Chapter 101
"Hermione," Ginny called, edging toward the ajar door where the sound of stifled sobs emanated from. Her only answer was more sobbing. "Hermione?" Ginny tried again, pushing the door open to see her friend huddled on the floor surrounded by scraps of parchment. Alarmed by her friend's state, Ginny rushed over and knelt beside her, and reached out, gently brushing her hair. "Hermione," she tried again. "What happened? Can you tell me?"
She leaned back, settling into another position when Hermione shifted into her arms, and wrapped her arms around her friend as she cried.
"So stupid," Hermione whispered and sobbed again. "I'm so stupid!"
"No, you're not," Ginny replied, brushing her hair gently. "You're not stupid. Trust me, no one understands boys. My mom and dad have been married since May, 1967 and they still fight."
Hermione sniffed, choking back a sob and looked at her friend, smiling in spite of herself.
"You know when your parents got married?" she asked shakily.
"Of course, Hermione," Ginny said. "We heard stories about it all the time growing up, besides, it was the only day of the year that they left Bill in charge when he was old enough to go out and leave us at home alone. Don't you know your parents' anniversary?"
"When I think about it, I guess," Hermione replied. "Sometimes I get so busy that I forget it."
"Oh, that happens to everyone!" Ginny exclaimed, batting her hand in the air. "Think you can tell me what happened now?"
Hermione swallowed, but nodded slowly.
"T-There was a mistake," she said. "I - I guess the owl I got earlier was carrying two messages."
"Two messages?" Ginny asked and Hermione nodded.
"T-There was a mix up," Hermione said. "I - I got V-V - Krum's."
"Well, that doesn't seem so bad," Ginny began.
Hermione burst into tears again.
"Unless," Ginny hurried to explain. "There was something bad in the letter."
She paused, looking around at the parchment strung across the floor.
"I would say so," she finished flatly, brushing Hermione's hair again. She held Hermione and began to rock with her as the girl cried. Ginny remained mindful of the time however, and as the time for class neared, she leaned back and looked at Hermione. "Do you care if I read it?" she asked, brushing the hair from Hermione's face.
Hermione shook her head, biting her lip to try and quell her tears.
Ginny pulled out her wand and waved it.
"Reparo," she said and the bits of parchment repaired themselves into the letter Oliver had sent. Just as she thought, there wasn't anything really bad in it, and it confused her about Hermione's reaction. She skimmed the letter again, then began reading it aloud in case she missed something.
27 November 1994
Dear Hermione,
There's something I have to tell you. I haven't been completely honest with you this year, and before things go any further, I think you should know some things. I really care about you. You're like a sister to me, and with the way Ron and Harry have behaved in the past as well as now, I felt bad that I wasn't there for you.
I met Viktor at the Quidditch World Cup before you arrived with your friends. He and I really hit it off, mostly owing to our love of Quidditch as you may have guessed. He learned about you from me when your owl arrived letting me know that you were coming with the Weasleys. We got to talking, and he told me that he was going to be going to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. It was then that the plan formed into my mind, having someone there to watch over you in case you needed them. I asked Viktor if he would and he agreed.
I really should have told you from the start, but I couldn't because it would mean revealing the tournament to you and Viktor wasn't even supposed to know. The only reason that they knew, at least as far as I can tell, is that parents had to give their permission for the students to travel to Hogwarts for the tournament. The only reason he told me was because I wasn't going there any more.
He's been communicating with me about you and your friends off and on since. I was sorry to hear that Ron put you in the middle of the fight between him and Harry but glad he finally came around. Ron really shouldn't have been involved with your friendship with Ginny.
I — I hope you don't get mad, but I asked Victor to make sure that you have a good time at the formal event, it's likely to be a dinner or something. It was when I had to have formal wear. I just... I don't think it would be a good idea to go with Harry or Ron since they've put you in such a bind the last few years. I — I'm just trying to look out for you as best I can.
Oliver
"Hermione, I don't understand," Ginny said when her friend cried harder. "What's wrong with him wanting to look out for you? I mean, I know he kept things from you, but it's understandable if the tournament was supposed to be a surprise. You said that there was a mix up?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well... what did Viktor's say?" Ginny asked, trying to get a feel for the full scope of what was going on. Trying to understand why Hermione was so hurt.
"I-It wasn't very long, just a note," Hermione murmured, choking back a sob. "B-but he said he wasn't here, s-so he didn't care what he decided to do..." Hermione trailed off in a wail of anguish as sobs shook her body once more.
