That morning, Ron awoke before the sun rose. Something was off immediately, and he could feel in. He slipped out of bed and put his robe on while walking towards the kitchen. He could hear Harry snoring from his bedroom. They still had about two hours until they had to start getting ready.
Ron instinctively started a pot of tea on the stove and then sat at the table. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. After a few minutes, the teapot started screeching as it was done. While Ron was standing at the stove getting mugs and pouring the tea, Harry appeared rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Oi, what are you doing up before me? It's a miracle." He chuckled.
Ron did as well. "Not sure. I woke up with the weirdest feeling. Maybe it was something we ate last night…I don't know. I'm just not feeling great to be honest." Ron told him, handing over a mug of tea. They both sat at the table.
"Oh yeah? Gonna be alright for training today?" Harry asked, genuinely concerned.
Ron shrugged. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm sure it's nothing."
Harry patted him on the back. "As long as you're sure…and I mean, hey! Just think. We only have about eight weeks left and we're done with beginners training!" Harry chorused, motioning to the calendar.
Ron smiled, looking at the countdown of days…and then all of a sudden, something came over him. His demeanor changed completely and his face became dark.
Harry looked worried. "Ron….mate, are you alright? Ron?"
Harry couldn't get another word out before Ron jumped up from the table and sprinted for the bathroom. Harry could hear him slam the door and begin to vomit.
"What just happened?" Harry asked himself. "I told him not to eat that week old treacle tart." Harry chuckled. He decided to clean up the mugs and tea so that they could get ready for training. As he finished cleaning and putting away the dishes they had used, something caught his eye. The calendar. The date. How could he have been so stupid?
"Oh no." He thought to himself.
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It had been a while since the four friends had their disagreement, and they still weren't talking regularly. A simple look or nod in the hallway was all that took place, if it even went that far. That had also since taken sides. Dean and Ginny and Hermione and Seamus. This particularly made it hard for their other friends to talk to all of them without feeling as if they were choosing sides. The formal was quickly approaching and there seemed to be no sign of apologizing or making amends. That morning at breakfast, Hannah and Luna joined Neville at the Gryffindor table. No one else had shown up yet.
"If you ask me I'd say they're all being childish about the whole situation. I mean, Hermione and Ginny at the least. It wasn't their fight to fight and they're still fighting. And for what? This whole not speaking thing is accomplishing absolutely nothing. And it's so close to the end of term as well. This is not like any of them."
"You're correct, Neville." Luna spoke in her usual soft voice. "But I can see why it happened. At first, Hermione and Ginny were only trying to help them."
"I know, I know. But it has gotten out of hand and frankly, I'm tired of being in the middle of it. We have more important things to worry about…like our exams for one thing."
Hannah spoke up now. "You're right. But they are our friends…and we have to be there for them. No matter what. Perhaps we need to start showing them how silly they're being. Maybe talk to them about it and make them listen. It would be such a shame for these friendships to fall away for some misunderstanding."
Almost as if on cue, Ginny entered the great hall and joined them at their table. She seemed a little down. They all assumed it was from all the bickering and fighting. Nevertheless, she sparked up conversation.
"Hey guys! How's the porridge this morning?"
They all nodded with half smiles plastered on their faces.
"Um…alright. So Luna, has the new Quibbler arrived yet?"
"Not quite yet. It should be in by lunch time though." She was the most genuine with Ginny yet that morning but Ginny still felt awkwardness in the air.
"Okay, what's going on? Why are you all acting so strange? Well, come on, out with it!"
Neville spoke up. "Ginny, you know why. We want you four to stop bloody fighting. You're making it so awkward for the rest of us expecting us to take sides. Well, we won't do it anymore. Either you all start acting like adults or we're done."
Ginny was a little shocked at Neville's temper. "Alright, look…"
Everyone's attention changed though when Hermione and Seamus approached the table, sitting down as well. It was quiet at first, until Hannah tried to clear the air.
"Oh, good morning you two! Won't you have some breakfast?" She smiled weakly.
"Don't mind if I do." Seamus began shoveling sausages and potatoes on to his plate. Hermione on the other hand simply had some toast and juice, staying quiet.
"So, are we just going to stay silent forever, huh?" Ginny stared into Hermione, which made everyone stop eating and look up. Including her.
Hermione cleared her throat. "I'd rather not have a row right in the middle of the great hall, Ginny."
Ginny growled under her breath. "Hermione!" She quieted down. "Hermione, I don't want to fight, alright? I'm tired of it. I just want to talk. Please."
Hermione stood up and gathered her bags. "I really must get to class. We can talk later." And off she went.
Everyone else at the table could've sworn that they saw Ginny's eyes well up with tears. She left quickly without a word. Her friends looked around at each other.
"What was that all about?" Hannah asked.
"No idea…" Luna and Seamus answered.
