Chapter 22

Ginny POV

"Blimey, Mione, you look exhausted all over again," Ginny mumbled as a dishevelled Hermione appeared before her.

"Thanks," Hermione remarked in a flat voice as she eyed Ginny resentfully. The brunette sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. "It'll be fine soon. Our deadline is in a few days and we're very nearly done rallying support. It's just been a tiring process I suppose."

"I'll say," Ginny scoffed. "What have they been having you do, exactly? Merlin, the way they're wearing you down they should be paying you triple what they do."

"It's not about the money, Gin," Hermione argued. "And I haven't been doing anything too strenuous, actually. I think I just haven't been sleeping well. I guess worries about work have been weighing me down," she hypothesized.

Ginny eyed her girlfriend with searing doubt before asking, "Well, then what? What comes after the project is okayed again by the Minister?"

"Then," Hermione stressed impatiently, "we move onto implementing."

Ginny did her best to not roll her eyes as her mind foresaw how much more of a toll the implementation process would take on Hermione. "You better not die while you're out there," Ginny joked half-heartedly. "I don't quite fancy having to find another girlfriend. It's a dreadful process, you know."

Hermione gave a brusque laugh and shook her head ruefully before cracking a grin. "Like you could get rid of me that easily."

"I would hope not," Ginny replied as she gave a small smile. "I'm just worried about you," she said softly while looking earnestly at the older girl.

"I know, Love," Hermione responded quietly as she sat forward and mustered up a smile of her own for the redhead.

Ginny frowned as she saw Hermione's eyes flit away uncomfortably before settling them on Ginny once more, fidgeting all the while.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked.

Hermione studied Ginny for a moment and spoke tentatively, "Um, has Pig been acting a little strange?"

"What?" Ginny asked in thorough confusion.

Hermione readjusted her position on the couch and spoke more confidently. "He arrived this evening with a letter from you and he seemed very distraught-"

Ginny interrupted Hermione's explanation with a snickering laugh that earned her a harsh glare from the brunette.

"What?" Ginny asked once more in innocence. "He's always crazy."

"No," Hermione stated firmly. "He was really upset. Like he was scared...he wouldn't leave me alone. And when I touched his wing he nearly had a heart attack. I thought he might be injured, but I took a closer look and couldn't see anything."

"Oh," Ginny frowned. "Well...I don't know what to say. I'm sure it's nothing. I guess he was a bit madder than usual when he left, but the weather's been dreadful recently - he's been cooped up indoors for the most part. He acts out when he has too much energy."

Hermione let out an exasperated breath and rolled her eyes. "Gin, I don't know...it just...it wasn't normal. Something about it has me concerned."

A dull silence crept into their conversation and both girls averted their eyes awkwardly. Eventually, Ginny cleared her throat and asked, "So, how's Crookshanks been?"

Hermione sighed heavily and gave Ginny a look that told her that the brunette knew she was just trying to change the subject, but turned to pet the cat that was sleeping next to her on the couch. "He's still rather insane. He must've run himself ragged with his antics because this is the first time he's slept in days I think. He must absolutely hate it here."

"I'm sure he just misses me," Ginny suggested with a lopsided grin as she leaned back against the wall in the Room of Requirement.

Hermione returned the smile and obliged her girlfriend, "I'm sure he does."

"Maybe it's just Paris that's driving them both insane," Ginny chuckled, but recoiled slightly under the glare Hermione delivered.

"Gin, I'm serious," Hermione said sternly. "Something's wrong."

Ginny couldn't help herself and shrugged her shoulders, just unsure of what Hermione was getting at or what it could be. Hermione looked at her darkly and crossed her arms before looking away.

"Fine, never mind then, Ginny. I won't bother you with my nonsense any longer," Hermione stated haughtily.

Ginny released a frustrated sigh. "What do you want me to say, Mione? I'm trying here, but honestly, what could it be?" She threw her hands up in a mixture of question and defeat. "Maybe he ran into trouble with another owl on the way over. Or maybe the weather was rough," she offered dismissively.

"Maybe," Hermione pouted, though still clearly not believing a word Ginny just said.

