Thanks tooooooo:
May for the review. Yay! I'm so glad :))
Eirlys1 for the review. So sorry for taking so long before! I should have the next one up in week to two weeks :/
Teaganism for the favorite!
Guest for the review. Sometimes churn means to stir up or move vigorously. That's the definition I used :)
ladyerudite for the favorite!
MEworcester for the follow.
Sorry if I forgot anyone! Ya'll are much appreciated! :)
Well, this is unexpected, she thought numbly.
"Hey Ginny, do you think—," began Hermione, her voice dying off when she saw the letter on the table. "Oh."
Nudging Ron pointedly, the Gryffindor raised her eyebrows. "What is that?" she hissed. However, she already knew the answer. A mixture of pity and anger at him filled her. He had already lost so much in his life, and he was merely afraid of losing Ginny as well. Nevertheless, his fears did not justify shoving his heart down her throat. If she loved him, then she loved him—if she did not, then she did not. Nothing he told her or did for her would change that.
Ron mumbled something incoherent and refused to meet Hermione's eyes. Though he had tried telling Harry that Ginny was not ready, the young man had not listened.
I love her Ron! I'm not going to lose her again. She doesn't have to answer me right now. I just want her to know how I feel, Harry had written back.
In his next letter, Ron tried a different approach. You're going to lose her if you push too hard. Besides, what do you think Hermione's going to do to you? Or me? She's like a mother hen with Ginny. Just wait a little longer. For me? I don't want to be within a mile of them when she gets it. You know she loves you. She's just confused right now. Ginny will be running back into your arms in no time. Just let her figure some things out first.
And so Harry had waited. And waited. And waited some more. Soon, however, he had become impatient with Ron's pacification. The letters detailing how Ginny was doing were not enough anymore. He wanted, needed, to talk to her face to face. If guilt gnawed at his stomach, he ignored it; he was not pushing her. He was giving her a choice.
Hermione scowled. "Well, it better not be from whom I think it's from. Does he not know the meaning of the word patience? It's too soon for both of them."
Ginny stared sightlessly across the hall, her friends' conversation blowing through her ears unheard. A growing disbelief ached in her chest. Oh, why did he have to write her now? There was some sort of sixth sense guiding him, she deduced. How else would his letter get to her on the exact day she had planned to break Draco's shell?
The sudden weight of a hand on her shoulder jerked Ginny from her musings. Hermione smiled with understanding few could claim.
"It's okay, you know. You don't have to open it right now. In fact, why don't you wait until tonight?"
Even before she finished, Ginny began shaking her head. "No, I can't wait. After detention with Malfoy..." Her voice trailed off. Taking a steadying breath, she continued, "I don't know if I'll have the courage after dealing with him. No, it's better to do it now, with you here with me."
Sympathy welled up in Hermione at the strain in Ginny's voice. The girl had already been through so much. Cursing Harry for his stubbornness, Hermione watched as the redhead picked up the envelope. The ominous weight inside caused her to pause. Hermione seized the moment to try again.
Though Harry was her closest friend, sometimes he could be so thick-headed that she was of half a mind to place an Imperius spell on him. At least that way he would not act like an overeager puppy. Love did strange things to a person's mind.
"Are you sure about this? I can always come to the common room. Ginny, I'm telling you. This is meant to be read in private."
Across the hall, Draco absently twirled his spoon in his goblet of pumpkin juice. Laughter and conversation danced around him but he felt no desire to join in. His stomach was in knots thinking about the upcoming detention. What would he say to her? What would she say? And sweet Merlin, was he actually looking forward to it?
The spoon slipped from his grip. Unnoticed by him, it sloshed into his juice and sprayed his arm with droplets of pumpkin juice. As he rested his head in his hands, Draco forced himself to take deep breaths. He was desperate. Contrary to what he had told Zabini, he was in no way confident about handling Ginny Weasley. Frankly, he was dubious whether there was a way to handle her.
As if drawn there, his eyes alighted on the redhead. Something was wrong—he could sense it. The fearful expression on Granger's face, the way she was frantically whispering to the youngest Weasley. His curiosity now ensnared, Draco leaned forward for a better view.
"Watch it Malfoy!" Zabini snapped as his goblet tipped over. Juice ran everywhere, drenching both Draco and Zabini's trousers. "Salazar," Draco swore. Sighing, he began wiping off what he could. It took all his willpower to ignore Zabini's mutters about love-struck fools.
"Today is just not my day," huffed Draco.
As Ginny bit her lip, she again vacillated between opening the letter then and waiting until later. It was clear which option Hermione supported. She also seemed to know what the letter said, so perhaps it would be better to heed her advice.
"All right, I'll wait," relented Ginny. Hermione's audible exhale brought a smile to her lips. "But if you don't mind, can I spend the night in the Head's dorm with you? I don't want to chance anyone coming down when I read it. Besides, we haven't had a sleepover in a while."
Quickly Hermione nodded her consent. "Of course! Anthony will understand. I think he's been missing his friends anyway, so he can sleep in the Ravenclaw dorm tonight. Does ten o'clock sound good to you? Tell you what, I'll even sneak us some ice cream from the kitchens," she added with a wink.
The offer caught Ginny by surprise, as the Head Girl made few allowances for rule breaking. It seemed Harry's letter was more serious than she had first suspected. The Gryffindor abruptly realized how much she owed Hermione. She had always been there for her, even when Ginny was a first year sniffling over unrequited love.
Though she was not normally a hugging kind of girl, Ginny decided the occasion called for it. She threw her arms around Hermione and squeezed her tightly. To her horror, a tear or two distorted her vision. Hastily blinking them away least someone see, the Gryffindor mumbled something incoherent into Hermione's hair.
"What was that?" the older girl inquired. She knew it embarrassed Ginny for anyone to perceive her as a weak, sniveling mess. Therefore, Hermione kept her voice low. There were enough curious eyes on them as it was.
"I said you're the best sister ever. Want to trade with Ron? I'm sure Mum wouldn't mind."
Hermione grinned and returned the embrace. "I love you too, Ginny." She met Ron's eyes over the girl's shoulder and mouthed, "Girls' night. I'll fill you in later." Though he might act like a git sometimes, Ron cared about his family with all his heart. If Ginny needed him, he would be there. Until then, he was content to let the girls comfort each other in a way only they could.
So, yeah, detention will be in next chapter. So sorry! I knew I said she would tell him she liked him in this one, but I needed to add in Harry ;) She WILL tell him in 25 though. It shouldn't be too long, a week to two weeks this time. No more month between updates hopefully! :)