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Ginny made a few more attempts to talk to Hermione that morning, but to no avail. She was beginning to give up. This petty arguing and avoiding had to stop. At first she felt right to defend Dean, but now it was just tiring. All she wanted was for her friends to make up and for her and Hermione to be okay again. She couldn't take much more of it and had to get away.
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That night at dinner, everything seemed normal. Everybody sat by one another and ate. Neville, Hannah, Luna, Seamus, and even Dean. Hermione joined them as well. Ginny was the only one absent.
"Where's Gin?" Seamus asked Hermione as she sat.
"I'm not sure. I haven't seen her since this morning."
"None of us have. She missed all of her classes." Luna told them.
"Really?" Hermione was surprised. It wasn't like Ginny to just skip class.
"She looked pretty tore up when she left the hall this morning. Figured she'd come and find you." Neville told her.
Hermione was shocked at all of this. "She was really that upset?"
They all nodded.
They all looked up to the ceiling as they heard a few screeches. A small unidentifiable owl swooped down and dropped a letter on Hermione's empty plate. That was odd…she hadn't been expecting anything. But she immediately got excited when she recognized Harry's writing. She quickly opened the letter and began to read.
Hermione,
I'm sorry I couldn't send this sooner. I got so sidetracked today. I wish I could be writing for a better purpose, but I really need to ask a favor of you today. I know you already are, but could you please be there for Ginny today? I know she probably won't show it, but I imagine she's mighty upset. Don't worry about Ron. He had a terribly rough morning but I'm helping him out. This will be a tough day for them, but I think since they have us, Fred's birthday will be a little easier to bare.
Miss you,
Harry
Hermione looked up in shock. How could she have forgotten? That's why Ginny was trying to get her attention. That's why she was so upset.
"Oh no." Hermione quickly sprang from her seat and exited the great hall. She had to find her best friend. She had a couple of ideas where she might be hiding but none of them worked out. She wasn't in the dungeons, she wasn't in the room of requirement, and she wasn't even out at the quidditch pitch. After about an hour of searching, she got really worried.
"How could I have been so insensitive? This ruddy fight has gotten out of hand….I don't know what to do."
She made her way to the Gryffindor common room about to give up in her search, when something caught her attention. It was Ginny; the sound of her crying at least coming from her dormitory. Hermione slowly and quietly made her way up the stairs and into Ginny's room.
"Um…Ginny?"
"GO AWAY!"
Hermione inched closer to Ginny's bed. Ginny was curled up in a ball under her blankets, with her back towards her.
"Ginny…please. Can't we talk?"
"So, now you want to talk? You mean you're not too busy? I don't want to put you out!"
Hermione looked down. "I deserve that. I'm sorry."
"Oh, you're sorry? That fixes everything doesn't it? Bloody hell Hermione."
"Look, I know we've not seen eye to eye for a little while, but I'm still here for you."
"You certainly had me fooled. I thought that pleading with you was enough. It's stupid that we got in on that fight, but blimey, I thought you were my best friend."
"I am. I am, I promise! I've been acting foolishly and I apologize…but I'm here now. I'm here for you and I'm not leaving." She sat down on Ginny's bedside and put her hand on her back before Ginny jerked her away.
"I'm sorry to inconvenience you but, I don't want nor do I need you here!"
"I know you don't mean that. I'm not going to leave you alone on a night like tonight."
Ginny sat up angrily, startling Hermione. Her eyes were puffy and red. He cheeks were stained with tears and the look she was giving her friend was enough to frighten a troll.
"I said….I don't want you here!" She shoved Hermione, causing her to almost topple into the floor. But she caught herself.
"Ginny, please let me help. I know today must've been almost impossible for you. Please."
Ginny couldn't hold on anymore. She completely broke down, wrapping her arms around Hermione. She wailed and cried into Hermione's shoulder for what seemed like an eternity. All Hermione could do was rub her back soothingly trying to console her.
"Her…Hermione I can't-"
"Shhh…you don't have to say anything."
"But….but I am sorry for how I've acted." She choked between sobs. "And I….I just miss Fred so much….he should be celebrating his birthday! And poor George for Merlin's sake. I should be there for him…all of them…and Mum and Dad…."
"I know." Hermione said quietly, still holding Ginny in a warm embrace. "It's truly awful…but it' okay that you're not there. They know you can't be. They have each other and they'll get through this. Just as you will. Fred would be so proud of how strong you've been, but it's okay to be weak sometimes…just like now. Look at me…"
She held Ginny's face to look at her own. "I will always be here for you, understand? You're not only my best friend, but my sister as well. Never ever forget that Ginny. I'll be here for you always."
Ginny began to cry again. All she could do was lay her head on Hermione's shoulder. "Thank you so much Hermione. Your friendship means the world to me."
Hermione kept her in a tight hug and didn't leave her side.