"Why don't you just tell me your theory," Ginny said with exaggerated patience. She saw that Hermione was resisting, so she gave her an imploring look and repeated the request. Only then did Hermione give in.

"I know you're going to think I'm mad," Hermione replied in a temper.

"Mione, please," Ginny said tiredly, despite her best efforts to not let her impatience show.

The brunette shot her an offended look, but forged on. "I looked at the letter to see if it had been tampered with - I couldn't be sure though." She paused for a second and took a breath before moving on. "And this wasn't the first time I noticed it actually," she trailed off before shaking her head and looking to Ginny in disbelief. "Really? You didn't notice that Pig was a bit...off? He's been like this since the holidays. I sort of wrote it off at first, but it's getting worse every time." Her eyes glanced elsewhere momentarily before looking at Ginny with determination, "I think someone...intercepted, Pig."

"You can't be serious," Ginny scoffed incredulously.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me," Hermione huffed.

"Maybe you're overtired," Ginny suggested gently. "Perhaps you should try to get a good night's sleep...maybe you're not thinking clea-"

"It's not like I haven't been going to bed at a decent hour," Hermione snapped severely. "I'm tired, yes, but I haven't lost my mind, okay?"

"Okay," Ginny responded hesitantly as she reconsidered her initial inclination to retaliate.

"I just have a bad feeling, that's all," Hermione said quietly; now subdued.

"Don't make me crack a divination joke," Ginny ventured against her better judgment.

"God, you're worse than Ron!" Hermione exploded.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, that was inappropriate," the younger girl admitted as she put her hands up in defense and gave her girlfriend her most apologetic look. Hermione huffed indignantly, still obviously unimpressed, but kept quiet to provide room for Ginny to speak. "So, who would be interested in seeing what I send to you?"

"Well, it's not just Pig, I think. Hedwig was a bit strange recently, too. But it was less obvious with her. Pig is a bit more excitable, so perhaps that's why. Even Harry noticed it, though, said that when he tried to send her again she threw a fit," Hermione explained.

"Oh," Ginny said as her mind began to process this new information - perhaps...perhaps, Hermione was onto something. "Well...so, the holidays? So all other owls you received prior to then were fine?"

"Well, I've only noticed it since I've been back," Hermione replied, "but I hadn't received any messages by owl for quite some time prior to the holidays since everyone knew I would be back in London soon anyway," she continued as she furrowed her brows in thought. "I believe the most recent time was your letter from Hogsmeade, but that was fine."

"And it wasn't Pig," Ginny added pointedly. "I just used an owl from the owlery in Hogsmeade."

"Yes, but I don't think it's so much the owl, as the timeframe," Hermione countered.

"Okay, but still, who would it be? What's the motivation?" Ginny asked.

Hermione pursed her lips as she went deep into thought. "I don't know..."

Ginny frowned as she racked her brain, but came up with nothing but blanks. "Okay, well, first things first, let's confirm whether or not someone is actually watching your mail."

"Right," the brunette nodded. "Well, I actually-"

"Hey, do you think maybe it's the French Ministry?" Ginny blurted out as the thought struck her.

"Possibly," Hermione nodded, a bit regretfully Ginny noted. "They could be watching the whole team. It could have something to do with us making progress on the project...maybe someone on their side is unhappy about that. I mean, they set up these extra requirements as more of a roadblock than anything - I'm sure they expected the project to be shut down, but maybe they've heard that we already surpassed the requirements." Ginny was about to agree with the older girl's statement when Hermione continued. "Yet...we got support from all the people who should have opposed the reform, the ones that the French Ministry were worried about. However, there's got to be someone who is unhappy - my guess would be those with unregistered elves."

"Sounds plausible to me," Ginny confirmed before narrowing her eyes at her girlfriend. "It also sounds like this isn't the first time this has crossed your mind."

Suddenly, a mischievous smirk formed on the brunette's face as she brought her gaze up to meet Ginny's - the look unnerving the redhead.

"I love you, Ginny," Hermione stated evenly, not dropping her gaze, if anything it intensified.

"What the Hell," Ginny muttered as she tried to back up, but felt resistance since she was already pressed against the wall.

"Get ready for another scandal," the brunette smiled, all impishness in her expression replaced by innocence.

