"Tell me what's wrong." The younger witch demanded softly.

I had been sitting in silence for the last fifteen minutes, just staring at the wall opposite me. Ginny had, of course, noticed.

"What?" I feigned, pretending to be oblivious, "Nothing."

I wasn't convincing.

Ginny moved over so that she was sitting beside me and looked straight at me. I didn't dare turn around.

"Is it last year, Hermione? It was hard for us all…" She said, a tone in her voice that supported her statement.

"I-I.." I started. I could feel tears welling up inside me already. It wasn't just last year that was making me cry, but I let Ginny think that. It saved me from making another excuse.

She put an arm around me and tangled her fingers in my hair. My chest went tight.

You're not helping, Ginny…

I instinctively put my hand around her, and wept into her chest. I automatically wished I hadn't. She just pulled me closer, wrapping her other arm around me protectively, whispering soothing words into my ear. She was killing me.

We stayed like that until I had dried up, until I was so tired that I couldn't keep my puffy eyes open any longer. She lay me down on her bed, pulling the covers over us both, flicking her wand to turn out the light. She held on to me still, and for once I was glad that I was so tired.

----

I awoke the next morning in bed by myself. At first I wondered where I was, but when I realised, I wished I hadn't.

I looked around, quickly spotting Ginny sitting by the window.

The sun illuminated her so much, she looked ghostly. Her hair shined different colours, her legs highlighted by the streaming light. I watched her, glued to the sight of her.

She appeared to sigh. She turned round and looked straight at me, noticing I was awake.

"Morning." she remarked quietly.

"What time is it?" I asked, yawning, and changing position so that I could see her more clearly.

"Erm… quarter past six." She replied. Her voice sounded choked up.

I frowned. She looked like she had been crying.

"Ginny, what's wrong?" I asked sitting up, giving her all my attention.

She looked down as if she didn't really want to divulge to me. I got up and walked over to her, looking at her concernedly.

"It's just… It's just - I feel like you're hiding something from me. You've… changed. Especially lately." Ginny admitted, looking up reluctantly at me.

I stared in disbelief. I didn't think that it was that obvious. Well, I didn't think that it had changed me visibly.

"Hermione," she said weakly, "Tell me."

I shook my head, a hot tear now tracing a path down my cheek.

"I can't."

----

Me, 19, and Ginny, at some party for work at the Ministry.

I had actually been enjoying myself, listening to a joke from some executive. For a moment I had forgotten about her.

The wizard had asked me if I wanted another drink, and I'd said yes, graciously. As I waited, I'd spotted Ginny in the corner, flirting with a random man. I tried not to watch but it was painfully addictive.

A few seconds passed, and she kissed him. It was like I had been stabbed in the heart with a thousand daggers. And the worst thing was, I was expecting it. It wasn't even a surprise.

I mean why shouldn't she enjoy herself. It's not like we're…

I had had to get out. I'd pushed through the crowd, and made my way out to the courtyard.

The air was cooling against my face that was hot with anger. I sat down on a concrete step a few yards away from the door.

"You OK?" said a voice from behind me.

I had looked round. It was that wizard, the one with my drink.

"Yes," I had answered, "Sorry to leave you like that. I needed air."

He had sat down and handed me my drink.

"It's fine," he had said, "Now, tell me what's up."

I had had to laugh at his abruptness. But I shook my head.

"Oh, come on," he had replied, "There's obviously something up…?" he asked with the sparkle of questioning in his eyes.

I had wanted to tell him. I had started.

"You know that girl in there with the red hair? She was with a man in black robes…?"

I had had no idea why I was telling him this. But it already felt better.

"Oi! You're needed in there, Alec." a voice had shouted from the door that led back into the party.

"Right!" shouted the man next to me. He had turned to me apologetically, "What was it you were saying?"

"Oh." I had mumbled, suddenly at a loss of confidence, "Nothing."

"Well, if you're sure… You coming back in?" asked the man, standing up and brushing off his robes.

"In a minute." I smiled.

He had looked uncertain, but waved anyway and walked back to the party.

Once he was gone, I had shut my eyes and took a deep drink from my glass.

Why did things have to be so hard?

----

Ginny just looked disappointed in me, and turned back towards the window.

"I'm sorry." I said simply.

She shook her head.

I felt another tear coming on. Her disapointment was suffocating me.

I apparated into the garden, into the broom shed . Into our broom shed.

I collapsed onto the flowerpot, my head in my hands, my shoulders shaking with self-pity.

I sat like that for a while, just wondering why I had fallen for her so badly.

Why had she made me fall for her?

The truth was, she hadn't. She was herself, and I loved it. Simple.

Finally, I dragged myself back up to the Burrow, certain that Mrs Weasley would be wondering why I wasn't at breakfast.