weho, the sixth chapter is up :)

I've been terrible at updating, but I'll try to get better - can't give you any promises though, school and work takes up most of my spare time,

but as I said, I will try :)

Hope you like it, writing block really hit me hard on this one.. :)

Lone.

Chapter 6

Confessions

The next couple of days, Hermione avoided both Fred and George, and she nearly didn't speak to Harry and Ron.

When they all gathered in the common room in the evening on the fourth day, Ginny decided to go and talk to Hermione.

She stood up from her armchair she'd been sitting in, and approached Hermione, who was sitting curled up in another armchair next to Harry.

She didn't say anything when Ginny sat down on the table in front of her. She just kept staring into the flames in the fireplace and ignored her completely.

"Hermione", Ginny said, "how are you feeling?"

"I'm good, thank you..", Hermione mumbled, but didn't look at her.

She knew it would hurt too much. She couldn't have Fred, he'd made that perfectly clear to her, so she thought it would be best if she removed herself from Ginny's life too.

In that way, she'd never have to think of him again - and the pain would vanish.

But Ginny was her best friend, and refused to give up.

"Come on, Hermione!", she said, "Can't you just tell me what's wrong, like you use to? Maybe I can help you"

Hermione looked over at her and wanted to cry. She was so sweet, the way she always took care of her and noticed when something was wrong.

A tear slowly ran down Hermione's cheek and fell on to her robes.

"Okay, that's enough", Ginny said and took her hand, "Come on, we're going upstairs, and you're going to tell me what's wrong".

They walked up the stairs in silence, but Ginny was still holding Hermione's hand, and it felt comforting.

As they left, Fred turned his head and looked up at them. He'd seen Hermione cry, and hoped it wasn't because of him.

"of course it was because of me..", he thought and suddenly felt a wave of guiltiness crash into him.

When they came up to their dorm, Ginny closed the door and sat down next to Hermione on her bed.

"Now, what's wrong?", Ginny asked.

Hermione didn't say anything for a while, before she replied:

"You're gonna hate me for telling you this.."

"What? Why? It can't be that bad, you know I'd never hate you for anything! Hermione, you're my best friend, and if I can help you then tell me!"

"I don't exactly know if anybody can help me.."

"Tell me!", Ginny said.

"Ok then.. you know the rumors you heard from Lavender?"

"Yeah..", Ginny replied. She wasn't sure where this was going.

"Well.. they were kind of true.."

"Wait, you kissed my brother?", Ginny nearly shouted and jumped out of the bed.

"See, I told you you would hat-"

"No!", Ginny interrupted and smiled, "It's brilliant! But.. why are you so sad, then?"

Then Hermione told her the whole story of how Fred had "broken up" with her, and how she felt about him.

"Wow..", Ginny said when Hermione was done talking, "heavy stuff.."

"Yeah.."

"Oh, how could he be such a douche?", Ginny suddenly shouted, "How could he break up with you, just because he was worried about what other people would say? That doesn't sound like the Fred I know at all! If he cared so much, he wouldn't be acting the way he is all the time. If he didn't want attention, he would never be doing all those pranks with George!"

"Well, you might be right about that..", Hermione said, "but anyway, it's over. There's nothing we can do".

"Ah, don't be too sure about that..", Ginny said as she slowly turned her head to look at her, and gave Hermione a sly grin.

"Wait, what are you thinking about?", Hermione asked.

"Well, you know.. Dean Thomas has been hot for you for weeks, maybe we could-"

"What, Dean? How is that possible?"

"I don't know.. never mind! Maybe we could.. you know, sort of let him date you just to make Fred jealous?"

"You mean use him?", Hermione asked and frowned. She didn't like to take advantage of people, even if it wouldn't give them anything other than a broken heart.

"Uhm, well.. some people might put it that way, but I would call it.. making him happy, before we - I mean you - breaks his heart, and get back together with Fred", Ginny said and shrugged.

"Ginny, I don't know.. it seems sort of cruel"

"No, not cruel.. just horrible.."

"That's exactly the same, Ginny..", Hermione said and shook her head while smiling.

"Uh.. yeah, I knew that.. besides, if you and Fred get married we'll be like sisters!", Ginny said and grinned.

"We're already as good as", Hermione said and hugged her, "Thank you, I really had to tell someone.."

"Well, as they say - what are friends for?".