Chapter 20

Hermione POV

The next morning, Hermione was in the Great Hall for breakfast with Harry. She was up late into the evening with Juliette, and she knew the bags under her eyes were very visible. It wasn't great timing to feel like she wasn't looking her best, as she'd quickly realized that nearly every single pair of eyes in the Great Hall were on her. There'd been whispers as she walked in and even some head nods in her direction, and by the time breakfast was coming to an end, she was sick of it. As she tried her best to focus on the eggs and toast in front of her, she wondered how Ginny had possibly managed to deal with this kind of attention like she had at the beginning of the year. Despite her uncanny ability to answer any and all questions during a lesson, Hermione certainly wasn't fond of being the center of attention, at least not like this.

"Hey, Hermione?" Ron called down the table from where he was sitting with Lavender.

"What!?" she snapped, far too harshly for Ron simply saying her name.

"Oi, calm down you lunatic! Errol here has got a letter for you," Ron said with a frown. "I think he got confused and just dropped it with me."

"What?" Hermione asked curiously, much more civilly this time. She got up and walked over to Ron, mumbled an apology, and grabbed the letter from his hand.

"It's from my mum, I recognize the handwriting," Ron said.

"Oh no…" Hermione said softly, remembering that Molly Weasley was an avid reader of Witch Weekly "for the recipes".

"I'm sure it's fine Hermione, it's not like she sent you a Howler or anything," Ron reassured her as he stuffed his mouth full of eggs and sausages.

Hermione took the letter back to her seat next to Harry. She looked at him tentatively, not sure she even wanted to open it.

"Oh, go on, open it up. I'm sure it's fine," Harry encouraged supportively.

Hermione opened the letter and scanned it, reading it quickly.

Hermione,

Arthur and I have just read the article in Witch Weekly and we wanted to let you know how absolutely appalled we are. We cannot believe that Rita Skeeter would go as far as to publicly out anyone, but to do it to children? I have half a mind to hunt her down myself and let her have it, but, well, Arthur has insisted I let him handle it through the Ministry. If any further articles like this come out about you though, you can count on me sending more than just a letter to the editor of Witch Weekly, I promise you that!

Regardless of how it all came out, we both want to let you know how proud we are of you for embracing who you are, Hermione. We know it must not be easy, now with everyone suddenly knowing, but just know that we do love you, dear, and we support you. Of course, after Arthur heard about what happened to Ginny during the Quidditch World Cup through a colleague at the Ministry, we assumed we'd have been lending this same support to her, but she will come to us when she is good and ready to talk about it, I suppose. Well, Arthur supposes. I wanted to bring it up to her the moment we heard, but Arthur insisted that we wait for her to bring it up herself.

We are looking forward to the next time we get to see you. Remember that the Burrow is open to you anytime, whenever you need or want. Enjoy the rest of your term, and thank you in advance for keeping an eye on Ronald, Harry, and of course, Ginny. We appreciate and love you!

Much Love,

Molly Weasley

Hermione stared at the letter, tears welling up in her eyes. It was an incredibly thoughtful gesture for the Weasleys to think to reach out to her about this, to check on her. She knew that Molly had always considered Harry to be as good as one of her sons, but now she felt like maybe Molly considered her to be like her second daughter too. She gave Harry a watery smile and tucked the letter into her robes.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked hesitantly as he took in her tears.

"Yes, everything's fine." Hermione nodded as she gave him another smile, sniffling a bit.

That afternoon, Hermione was in the library pouring over her Charms textbook. She was supposed to be meeting Ginny for a study session, but she still hadn't seen her since she abandoned Ron's party in search of Juliette. She wasn't exactly looking forward to their upcoming conversation. She felt guilty about the news catching Ginny by such surprise, but she hadn't figured out a way to tell her about the relationship with Juliette without telling her everything. Even though she was happily with Juliette now, she couldn't bring herself to admit to Ginny that she fancies her too.

Hermione caught herself – fancied Ginny. Past tense, not present.

"Herm-own-ninny?"

Hermione looked up to find Krum standing in front of her. He had his lips pursed tight and his brow furrowed.

"Uh, hi Viktor. Care to join me?" Hermione asked hesitantly.

Viktor sat down silently. Hermione stared across at the boy, taking in his tense demeanor. Was he upset about the drama that Skeeter had alluded to? The love triangle?

"Herm-own-ninny… I heard about the article…" he started slowly.

Hermione swallowed, then nodded for him to continue.

"I vos vondering if you are okay?" he asked.

