Chapter 13
Ginny POV
"Communicae Protea," Ginny said as she pointed her wand at the ring that she had set down on the floor of the Astronomy Tower. Thankfully there was no Astronomy class tonight, as such, this seemed like the perfect place for Ginny to get a little privacy for her conversation with Hermione. It would've been much more convenient to be able to message her from her dorm room, but with roommates around, it really wasn't ideal.
Ginny pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them as she continued to wait. She rocked back and forth a bit, as she idly looked outside at the night sky. It was still fairly early in September, so it was still quite warm and pleasant out despite it being quite late in the day.
She was about to sigh in impatience when Hermione appeared in front of her. Ginny was about to eagerly greet her, but her excitement was cut off when she took in the image of Hermione hunched over a stack of paperwork, busily writing away.
"Hey," Ginny said.
The image of Hermione visibly sighed and continued to scribble for a moment longer before she set down her quill and turned to face Ginny.
"Hi Gin," the brunette said tiredly.
"Still working again?" Ginny asked.
Hermione gave a weary sigh and glanced at the paperwork on her desk. "Yes. We had our first meeting with the French Ministry a few days ago and the assessment they brought forth has a lot of inaccurate claims and false correlations. I'm trying to dissect their assessment more thoroughly, provide evidence, counter-arguments and such, and then I'll bring it forward to Mr. Noirent."
"Ah, wow, that's hard work. Good job on finding those errors though," Ginny offered. She honestly didn't really know what Hermione was talking about, but she tried to sound otherwise and supportive.
Though she and Hermione tried to talk somewhat regularly, recently their conversations had been short, not giving enough time to go into detail about much of anything. Hermione was just too busy and despite Ginny's best efforts, Percy's words from last Christmas were starting to ring in her ears again.
"Yes, well, some of the errors are glaring. I don't know who's doing their research," the brunette said with a disapproving shake of her head. "And if we don't even accurately identify the problems with our current laws, we have no hope of creating a rightful reform."
Ginny smiled at Hermione affectionately. She really did admire her passion and dedication, even though it made her feel a bit distant from the girl right now. Ever since Hermione had started at the Ministry, she had been taking on an increasing amount of work and it looked like it was only going to get busier. Consequently, finding time to talk and talk extensively just wasn't possible.
"They're lucky to have you on their team," Ginny smiled.
Hermione let out a small laugh. "Thanks, Gin."
The two talked for a while longer, Ginny forcing herself to not be upset when Hermione would begin reading various documents and respond distractedly.
"Well, I should let you go," Ginny said as casually as she could while suppressing the disappointment that was working its way upward.
A moment passed as Hermione frowned at a document she was reading. "Hm? Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, Gin. I just have so much to do. I hope you understand. I'll be able to talk more over the weekend," Hermione promised, now making eye contact.
The promise appeased Ginny, though she wasn't entirely sure if it would pan out the way Hermione said it would. She seemed sincere enough though.
"No problem. Don't work too late," Ginny said with a wink.
Hermione laughed. "I'll try not to. Take care, Gin. I love you."
"Love you too.
Soon, the image of Hermione disappeared and Ginny stared absently where it was just moments ago. She expected herself to feel better after her conversation with Hermione, but she found herself feeling slightly worse. She knew Hermione was busy, and that she loved her, but she still couldn't shake this feeling.
With a sigh, Ginny picked the ring off of the floor and placed the chain around her neck, lifting her robes to tuck the necklace under them. She quietly walked back to Gryffindor Tower and settled into her bed. Curling up, she eventually found sleep.
"Oh, now you want to talk...," Ginny complained inwardly as she felt a gentle warmth against her chest. She had been holding off on making plans with her friends because she anticipated hearing from Hermione, and of course, just when she had resigned and said she'd join them, Hermione wanted to talk. A couple of weeks had passed since their talk in the Astronomy Tower, and Ginny had to reluctantly admit that things hadn't improved at all.
