Chapter 5 is here. I've been writing and writing constantly. I'm hooked on writing for you guys, and I love getting reviews. So if you want more story, I need more reviews, I'm not getting too many at the moment. So review and get more chapters. : )
"Hermione? What… what the hell happened?!"
When I walked out of the fireplace, I spotted Hermione lying on the couch. Her face was red, her forehead was sweating and she looked extremely ill.
"Mum? What's going on?" I asked my mum as she walked in with Ron.
All the hate and envy I had tucked deep inside of me flared to surface. I clenched my fists furiously and began to walk back into the fireplace until Luna grabbed my arm.
"No, Ginny. You have to face this," she told me softly in my ear.
I shook my head. "I'm tired of him," I muttered, "I hate him and I hate her. I don't even know why I came back in the first place."
"Because you care, because you love her, because you love your family."
"I don't love anyone but you, Charlie and my mum and dad."
"You're lying to yourself, Ginny."
I stared at Hermione, trying to register what Luna had just told me. I swallowed the ever-returning lump in my throat and walked over to her.
"Hermione?"
"Hey, Gin…" she said hoarsely.
"What… happened?"
I kneeled down in front of her and touched her face softly. It was hot.
"I don't know. I ate a piece of cake and, I just feel so sick right now…"
"Well… are you allergic to anything that was in the cake? I know I'm allergic to nuts."
Ron snickered and I took off my sneakers and threw one at Ron. "Shut up, you git," I snarled.
Luna rested a hand on my shoulder as she came up from behind me. "Calm down," she murmured in my ear. I sighed.
"Tell us what happened then," I told Hermione.
"I'm not sure. I might be allergic to something," she said, beginning to cough. She clutched her chest, seeming like she was in agony. My heart dropped.
"Mum, do something!" I nearly yelled, panicked.
"Ginny, there's nothing we can do," Dad said softly.
"There has to be! Potions, spells, anything! Come on, damnit!"
"Ginny… We've tried."
"Owl George, do something! We can't just sit here and-- WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING, YOU BLOODY GIT?!" I roared at Ron.
"You're getting worked up over nothing!" Ron said indignantly.
"Nothi-- YOUR GIRLFRIEND'S ON THE BLOODY DEATHBED AND YOU'RE LAUGHING! IF SHE WAS MY GIRLFRIEND, I'D BE DOING EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO KEEP HER HAPPY AND HEALTHY!"
My face dropped as everyone but Luna stared.
"Are you trying to imply that you're a lesbian or something?" Ron said, turning a bit pale.
"I… No. I'm not a lesbian. It was just a statement!" I said defensively.
Everyone but Hermione and Luna looked suspicious.
"Not now, all right? We need to take care of Hermione," I mumbled ashamedly.
Mum and dad nodded – they understood – but Ron nearly had a heart attack.
"You're a dyke, then?" he said, ears turning red.
"I'm not a dyke, Ron. I just happen to like girls…"
"You're a bloody dyke then!"
"Hey, hey, what's going on in here?" Charlie said, walking in.
"Ginny's a… a dyke!" Ron yelled.
"I'M NOT A DYKE!" I roared, and whipped out my wand, storming over to him. He finally shut up.
"Hey, there's no need for that," Charlie said calmly, "Put that away."
"The hell I will! I'm tired of him, and I'm tired of the way he treats Hermione, and the way he's talking to me right now! I hate him! I hate his guts, and I'm going to show him!" I yelled.
Everyone looked astonished except for Ron who just looked like he was close to soiling himself.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley, you leave your sister alone right now!" Mum screeched furiously. "It does not matter whether or not she likes girls, what matters right now is that she is your sister and that Hermione is sick! You will keep your mouth shut unless you are helping us figure something out! Do you understand me?!"
Ron nodded, but I still didn't pull my wand away from his throat. Luna took my hand down gently and took my wand away from me. I turned around and buried my face into her neck and tried to hold back tears.
"What, now you and Luna have a thing going on?" Ron asked stupidly.
"Ronald Weasley, what did your mother just say?" asked dad angrily.
