Ginny hurried through the familiar corridors of Hogwarts, her mind still reeling from the morning's events. Students moved through the hallways, chatting or heading to breakfast, but Ginny barely noticed them. She moved swiftly, attempting to not be noticed in her walk of shame.

As she entered the Gryffindor common room, Ginny spotted Hermione sitting by the fireplace, surrounded by books and parchment. It was a typical Saturday morning scene, with students lounging around, enjoying the weekend. Hermione looked up from her reading, a curious expression crossing her face as she took in Ginny's disheveled appearance.

"Ginny, are those the clothes you wore last night?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow. Her tone was more surprised than accusatory, but it made Ginny's heart skip a beat.

Without a word, Ginny marched over, grabbed Hermione by the arm, and pulled her up from her seat. "We need to talk," Ginny said, her voice low and urgent.

Hermione, sensing the seriousness in Ginny's tone, followed her quickly as they left the common room. They moved through the corridors in silence, Ginny's grip on Hermione's arm tightening. Hermione kept casting glances at Ginny, her worry mounting, but Ginny stayed silent, her face set in a grim line.

As they turned a corner and reached a remote part of the castle, Hermione couldn't hold back any longer. "Ginny, what is it?" she asked, trying to keep her voice low.

"Just wait," Ginny muttered, her eyes darting around to make sure no one was nearby. They reached an empty classroom, and Ginny pushed open the door, practically dragging Hermione inside. She shut the door firmly behind them, the click echoing in the quiet room.

The moment the door clicked shut, Ginny turned to Hermione, her eyes wide with panic. "I slept with Malfoy," she blurted out, her voice breaking the silence.

Hermione's eyes widened, her mouth falling open in shock. "You… slept with Malfoy?" she repeated, barely believing the words.

Ginny nodded, her hands shaking. "I don't even know how it happened, Hermione. We were at the house mixer, and I drank too much. Next thing I know, I woke up in his bed."

Hermione's mind raced, trying to find some optimistic angle. "Are you sure you, you know, actually went all the way?" she asked hesitantly. "Maybe it wasn't as bad as you think—maybe you just fell asleep there."

Ginny gave Hermione a flat, almost incredulous look. "I'm sure, Hermione," she said, her voice firm. "I can assure you, we definitely went all the way."

Hermione bit her lip, realizing there was no avoiding the reality of the situation. "Okay, then," she said, taking a deep breath. "Let's think about what to do next. We need to be practical about this. Did you use—?"

"No, we didn't use protection," Ginny interrupted, her voice tinged with annoyance. "That's how I know we definitely had sex." She covered her face with her hands and shook her head in frustration.

Hermione's eyes widened slightly, the realization dawning on her as she caught the underlying meaning in Ginny's words. "Oh… oh!" she said, finally understanding why Ginny was so certain. The unspoken truth hung heavy in the air.

Ginny nodded, looking down, her face flushing slightly. "Yeah. So now you understand why I'm freaking out."

Hermione shook her head, still processing. "Okay, okay, so, you woke up in his bed. Then what?"

"I panicked," Ginny admitted. "We both did. I mean, he looked just as shocked as I was. And then we started arguing…" She groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is such a disaster."

Hermione took a steadying breath, pushing aside her initial shock and moving into problem-solving mode. "Alright, this is serious. The first thing we should do is get you a contraceptive potion. And maybe a hangover potion, too. You can't deal with this if you're not feeling well."

Ginny took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she sat down on one of the old wooden desks in the empty classroom. "Okay, so we get a contraceptive potion. But… how effective is it, you know, if I take it the morning after?"

Hermione hesitated, choosing her words carefully. She looked at Ginny with a serious expression. "It's better than nothing, Ginny," she said honestly. "It's not perfect, but taking it soon will help reduce the risk. It's the best option you have right now."

Ginny felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. "So, there's still a chance it might not work," she said, her voice tinged with worry.

Hermione nodded, her tone steady but realistic. "Yes, there's a chance it might not work. But it's the best thing you can do right now. We'll get you the potion, and then we'll figure out the next steps."

Ginny suddenly realized the enormity of what she had to do. "I need to see Madam Pomfrey," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if she tells my parents? They'll find out, and they'll kill me."

Hermione shook her head, putting a reassuring hand on Ginny's shoulder. "No, Ginny, Madam Pomfrey won't tell your parents. She's bound by confidentiality, especially when it comes to things like contraception. It's private, and she's there to help you, not to judge. She's dealt with this kind of thing before. Trust me, it'll stay between you, me, and her."

Ginny nodded, trying to calm herself with Hermione's words. "Alright," she said, her voice steadier now. "Let's go to Madam Pomfrey. I just hope this works."

As they made their way to the hospital wing, Ginny's mind raced with all the possible outcomes. The corridors were quiet, with most students still lingering in the Great Hall for breakfast or outside enjoying the sunny Saturday morning. Ginny kept her head down, her thoughts swirling with anxiety.

"What if people find out?" Ginny whispered, glancing sideways at Hermione. "What if someone sees us going to Madam Pomfrey, or Malfoy says something?"

Hermione shook her head, keeping her voice low but reassuring. "Malfoy? He's probably as worried as you are about keeping this quiet. I doubt he wants anyone to know, either."

Ginny managed a weak smile at that. "You think so?"

Hermione nodded firmly. "Definitely. Malfoy has his reputation to think about, and this wouldn't exactly be good for it. He's not going to risk it by talking. Besides, if he gives you any trouble, he'll have to answer to me."

Ginny nodded, grateful for Hermione's calm presence. "Thanks, Hermione. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Hermione smiled softly. "You'll never have to find out."