-Chapter 30: Pack Your Things-
Hermione met Ginny and her parents at the Leaky Cauldron the last day of August and they went to Diagon Alley to get their supplies. It looked almost as it had before the war, nearly every shop had opened back up. Molly cried while Ginny was getting her books, it finally hit her that this was the last trip she would ever be making to Diagon Alley to get supplies for Hogwarts. As a gift for not only making Quidditch Captain but Head Girl as well Arthur and Molly bought her a brand new cauldron and a set of scales instead of her having to use hand-me-downs. She and Hermione got an ice cream at the new ice cream parlor that opened up in place of Florean Fortescue's. After getting all of their supplies they departed once more but made plans to meet at Platform 9 ¾ the next day so they could board the train together.
The first term went by quickly. Ginny and the Gryffindor Quidditch team defeated Slytherin in the first match of the semester. McGonagall said it was one of the worst upsets she'd seen in her history at the school. Hermione studied furiously, she was determined to get perfect scores on all of her N.E.W.T.s. They spent several blissful nights in the Room of Requirement. Everyone knew of their engagement but no one bothered them. After the war was over anyone who fought in it on the side of the Resistance was regarded as a hero and treated as such.
Christmas Holidays came. Hermione spent New Years at the Burrow and it seemed as though everyone had some news. George had proposed to Angelina Johnson and she accepted, Percy had eloped with a woman named Audrey, and Ron was officially going to join the Auror department at the Ministry and would be moving in with Harry at Grimmauld Place at the beginning of the summer.
When the school term resumed Hermione practically lived in the library. Ginny was becoming increasingly frustrated with her. The only time she saw the brunette was at meal time and even then Ginny couldn't count on her being there. Ginny was nervous about her N.E.W.T.s. too and studied for them in her spare time but she was sure Hermione was taking it overboard. They were in the common room one night, Hermione was studying at one of the tables and Ginny was sitting across from her going over the Quidditch playbook.
"Are you coming to the match tomorrow?" Ginny asked.
"Mmmm. Not sure. Arithmancy exam next week."
"You are more than prepared for that exam, you've read the chapter like six times."
"Yes but all of it is on the N.E.W.T. You should be studying, too."
"I'm not even taking Arithmancy, Hermione. Are you even listening to me?"
"Uh-huh. You don't take Arithmancy. Study Charms or something, there is an exam coming up in that too."
"I have been studying for my N.E.W.T.s and the Charms exam in all my spare time. Look, what do you say you put the book away and we go up to the Room of Requirement for the night? You need a break."
"Tomorrow."
"Hermione, we have spent absolutely no time together since New Years. It is always 'tomorrow'. I ask you to come to Quidditch practice so you can have a break from the library and it is always 'tomorrow'. Even Luna comes to watch practice every now and then and she isn't even a Gryffindor."
Hermione slammed her book closed and glared at Ginny. Everyone else in the common room started to look in their direction.
"Well why don't you and Luna just go study your Potions together!" Hermione hissed.
"Whoa, whoa, don't even, Hermione!! That was a long time ago and has absolutely nothing to do with right now."
"You brought her up first, Ginevra!"
Ginny stood up. "I was just saying that I wanted you to come watch me play! I sit here and watch you study all the time, can't you spare one afternoon?"
Hermione stood up and slammed her fist on the table.
"I'm actually studying to excel at my N.E.W.T.s and not just scrape by and hope for some stupid little fantasy of becoming a professional Quidditch player!"
There was a collective gasp from the room as they looked to Ginny.
"I…I don't even…" Ginny stammered. Her eyes welled up and her heart raced as the rage poured through her body. "Why even bother studying, you stuck up brat! I'm sure your bloody trust fund will make sure you get whatever you want!"
The room started buzzing with noise. Ginny picked up a book and threw it across the room; it crashed into the bulletin board and the entire thing fell to the floor. Romilda Vane told the group watching she was going to go find McGonagall and ran out of the tower.
"Oh, very nice Ginny! And you think you are ready for us to get married? You really need to grow up!"