"What?" Ginny asked, confused by her girlfriend's supposedly genius plan.

"If you send me a letter with information like that, if someone is actually intercepting it, it'll end up in the papers for sure. If it is the French Ministry, they would certainly love to drag my name through the mud and discredit me. They'll make up their own evidence, of course, perhaps more pictures shown out of context or whatever the case may be, but they'll relate it to whatever is in your letter. Whether it's Rita Skeeter who publishes the article or not, we'll know that someone sold the story," Hermione explained.

"Hold on," Ginny said as she raised a hand although she already knew full well where Hermione was going with this, she just didn't like the direction - not one bit. "Information like what, exactly?"

"Information like what was in Witches Weekly a while back - something tabloid worthy. I think the scandals and this are related. So if that's what they want, then we'll give it to them."

Ginny gave her girlfriend a doubtful stare.

"Or, if you want, I can send you a letter like that instead," the brunette offered.

"No, no," Ginny objected. Normally Ginny trusted Hermione's logic completely, but this just didn't sit well with the younger girl. "I don't know, Mione, this seems pretty extreme. Can't we just use a spell?"

"I've already tried," Hermione relayed. "I didn't try anything the first time, like I said, I just sort of ignored it. But when it happened again, and with Hedwig, too, I figured something was up. Of course my first course of action was to try a spell - various spells, but none of them worked. But at the same time, I just can't let this rest. Something's wrong."

Ginny took a moment to soak in Hermione's words. While she understood Hermione's point, Ginny was just uncomfortable with the plan. "Well...maybe there really is nothing going on. And I still don't like this approach. This effects your reputation and I don't want you to push your luck," she warned. "And if jeopardizing your own reputation isn't enough, wouldn't it hurt the project as well?"

"Well, I have my reasons for doing it this way," Hermione informed her. "One, if something does get published, then it's absolutely certain that I'm being monitored. Next, if I am in fact being watched, I don't want you to be at risk because of that. This would separate us in the public eye, and you'll be off the radar. Thirdly, Ms. Blake can smooth things out so the repercussions are minimal. She'll be absolutely furious with whoever is responsible."

"I really don't want to have to rely on Ms. Blake. And isn't she the one who told you to stay away from scandals?" Ginny stressed, though from the brunette's demeanour, Ginny already knew her chances of changing Hermione's mind were slim.

"Don't worry about Ms. Blake - she won't let me or the project go under," the older girl countered.

"Are you sur-"

"Gin," Hermione interjected in exasperation. "I know you don't like her, I know most people don't! But she has been my biggest advocate since I've been here and she's accountable for the project as well, she won't abandon it."

Ginny sighed in defeat. "Fine."

"Don't tell me you're scared, Gin," Hermione baited, pulling a dark stare out of the redhead in question. "Fine, I'll write the letter."

"No," Ginny declared tersely. "I'll write it. Besides, scandals are practically expected when it comes to quidditch players, right?" She smirked. "And I've already had one scandal, why not another."

"Well, as clever as I think this is, I really don't want to drag your name through the mud, either," Hermione backtracked.

"Don't worry about it, I'm a big girl, I can handle it," Ginny assured her with a wink.

"You're the best, Gin," Hermione smiled.

"Yeah, yeah." The redhead dismissed the flattery with a playful wave. "Just don't expect a spontaneous visit from me in an attempt to do unnecessary damage control."

"Aw, but that's half the fun," the brunette complained with a smile.

Ginny indulged the older girl in a smirk before a thought crossed her mind. "Hey, can you do me a favour?"

"Anything," Hermione said earnestly.

"Can you somehow let my mom know ahead of time that this is planned? I don't want another howler."

Hermione laughed. "I'll see what I can do."

Ginny closed her mouth around a spoonful of food, listening as best she could to Colin's apprehensions about their upcoming Transfiguration test, but really, her attention was raptly focused on the upper windows in the Great Hall. She couldn't help herself; she kept glancing over to spot the first signs of the morning post arriving. The disaster would hit any day now if Hermione's theory was correct. Just a couple of days ago the brunette had confirmed that she received Ginny's latest letter. Again, Pig was upset upon arrival, and Ginny had to admit that the poor owl was far from thrilled when he got the directions to go to Hermione. Normally, he was enthralled with the idea of travelling so far and he had always like the brunette, but now he wasn't nearly as eager to take on the journey.

