Hello, people! Finally the story is close to getting back to the normal timeline. Thanks for the reviews I got for the last chapter. I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story, and that I'm not disappointing. (: And again, please. If you don't like Dramione, if you can't tolerate her ending up with anyone but Ron, if you want Draco to turn into a flobberworm –don't read my stories. I'm sure there are plenty of Romione fics out there to suit your fancy. I would appreciate it if the messages telling me "no! Not Draco!" and the like would stop. Thank you.
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Ginny was relieved to find Harry alone at the Gryffindor table the next day at breakfast. She was afraid she'd find Ron and Hermione sitting with him again, and after weeks of hearing Lavender sneak back into the girls' dormitory in the middle of the night, she could barely restrain herself from putting the Bat Bogey Hex on both her and Ron. Every day. Until she felt better.
"Hi Harry. Mind if I sit with you?" She gestured to the space on the bench opposite Harry. He looked up from his eggs and nodded. Ginny put down her bag and sat down.
"What's up, Ginny?"
Ginny helped herself to some oatmeal with cream and some sausages before settling down and looking Harry square in the eye. "I think we should tell Hermione about Ron and Lavender."
Harry nearly choked on his toast. "Why?"
Ginny sighed and shook her head. "Harry, it's unfair to Hermione. Ron's shagging that bimbo behind her back and no one's telling her a thing. Everyone's just whispering about it because no one has the courage to actually tell her. I don't even know why. It's not like Ron's the least bit threatening." She chuckled a little.
Harry had to smile at that, but the smile didn't last long. "I don't think it's Ron they're scared of, Ginny. Hermione won't take this news lightly. She loves Ron a lot."
"But Ron doesn't love her, not anymore. Come on, Harry. Stop being a coward." Ginny put down her spoonful of oatmeal and crossed her arms. "Whether you like it or not, Hermione needs to know."
"But Ron's my best mate, and so is Hermione… I don't know, Ginny," Harry said, running his hands through his perpetually messy hair. "I can't bring myself to split them up. It's always been the three of us, since first year, and-"
"What? You told me what you saw that night, at the Room of Requirement. Would you rather hide all this from Hermione and have her hurt all the more when she finds out, or tell her now before something really bad happens? Harry, this can't go on. Ron's being a complete arse. Hermione doesn't deserve this. Someone has to tell her."
"I know, Ginny, I know, but-"
"Well if you won't, I will," Ginny said, pushing away her plate and getting up. "I don't think I can stand another minute of Hermione going about her day and trying to ignore the fact that Ron's gone almost every night 'practicing his Keeper skills.' The way Ron's dealing with all this –it makes me sick." And with that, she picked up her bag and strode out of the Great Hall. Harry watched her go and wondered, as he always had, how a person like Ron could have a sister like Ginny Weasely.
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Honestly, thought Ginny, as she made her way to the Library, how could Harry not want to tell Hermione? Best mate or no, that git is cheating on Hermione and she deserves to know. She paused as soon as she got inside and looked around. It took her a while, but she found Hermione, surrounded by small piles of books, writing an essay. She headed toward her, determination in her every step. She was so intent on not backing out of this that she didn't notice Draco Malfoy watching her from the shadows in the shelves.
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Hermione was just finishing up her Transfiguration essay when Ginny dropped her bag on the table and without so much as a preamble said "Ron's cheating on you." Then, seeing as she didn't have Hermione's undivided attention just yet, she went on. "He's been lying to you about practicing his Keeping skills, too. He's up with Lavender Brown most nights in the Room of Requirement doing Merlin-knows-what and Hermione, if you know what's best for you, you'll break up with him now because you don't deserve this."
By now Hermione was just staring at Ginny, mouth agape, her quill poised mid-air, ink dripping onto her essay. When she finally found her voice she could only bring herself to say "…what?" Ginny opened her mouth to say something, but then seemed to think better of it. She picked up her bag, gave Hermione a long look, and swept out of the Library.
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Draco watched the Weasely girl walk away from the table where Hermione was sitting. Judging by the look on Hermione's face, the Weasely girl had probably told her what was going on between the Weasel and that Gryffindor skank. Good for her. Finally, after all these weeks (had it been two months already?) someone had told Hermione what was going on. But he couldn't help the twinge of sadness and guilt that ran through him. Even if Hermione needed to know, it'd still be hard on her. She really did seem to love that Weasel git. He looked over to her and his heart crashed at the sight of her, sitting there, looking lost and forlorn. She really didn't deserve this.
Malfoy shook his head, silently berating himself for just sitting here. He got up, intending to go over to her and at least talk to her. But before he could take one step, he saw her swiftly pick up her bag and stand up, knocking over her ink in the process. And before Madame Pince could spot her mess, she stalked out of the Library, seemingly fighting back tears, as the whispers and stares started all around her.
Malfoy sat down again and brooded. Tomorrow night was the next game between Slytherin and Gryffindor. He knew that whatever the outcome, the Weasel would want a shag afterward –either in celebration or for comfort. He made up his mind to wait outside their common room and watch. If Hermione finally decided to investigate Ron's strange nighttime wanderings, well, he wanted to be there to see what happened.
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And we're almost back to normal time! I just have to detail the hours before Hermione finally catches Ron and Lavender together, and I'll be back to where I was in the first chapter. I think after that I'll put a flashback or two of Malfoy's, especially since a lot of you seem curious about the Yule Ball incident I keep hinting at. One review suggested a ball of sorts (possibly graduation) and Malfoy's getting up the courage to ask Hermione. Do you guys think this is a good idea? (Because I quite like the bare concept behind it.) Review, review, review! And let me know. :D Please and thank you!