Ginny excused herself from the group, surprising herself with her reluctance, and rushed off to an abandoned classroom before setting down her ring and saying the incantation. Hermione appeared looking notably frazzled.
"What took you so long?" Hermione questioned with a scrutinizing frown that made Ginny want to lash out with the exact same question, but she held back.
"Sorry. Was with friends," Ginny replied evenly, trying to keep her irritation and even hurt out of her voice. Hermione nodded as she sat back on the couch with a heavy sigh.
"Sorry it took me a while to call you, today's been a complete disaster," the brunette sighed with a roll of her eyes.
Ginny settled herself against the wall and listened with as much attentiveness as she could muster while Hermione gave her a hurried account of all the trials and tribulations she was encountering at work. It wasn't that Ginny didn't care - far from it; it's just that they hadn't spoken in a number of days because of Hermione's work, and now that they were talking, it was just work all over again. Ginny couldn't blame Hermione for being stressed out, but this isn't exactly how the young Weasley was hoping their conversation would be.
"-and I just don't understand how they can't see that. You know?"
"Yeah, for sure," Ginny replied as she nodded with a level of conviction that she hope satiated the brunette.
"See?" Hermione replied exasperatedly as she threw her hands in the air. She grunted her disbelief before continuing on. "I just don't get it. Anyway," she sighed as she sat forward on the couch to readjust her position. "How have you been?"
Since they'd last talked, Ginny had been mentally logging all the things she would tell Hermione when they finally spoke, but after the older girl's rant, suddenly things like quidditch practice or Luna losing her shoes again didn't seem nearly as significant.
"Um," Ginny started as she tried to think of a decent conversation piece, only to fall back on her original thoughts, "quidditch is going well," she reported with brightness that she had to admit was a bit forced. "The new team is working really well together - I'm glad with the choices we made. Natalie could even give Fred and George a run for their money."
"That's excellent, Gin," Hermione nodded. "How are your studies?"
Ginny cracked a grin - some things never changed and in this case she was thankful. "They're going well," she replied deliberately. "You have nothing to worry about; I'm getting in lots of study time even though my favourite study partner is nowhere to be found."
"Good," Hermione said as she returned Ginny's grin.
This small turn in their conversation somehow relieved Ginny of a weight that she didn't realize she had been shouldering. Newly inspired, Ginny was about to start into a story when Hermione's smile steadily transformed itself into a frown.
"Something wrong?" Ginny asked.
"Oh, shoot, I just remembered that I promised Mr. Noirent some documents for Wednesday," the brunette relayed as she knitted her brows together. Her eyes seemed to focus elsewhere in the room like they normally did when she drifted deep into thought.
"Oh, well, I guess you have a couple of days, right?" Ginny offered.
"Yes, but I have a lot of other obligations to take care of before Wednesday, too."
The recent easiness of their conversation proved to be fleeting as it was immediately whisked away when Hermione's work and stress permeated their talk once more.
"Well, I guess you better go then," Ginny suggested as she did her best to once more swallow her disappointment and not let it show through.
"Unfortunately, I think you're right. I'm sorry," Hermione said with a bit of an apologetic wince.
"Oh no, don't worry, Mione," the younger girl dismissed with a smile and wave of her hand. "I understand. And I can still catch up with the group. I'm just sorry that you're being so overloaded."
Hermione gave a small shrug as she began to rummage through her bag for her paperwork. "Part of the job," she replied nonchalantly. Ginny just chuckled for a lack of a better response.
"Sorry we couldn't talk more," Hermione apologized once more, taking a moment to catch the redhead's eye before returning to organizing her papers on the table before her. "We'll talk more next week, okay?"
Ginny readily ignored the pang that shot through her - the one she had grown so accustomed to in fifth year, but had more or less forgotten until recently.