Ginny fumed.
"Are you fucking kidding me Hermione? Don't you dare tell me I need to grow up! I'm the only one working at this relationship anymore! You don't even care about us. All you care about are your damn marks!"
"Throwing books isn't exactly a way to tell me that you are grown up or that you care about us!"
"Neither is having your nose buried in them all day and completely ignoring me! And if you are so bloody worried about the book how about you walk over there and shove it…"
"SILENCIO!!" McGonagall shouted as she came through the portrait hole, aiming her wand at Ginny. Ginny continued trying to swear but no words came out. "All of you except Miss Granger and Miss Weasley, off to your dormitories."
The students shuffled out and when the room was clear McGonagall looked at the two seventh-years with an incredibly disappointed expression.
"What, may I ask, is going on in here Miss Granger?"
"Nothing, Professor."
"You're a brilliant witch, Miss Granger, but a terrible liar." McGonagall turned to Ginny. "Miss Weasley, if I reverse the Silencio will you try to keep your language under control?"
Ginny nodded. McGonagall pointed her wand at the redhead and silently cast the counter-spell. Ginny kept her jaw clenched shut and sat in one of the armchairs.
"This is why I don't usually approve of relationships at Hogwarts, especially seventh years. Students are simply too young to deal with all of the pressures."
"Ugh. That's total bull…"
"Ginevra Weasley! I know your parents taught you better than that!" McGonagall exclaimed.
Ginny stood up and started pacing. "It's always that I am 'too young'. Too young for a commitment, too young to fight, too young for anything. I'm fucking sick of it!"
"Detention all next week in my office. One more outburst like that and you won't be seeing the Quidditch pitch for the rest of the year. Do you understand?"
Ginny scowled and nodded.
"I appreciate your concern, Professor," Hermione said, "but this is between Ginny and me."
"It is when the argument happens in private but when you begin shouting in the common room in front of other students and objects start being thrown it becomes my problem as well. This argument is over. Miss Weasley, I would like for you to pack up your things. You will be staying in Ravenclaw Tower for the time being."
"Have fun with Luna," Hermione muttered under her breath.
"Miss Granger, I believe I said that this argument was at an end."
Ginny stormed up the stairs. Hermione found the book Ginny threw and put it back on the table.
"Professor, can I ask you something? Something kind of personal?"
"How about you ask and then I will determine if it is too personal to answer?"
"Did you ever love anyone? Not like you love your students but really really love."
"I think that question is harmless, Miss Granger," McGonagall said, "I thought I did once. His name was Alexander Meade. He barely knew I existed. I tried my best to do everything to catch his eye. I excelled at my studies and at Quidditch, much like your Ginny, so I could try to get him to notice me."
"What happened?"
"We dated briefly in our seventh year. However, like I said before, there were too many pressures. Looking back now though he wasn't the one I was meant to be with. Some people aren't meant to be with someone else forever. Hogwarts is my life, I love her more than I've ever loved any person."
"Do you think Ginny and I are meant to be together?"
"I don't know, dear. The two of you have been together for quite some time, I've never seen such a young relationship hold on so strong. There are people who have been married for several years whose relationships haven't survived half the things you two have been through. But like I said, I don't normally approve of relationships at school so my true opinion may be slightly biased. What do you think?"
"She said some pretty hurtful things tonight…then again so did I. We've never fought like that."
"I think what you two need is some time apart which is precisely why I am sending her to Ravenclaw for now. I do strongly suggest, however, that you come to the Quidditch match tomorrow. She won't be at practice next week but after that you're not allowed to be in the library during Gryffindor Quidditch practice. What you do with the time is up to you but I will notify Madam Pince of the times you are and are not allowed to be in there. This is not just for the two of you, Miss Granger, but for yourself as well. You are too worried about the N.E.W.T.s and you will drive yourself mad studying like this. You will do wonderfully on them and go on to do fantastic things, I am certain of it."
"Yes Professor, and thank you."
Ginny came downstairs with her trunk. She looked at Hermione and scowled before leaving the tower with McGonagall.