I snatched my wand back from Luna and pointed it at his head. "One more word, Ron, and I swear I'll blast your damn head off right now!"
"Ginny, stop it," Luna said softly. "You're going to kill him for a stupid reason."
Luna took me into her arms and took my wand away from me. She handed it to mum who put it away somewhere.
"Come on, we're going to have a bit of a chat," Luna told me, pulling me into the kitchen with mum and Charlie.
"Ginny, we need to figure something out to help Hermione."
"Can't we take her to St. Mungo's?"
"Probably not," Charlie said.
I sat on Luna's lap and she rubbed my arms softly.
"I'm sorry; I have to ask, Ginny, dear. Is there anything going on between you and Luna?"
"Of sorts," I answered, "but we're just friends."
Mum and Charlie nodded.
"So… is there no problem with me being… you know, a lesbian?"
"No, Ginny. You're our family, my only daughter. I always suspected anyway."
"You suspected?"
"Yes, ever since you were little, you were a bit more of a tomboy than you should have been and you always looked at girls in ways you shouldn't have."
I stared. "So you knew before I did?"
"Yes dear."
I shook my head and twisted sideways on Luna's lap.
"All right, well what are we going to do about Hermione?"
"I'm not sure. Harry's gone to get a potion from someone he "knows" somewhere. We'll see if that works."
"And… if it doesn't?" I asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
"Then, I don't know, dear."
I sighed and got up. "Come on, Luna," I said, making my way to the couch where Hermione lay.
"Hermione?"
Hermione looked up from the fireplace.
"I… I don't hate you… I'm just hurt, all right?"
Hermione nodded quietly. She wasn't able to talk anymore. I walked over and hugged her softly, and kissed her on the head. She smiled gratefully and closed her eyes. I sat by her side, gripping her hands shakily and trying not to cry. A couple of hours later, Harry returned. He smiled sadly upon seeing me, and kissed my cheek. He had a bottle of what looked like throw up in his hand. It was chunky, brown and green.
"Does she have to drink that?" I asked disgustedly.
Harry nodded. "Guaranteed to work."
"I refuse to drink that," whispered Hermione hoarsely.
"Hermione, please," I said before anyone else had the chance to speak.
"I can't… Look at it! It's frothing! And… and brown!"
"It'll make you—Hermione, you're going to die without it!"
"Please drink it, love," Ron spoke up.
"And, hypothetically, if you drink that when you're well, does it kill you?" I asked casually.
Luna frowned. "Ginny…"
"Wait a minute… You almost sound… jealous! You're jealous of—you're in love with Hermione!"
"I am NOT!" I roared, searching for a wand immediately.
"Why so touchy then?" snarled Ron.
This was going to be a brawl in a second.
"Ron Weasley, say another word about it and I'll kill you, I swear it!" I yelled.
"Go on and try!" he said, gaining courage.
"JUST BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED DOES NOT MEAN I LOVE HER! SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU HEAR?!" I screamed.
"Liar! She's my girlfriend, Ginny, you can't have her!"
"I don't want her! According to her, she's not even gay!"
Luna pulled me away as I began to storm over to Ron, fists clenched and ready.
"Come on, love, it's not worth it to kill him over a girl that's too dense to see what you mean to her," she murmured in my ear softly, holding me back.
I stared at her, furious tears filling my eyes.
"Drink the potion, Hermione, please," Harry pleaded with her as Luna pulled me into the kitchen so I could cry away from the eyes of everyone else.
I sat down on a chair and pulled Luna down with me, beginning to cry. A sob escaped my lips and I buried my face into her chest.
"It's all right, love, I'm here," Luna murmured softly, rubbing my arms gently.
I cried for quite a bit until I was cried out for the moment, and just sat there, my head resting on Luna's chest as she held me tightly. Everyone respected my privacy with Luna and so I sat there and stared at the floor for a few moments.
"You have to go back in there, Gin. You have to ignore them all and just stay with Hermione for a bit. Keep her calm, you know."
I nodded and wiped my face roughly. Hand in hand, the two of us walked back into the sitting room.