew there were underlying intentions - much less innocent ones- but she just couldn't bring herself to say that just yet. So, without saying another word she quietly left the bedroom. She was lost in her own thoughts when she heard Harry again. She jumped slightly when she almost bumped into him; she had forgotten he was there.

"So how is she?"

"Oh, just fine. She got tired all of a sudden and fell asleep." She gave him a small smile.

"Oh yes I gave her a potion a little while before you got here"

Hermione nodded.

"Hey, Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked looking concerned, he stepped forward and looked at her seriously. Hermione averted her gaze quickly.

"Yes, just tired. Long week" she explained offering a weak smile. Relief washed over her when Harry smiled back in understanding.

"Well, thanks for dropping by. Molly will be her soon to try to coax Ginny into going back to the Burrow until she feels better so I'll be off soon too. Oh, I almost forgot, I just got the invitation for the Ministry's spring gala in a few weeks, please tell me you're going."

"Oh, I don't know…"

"Come on Hermione! You know it will take both of our combined forces to get Ron to go, and our boss told me he really wants to see us there. Please?"

Damn it I hate it when he does that!

"Fine – I'll go. But I don't have any one to take" She sighed again in total disbelief that she had so easily complied with his request. While she usually attended work related events, this time around, she just really didn't want go.

"You have two weeks to figure it out!" he winked with playful excitement.

"So who are you taking Mr. Cheerful?"

With a quick glance to the bedroom he blushed indiscreetly.

"I'm not sure yet."

Oh gods please don't, please please don't Harry. She was keenly aware of the jealousy rising in her again, and decided to leave before it erupted in full force again.

"Well I best be going. My lunch break will be over in 5 minutes! See you soon, say hi to Ron for me please".

"Of course! Bye Hermione" he hugged her and before their eyes met again she was gone.