Hermione considered skipping out on supper but decided against it when her stomach started growling so loudly she was getting looks across the common room. She stood with a sigh. I don't know if I can deal with Ginny and Luna. Ginny is going to be upset with me I'm sure. And Luna… She said again at thoughts of the blonde. Why can't I get her out of my head lately! She's a girl. She's Loony Lovegood she makes up silly creatures and reads magazines upside down. She'd probably be freaked out if she knew what I'd been thinking about her. Friends kiss all the time. Right? She didn't notice anyone until she reached the Great Hall, not until she heard her name.
"Hey, Hermione. Come sit with us." Ginny called sweetly.
"Hi Ginny" she said shyly. "How was Harry?" she said trying to distract the younger girl as quickly as possible. She was unsure where to sit when she reached the table but Ginny made space between herself and the last person Hermione wanted to sit next to, Luna.
"He's well. We had a lovely time. How was Ron? I didn't get to see him this time." Ginny asked casually. Luna sent a worried look Hermione's way then a more threatening glare towards Ginny. Hermione missed it but Ginny didn't.
"He seemed well enough." Hermione shrugged. She refused to cry in front of Ginny. "We…" she frowned unsure of exactly what to tell her friend. "I broke up with him." She settled deciding the truth was the only option anyway. "We had another disagreement today. I don't think I can do it anymore. I can't be with someone that I rarely see and when we do meet up we fight. It's not fair to either of us."
Ginny swallowed the piece of bread she'd been chewing. "He'll be alright Hermione he's got some pretty thick skin. But will you be okay?"
"I…"Hermione hadn't really thought about it but in that moment she realized that she would be fine. "I think I've been prepared for this for awhile now."
"Oh?" Ginny said raising an eyebrow.
"I'd rather talk about it later in private if you don't mind." Hermione said with a light blush.
"Sure, we can talk about it back in the room." Ginny smiled. "Hey Luna, how's Katie?"
"She's well last I heard. Doing what she loves." Luna shrugged. "Why do you ask?"
"Well I just heard that she'd been seen with a woman last month in Ireland." Ginny said easily. She knew she was baiting Luna and she was going to hear about it later but she couldn't think of a better way to gauge Hermione's reaction to lesbian relationships.
"It's probable considering she is on a Quidditch team with several other women." Luna's eyes narrowed.
"Well I just heard she was With this woman, if you know what I mean." Ginny grinned. "It was all over the Prophet at the time."
"It's nobody's business." Luna said becoming uncharacteristically angry. "What Katie does with whomever is her own business."
"She's a big star now though. Shouldn't she keep that stuff under wraps better? I mean what if her team members found out she liked women? What do you think Hermione you roomed with her for a bit didn't you? What if she was like that then? She could've been watching you or something."
Luna resisted the urge to slap Ginny and storm off but only because she'd figured out what she was trying to do. She calmed and waited patiently for Hermione's response.
"I'm surprised at you Ginny. You knew Katie as well as I did. She's a wonderful girl. And if she prefers the company of women it shouldn't matter. Anyway Katie was exceedingly modest when it came to showering and changing, I would never question her morals." Hermione said with ease. "I don't know much about the subject but I've read it's not really a choice anyway."
"Have you ever thought about being with a girl?"
Hermione blushed. She tried to resist the urge to look at Luna but failed. It was a brief glance but enough for Ginny to feel like her blonde friend had a chance. "I don't know." Hermione said going back to her meal.
"Well I think as long as both people are happy it shouldn't matter." She thought briefly about asking Luna but she knew Luna would answer honestly and she didn't want her friend to be forced to answer.
"So does anyone know who this mystery woman is?" Hermione asked. "I mean with Katie."
"I can't recall if she had a name or not. All I know is that Katie didn't deny that there was something going on and that they were old friends." Ginny shrugged. "I'm full. I'll see you later."
Ginny put her hand on Luna's shoulder as she walked past. "Thanks for sitting with us Luna. It's nice having you around."
"Thank you for allowing me to sit with you. I'm not sure how the rest of my house feels about it but I personally think that the houses should interact with each other in a friendlier manner more often."
"Well you're welcome to sit with us whenever you want." Ginny nodded and headed off.
She wondered how much longer either of her friends would stay now that she'd left. She could tell Hermione hadn't been totally comfortable next to Luna. She grinned at her own cleverness. They'll make a lovely couple, She thought. As she made her way to Gryffindor tower she wondered exactly how to help her friends along. It wasn't often that she played matchmaker but she could tell her friends were going to need her help.