Hermione breathed out in relief as she realized he wasn't angry, but worried. "Oh, thank you Viktor, but I'm fine. Are you okay? I'm sorry that our friendship got you sucked into this whole mess. I know that you're not fond of being in the papers and – "

"Herm-own-ninny, I do not care about myself. I care about you," he said slowly. "Is it true, about the younger Marat?"

Hermione paused, then nodded.

"I see…"

"What?"

"Herm-own-ninny, I am not judging you, I vont you to know this. But I am concerned about how someone like Juliette Marat vos able to vin over someone like you…"

Hermione's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Herm-own-ninny, you are very smart and you carry yourself vell… I haff known of the Marats for quite some time, and I haff seen Juliette vith more than her fair share of girls… None of them vere like you… I am just hoping that you are being careful, that is all." Krum looked purposefully at her.

"Viktor, I trust Juliette. I completely understand where you're coming from and I appreciate that you care about me enough to voice your concern, but I feel good about this. I feel good about her."

Hermione smiled reassuringly at Krum who nodded back at her as Ginny walked up.

"Who do you feel good about? Juliette?" Ginny asked, setting her books down on the table.

"Well, yes, that is who we were talking about. Viktor was just voicing his concern about what he'd heard was in the Witch Weekly article and – "

"So, it's actually true then?" Ginny asked, her face starting to turn red.

"Ginny, maybe we should talk about this somewhere else?" Hermione suggested cautiously, taking in Ginny's set jaw and clenched fists.

"Like where? The woods out by the lake?" Ginny hissed angrily.

Hermione looked at her, shocked and also a little hurt.

"Ginny, you are not being respectful of Herm-own-ninny…"

"Viktor, you're the one who warned us about Juliette to begin with!" Ginny exclaimed, earning them a warning look from Madam Pince. "Hermione just said that you had concerns still!"

"Ginny, if Herm-own-ninny trusts Juliette, that is good enough for me. It is her relationship after all. I haff said my piece, I see no need to continue the conversation," Krum said definitively, opening a book to read.

Ginny glared at him before sitting down hard and turning her attention back to Hermione.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered demandingly.

"Well, despite what the article claims, this relationship is actually officially very new and – " Hermione started, trying to maintain her composure.

"No, not that. Why didn't you tell me you were gay, Hermione? How long have you known that you fancy girls?"

Hermione blushed slightly, but was determined to maintain eye contact with Ginny.

"Since the beginning of the summer…"

Ginny's jaw dropped. "So when I was going through what I was going through at the Quidditch World Cup you – the whole time you – you… Why wouldn't you have told me?!" Ginny demanded.

Hermione was thinking fast, trying to figure out how to explain herself without exposing that she was fancying Ginny at the time and didn't want her to put the pieces together.

"Well, I just wasn't quite ready to let that be known about myself. I was still figuring it out, and – "

"Oh, and you think I was ready?! Being outed by the Veela at the Quidditch World Cup and having everyone find out before I – before I even really knew…" Ginny whispered desperately, tears starting to form in her eyes.

"Ginny, I'm sorry…" Hermione reached over to grab one of Ginny's hands, but she ripped it away.

"Why are you with Juliette?" Ginny asked abruptly.

Hermione gaped at her.

"What happened to not trusting her? What happened to cutting her out? You go from that to suddenly being with her? What changed, Hermione? Huh?"

Hermione remained silent. She desperately wanted to tell Ginny to mind her own business, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. She was with Juliette because of Ginny.

"You know how she treated me and made me feel…Why would you be with someone like that?" Ginny asked imploringly.

Hermione couldn't explain it. She couldn't tell Ginny how kind and patient and understanding Juliette had been over the past few months, about the chemistry and trust they'd built while Juliette was "distracting" her, without explaining to Ginny that she fancies her. Fancied her.

"Fine, whatever. Why wouldn't we continue this pattern of you not telling me things…" Ginny spat angrily, getting up abruptly and slamming the chair into the table.

Many eyes throughout the library were fixed on their table now, and Madam Pince was beginning to walk over to tell them off. Ginny grabbed her books and threw one last furious look at Hermione before she stomped off through the library.

Hermione sat there stunned. She knew Ginny had a temper, or at least Ron had whined about her so-called temper for years, but she had no idea what it would be like to be on the receiving end of the very real rage that the youngest Weasley could possess.

"Herm-own-ninny, are you okay?" Krum asked gently.