The younger girl experienced an odd sense of pride over the sordid account of her 'affair' with an unnamed Slytherin girl – maybe if this whole quidditch trajectory didn't work out, writing could be an alternative. Ginny smirked as she recalled Hermione's reaction to the letter she received.

"...it was so vivid that had I not asked you to write it, I'd be over to Hogwarts in a flash with the tip of my wand seeking you out."

Ginny repressed a snicker and nodded her head appropriately as Colin went on. The redhead's attention was drawn away from her fellow Gryffindor, however, when she saw Luna approaching.

The blonde sat down across from Ginny, sitting next to Colin, and eyed the redhead wearily, merely holding up an article. Ginny giggled at the look on Luna's face as she plucked the paper out of the blonde's hand and smiled enthusiastically as she read.

She laughed furthermore as she read the title of the article, "Hermione Granger's Endless Heartbreak". It went on about how heartbreak knows no distance and how the sound of Hermione's just recently mended heart breaking all over again could be heard across the expanse. Ginny scoffed as she read that apparently she had grown tired of Hermione's negligence and sought out a girl that was everything that the previous Head Girl was not - a bad girl from Slytherin from a pure-blood family.

Upon looking up from the article, Ginny saw that both Luna and Colin were clearly perplexed.

"I sincerely hope that there is a catch to all of this," Luna said lightly.

Without further ado, Ginny leaned forward and whispered the plan to both her friends. Upon finishing her explanation, Luna gave her a relieved, yet concerned look.

"Aren't you worried about the repercussions for you?"

Ginny snorted. "No. It's all rubbish and I couldn't care less about what people think."

Luna smiled approvingly. "I'm glad there's someone else who so genuinely doesn't care what others think of them."

The redhead was about to respond when a letter swooped in. To her relief, it wasn't a howler, but upon examining the writing on the envelope she could see it was from Percy. Just seeing his penmanship aggravated her and she knew that she'd be even more furious by the time she was through reading the letter. With a heavy sigh she opened it.

Isn't one scandal bad enough! You're ruining the family name with all of your promiscuous gallivanting. I've already had people questioning me about this ridiculous article. For some unknown reason, Dad seems unbothered by the uproar - I don't get it. I'm sending this to you expedited because you need to fix this, now.

Ginny folded up the letter with a roll of her eyes.

"Prat," she thought.

She was in the middle of formulating a response to send to Percy when another letter swooped in. She arched an eyebrow as she turned it over in her hand, a smile eventually breaking out across her face as she saw the twins' writing.

Dear little sis,

We are doubly disappointed in ourselves. You continue to outdo us in the getting-girls department. Be kind and send a couple our way, will you? We do certainly hope you still have time for studies despite your very busy social schedule, because we really don't fancy keeping you on our payroll for the rest of our natural lives. We're going to assume (and hope) that our dear Hermione is in on this. We'd fear her coming here in search of you, no doubt blowing the shop to smithereens in her fury. We can hold our own in a duel, but we really don't fancy taking her on, even two-on-one. Don't tell her that.

Cheers,

Fred & George

Ginny smirked as she shook her head in amusement. The twins could always make her laugh. She'd have to send them a reply later and teasingly assure them of their safety.

That evening after dinner, Ginny took a stroll up to the owlery and delivered a response to the twins' and Percy, respectively. Her letter to Percy had been taunting, at best.

Dearest Percy,

What does it matter if this 'scandal' has people questioning you? At least now they actually might know who you are. These articles probably put you on the map! You can thank me later when the next time a superior talks to you, they might call you by name.

Much love,

Ginevra

She smirked. That'd get him riled up, all right. Well, Hermione was right. Now what? Ginny's mind reeled as this new realization settled in. She'd have to contact Hermione and see how things were there. With any luck, she'd have a plan of action or perhaps a further explanation as to what was really going on.

AN: A little bit more trouble for our poor Hermione. I'd like to extend a big thanks to everyone for taking the time to read and follow this story along. Enjoy your week!