Ginny blinked, looking around, uncertain what to do as she rubbed Hermione's back trying to console her.
"Well, did he say anything else?" Ginny asked, at a loss and under the impression that she wasn't hearing the whole story.
Hermione sniffed a little and wiped her eyes and nose before looking up at Ginny with red rimmed eyes.
"F-from the sound of it," she said, her voice quaking. "T-they talked about it be-before the C-cup... O-Oliver said t-that he w-was right, i-it wasn't r-right of him t-to suggest it."
"See," Ginny said, smiling at her gently and brushing her hair out of her face. "I don't think Viktor meant to hurt you. And Oliver was just looking out for you because of your past with Harry and Ron. He wanted to make sure you had a good time."
"They could have told me after the tournament was announced," Hermione exclaimed angrily. "But neither of them did, and now you're taking their side!?"
Ginny exhaled slowly, trying not to let her temper get the best of her and drive her friend away.
"No," she said gently. "I'm not taking their side. I would be mad as hell at them if they pulled that on me, but being an outside observer has its benefits."
"What does that mean?" Hermione asked.
"It means that I can be objective about it," Ginny replied. "And I think you'd be able to do the same under normal circumstances. I mean, tensions are running high this year with everyone because of the tournament, and you've had to deal with that two fold, not just with Harry and Ron but with all the stuff in the Daily Prophet, too."
Hermione wiped her eyes, sniffing again.
"When did you get so smart?" she asked, smiling in spite of herself.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Oh, well," she said. "I've always been smart. I mean, you don't grow up in a house with Fred and George and survive without being smart."
"Ron," Hermione interrupted.
"Yeah, okay, he's a special case," Ginny said with a shrug, making Hermione laugh. "The point is, it's my temper that always gets in the way." Ginny watched her friend for a moment and saw that she was getting her emotions in check once more. "Look, Hermione," she said, drawing her attention. "I know you haven't known Viktor long, and you know what, to hell with him if he couldn't man up and tell you after the tournament started, I mean, unless his English is that bad that he doesn't have the words to, but I don't think that's the problem from what you've told me. And I know that you feel betrayed by Oliver not telling you about it earlier either, but are you really going to throw away a friendship that's almost four years going, just over this?"
Hermione sighed.
"I don't know what I'm going to do, to be honest with you, Ginny," Hermione said.
"Are you asking for my advice?" Ginny asked.
Hermione laughed and nodded, wiping her eyes again.
"I know you'll give it to me whether I ask for it or not," she replied. "So you might as well."
Ginny grinned and hugged her.
"You know me so well!" she exclaimed.
"So what's this advice of yours?" Hermione asked.
"Well, if it were me," Ginny said. "I'd make them grovel. I wouldn't be replying to messages for a while. See what happens. Let them wonder and stew over it for a while, but I still think at the end of it all you should go to whatever this event is with him. I mean, he did ask you first."
"I don't know," Hermione winged. "At this point I may not go at all."
"Oh, no! Nuh uh," Ginny said, shaking her head vehemently. "You're not taking away my fun. I don't care if you go by yourself, you're going to go, and I'm going to have fun doing my best friend's hair and makeup. Do you know what it's like being the only girl in a house filled with boys? I can't even get my mom to let me do hers!"
"Yeah," Hermione said with a smile. "I kinda do..." She raised her hand. "Only child?"
"Oh, right," Ginny said with a laugh.
"And my mom's not that into wearing makeup either, she just wears it for work," Hermione said. "Or when her and dad go out on the town or something."
"See? You have to let me do this!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Oh! All right!" Hermione feigned exasperation and laughed. She pointed her finger at Ginny and continued, "but they grovel first!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Ginny said and hugged her. "Now come on or we'll both be late for class. By the way," Ginny said as they headed out the door. "What went on at the Slytherin table? Malfoy looked rather alarmed from where we were sitting, but we couldn't hear anything."
"Oh, nothing out of the ordinary really," Hermione said in singsong. "I just told him to stuff it unless he wanted his teeth knocked in and a concussion..."
Ginny paused, blinking at her.
"And I called him ferret face," Hermione added with a laugh.
"Way to go," Ginny said with a grin and gave her a hug.
Feeling better now that she had a plan and her spirits raised, Hermione headed off to class, parting ways with her friend at the bottom of the Grand Staircase.