"Yeah, for sure," she smiled, trying to sound both optimistic and enthusiastic - for whose sake, she wasn't quite sure yet. "Try to fit sleep somewhere in your schedule, okay?" She teased in an attempt to erase any negativity from their conversation; however, as she watched Hermione poring over a document, some part of Ginny realized that she was probably the only one with that concern.
"I will," the older girl laughed lightly as she glanced up at Ginny. "Thanks for understanding, Ginny. Send me an owl in the meantime, okay?"
"Of course," Ginny smiled. "Good night, Mione."
"Thanks. Night, Gin. Have fun."
With that, Hermione reached out, tapped the ring and disappeared.
Ginny heaved a sigh as she let her head fall back against the wall with a dull thud. Again, she shouldn't feel crummy, but she did. It wasn't personal, Hermione was just...busy.
"Stop it," Ginny's mind scolded her. She rolled her eyes in self-reproach - this shouldn't be an issue.
Forcing herself to get up, she walked forward to snatch the ring off the floor and hurriedly threw the gold chain around her neck. She roughly pushed the ring underneath her shirt and out of sight, as if the action would exhaust some of her frustration. Of course, no such luck. Tucking her wand away, she strode out of the room and down the hall. If internal reasoning couldn't calm her, then at the very least a healthy dose of social distractions would have to do.
Ginny walked briskly down the hall when someone's derisive voice caught her attention. Against her better judgement, she turned around. As the perpetrator and her entourage came into view, Ginny's shoulders slumped involuntarily in weariness.
"Not you again," she huffed as she eyed Astoria Greengrass in disdain. The girl was currently perched on one of the ledges of the corridor and was giving Ginny a cheeky smirk that the redhead really didn't appreciate.
"Aw, missing your friends?" Astoria asked in an achingly saccharine voice.
"Yeah, imagine that, Greengrass - friends! What a concept," Ginny replied bitingly as she took a few casual steps towards the Slytherins. The advance was apparently unwelcome and prompted each member of the group, minus Astoria, to step away from the wall and towards the lone Gryffindor.
"Not much without your litter of siblings, Potter and what was the other one?" Astoria took a moment to tap her chin in mock contemplation. "Oh right, Granger," she continued.
Just the mere mention of Hermione's name in such a manner set Ginny's temper aflame. All previous concerns about their relationship aside, Ginny never could stand how the Slytherins relentlessly taunted Hermione. The fact that this juvenile teasing was still going on despite the older girl no longer attending Hogwarts only made matters worse.
"Is that the best you can do?" Ginny asked in a flat tone before continuing on in sarcastic regret. "Oh no, is your sister still upset about that hex I hit her with last year? Or the points that Hermione took from your House? What's Daphne up to these days anyway? Is she shining shoes down at the Ministry? Though I can't imagine they'd let her anywhere nearby..."
Astoria immediately stood up and walked deliberately towards Ginny. "Not everyone wants to become a bureaucratic snob - you of all people should know that. And I wouldn't brag, your dad's a nobody in the Ministry and the only spot your little harping girlfriend could get is off in France, and helping house-elves no less," she finished with a haughty laugh.
Ginny was about to lay into Astoria when footsteps from down the hall echoed in her ears. Both girls turned to see Snape approaching; Ginny instantly knew that this conflict would be put on hold and she'd probably still manage to get in trouble.
"Is there any particular reason that you are loitering in the halls?" The professor asked, though he only made eye contact with Ginny.
"No, sir. I was just leaving," Ginny replied with a hint of reluctance that she was sure wouldn't go unnoticed.
"Wise decision," he replied slowly as she continued to watch her, apparently waiting for her to leave.
Turning on her heel, Ginny recommenced her trek down the hall and did her best to ignore the sounds of Astoria's chattering to Snape that bounced off the walls.
"Bloody Hell," the young Weasley muttered under her breath as she rounded the corner and soon entered the room where her friends and the others were residing. With a sigh of relief, Ginny hurriedly walked over to where Luna was sitting and practically collapsed into the spot next to her on the couch. A small chuckle escaped the redhead as she noticed Luna slowly turn her head towards her in question.
"Are you having a bad evening?" Luna asked lightly.
Ginny snorted out a short laugh. "No, it's just been odd."
"Odd is okay. I quite like odd, actually," Luna replied with a smile and a nod that made Ginny crack a genuine grin.
"So what does that say about Harry?" Ginny teased as she gave the blonde a gentle nudge.
"He doesn't mind," the Ravenclaw answered with a shrug.
Ginny continued to give Luna a smile and the two settled into easy conversation. A short while later, their talk came to a halt when Ginny caught Luna's watchful eye tracking someone. The redhead turned just as the person came to stand in front of them, recognizing the girl as Laura Madley, a Hufflepuff whom she shared Herbology class with.
"Hey, I'm just heading out for the evening, but wanted to stop over and say 'bye'," Laura explained a bit coyly as she stood with her hands behind her back, Ginny noting that the girl hadn't so much as glanced Luna's way. "Hey, Ginny, I noticed you weren't here earlier, I would've stopped by sooner," she continued.
"Hm? Oh, yeah, I had to go back to my dorm for a bit," Ginny answered. She wasn't sure why she felt the need to be so mysterious about the rings, but she felt the urge regardless.
"Oh okay," Laura replied with an eager nod. "So, just while you're here, I was wondering, did you figure out that Herbology assignment?"
"Oh," Ginny said as she sat back, "yeah, I did. How about yourself?"
"Not yet. I'm stuck on one of the questions actually," Laura replied. Ginny shared a quick sidelong glance with Luna that confirmed that she was being baited.
"Oh, well, I'm sure you'll figure it out. Gwen's really good at Herbology, her last assignment mark blew mine right out of the water – maybe she can help you out," Ginny suggested as affably as possible. From the look on the Hufflepuff's face, Ginny's response threw her for a loop.
"Right...good thinking," the girl offered as an awkward pause filtered in. Eventually, she piped up again. "Well, good seeing you. Have a good night!"
"Thanks, Laura. You too."
Ginny and Luna remained silent as they both watched the girl leave the room. The moment Laura disappeared from sight, the redhead snapped her head towards Luna with an unimpressed stare.
"What the Hell," Ginny stated simply and earning a soft laugh from her blonde companion.
"Seems like she likes you," Luna stated. Ginny just shook her head in dismay.
"Doesn't every girl know by now that I'm crazy about Hermione?" She asked. Really, in her mind, she had no idea how anyone could have any other interpretation of where her affections lay.
"Perhaps they're just feeling a bit bolder since Hermione's not actually around," the Ravenclaw hypothesized.
The irritation that had festered inside of Ginny regarding the encounter with Laura was erased as the reminder of Hermione's absence came up. Ginny couldn't help but be ashamed of herself over how her emotions were being so easily thrown about by this issue.
"Try not to worry," Luna went on. There was something about the way the blonde delivered the statement that made Ginny think that, yet again, Luna knew too much.
"Thanks, Luna. I'm not concerned," Ginny shrugged. "It'll blow over." The small smile that Luna granted her indicated that the Ravenclaw caught the ambiguity in her response.
With a sigh, Ginny carried on. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. I'm gonna call it a night. Thanks again, Luna."
"No problem. Have a good night. Say 'hello' to Hermione for me. Tell her not to work too hard."
Before Ginny could catch herself, she flashed Luna a sardonic smirk. Really though, there was no point in trying to hide these sorts of things from Luna anyway – she always knew better. With a light chuckle, Ginny responded. "I'll certainly try."
AN: Not too much to say about this chapter. But, here you go, the beginning of Ginny's new school year minus Hermione. I believe the transitioning from the last chapter to this one was probably a bit abrupt, but hopefully not. Either way, hope you all enjoyed. Thanks again for all your support!