"I – no… I'm not… I need to go talk to her. I'm sorry about all of this, Viktor, I know you don't like attention being drawn to you and – "

"It is fine, Herm-own-ninny, no need to vorry. I am sure Ginny vill calm down soon. She is a good person." He gave Hermione a small smile, then went back to his reading.

Hermione quickly packed up her things, apologized to Madam Pince, and rushed out of the library to find Ginny.

Ginny POV

Ginny was completely overwhelmed with emotion again as she left the library. She was embarrassed by the scene she just caused. She was angry and hurt that Hermione had been lying to her for so long. She was mortified at how she just spoke to and acted in front of Viktor Krum. And she… There was something else, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was.

She started to run now, trying to get back to Gryffindor Tower as quickly as she could so she could talk to Demelza about what had just happened. She was so much more calm and rational talking to Demelza about all of this than when she was physically in front of Hermione discussing it with her. Seeing Hermione had made everything so much more real, and emotional, and

- CRASH -

Ginny had run into a wall of bodies, two of which felt like actual corridor walls. Her books had gone flying, and as she bent down to frantically pick them up, she heard a familiar drawl above her.

"So… It appears that you're not the most detestable Gryffindor at Hogwarts anymore, Weasley…"

Ginny looked up and saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle standing in front of her, blocking the corridor. She stood up, books protectively in her arms, trying to look as unbothered as possible.

"Move, Malfoy."

"Don't you want to know what I'm talking about?" Malfoy said, a slimy smirk starting to form on his face.

"I don't care what you're talking about. I'm late, and – "

"Oh, I think your little girlfriend can wait. Now tell me, why didn't you go after the Mudblood? Aren't the two of you close? I'm sure you knew she was just as disgusting as you are, fancying girls…"

Ginny glared at Malfoy, but remained silent, trying to keep her anger in. She knew there was no way of Malfoy knowing that she was struggling with Hermione's lack of trust in her, but he'd still somehow managed to pinpoint the exact trigger to press down on, hard.

"Or, maybe you did try and you weren't good enough for the Mudblood? As deplorable as it is for her to fancy girls, it does appear that she did land someone significantly better than you… Besides her talent and looks, Juliette Marat has plenty of money as well… So, that's three things right there that she's beat you in, Weasley… Is that why you're not shacked up with the Mudblood, hmmm? You don't compare…?"

Ginny felt like she was actually getting dizzy from all of the built-up pressure and rage that was trapped in her head. Her jaw was starting to ache from the set position she'd had it in, she could feel her fingernails digging into the covers of her textbooks, and she knew that her face had surely given her away, as she could feel the heat radiating off of it.

"I said, move!" Ginny shouted.

"I don't think so…" Malfoy smirked as the three boys starting closing in on Ginny.

Ginny dropped her books and quickly drew her wand, pointing it directly at Malfoy's nose.

"Don't push me today, Malfoy…" Ginny threatened through gritted teeth. She thought she saw a brief flicker of fear in his eyes, then she heard footsteps running in behind her.

"Ginny, what's going on?" Hermione asked worriedly as she took in the three boys in front of Ginny.

"Well, well, well, look who it is! We were just talking about you, Granger," Malfoy said smugly, his eyes flicking between the tip of Ginny's wand and Hermione.

Hermione stepped beside Ginny and drew her wand as well, pointing it in Malfoy's face, just as Ginny had.

"Leave her alone, Malfoy."

"Or what? What are the two of you going to do, huh?"

"I believe zere are three of us 'ere…" Juliette said as she turned the corner into the corridor, twirling her wand casually between her fingers.

Malfoy looked to be a bit stunned by this, his face growing paler than usual as Juliette strode to stand behind Ginny and Hermione, who still hadn't lowered their wands.

Ginny looked at Hermione out of the corner of her eye, and saw that Hermione had a small smile on her face. She felt her insides burn at this.

"Run along now, Draco. Or should I 'ave my parents contact yours to let zem know zat you spend your time at 'Ogwarts running around ze castle 'arassing young girls?" Juliette suggested calmly, smirking as she saw Malfoy shrink at the use of his first name and the mention of his parents. "Sounds embarrassing when you put words to what you are doing, does it not?"

Malfoy glared at Ginny and Hermione before he took a few steps backwards, then turned and retreated down the corridor with Crabbe and Goyle.

Hermione turned to Juliette. "Thank you, Juliette. Do your parents really know the Malfoys?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Zey know of ze Malfoys, but I would not go as far as to say zat zey are even acquaintances. My parents are of a much 'igher standing zan 'is parents in ze Wizarding World. It would 'ave been mortifying I am sure if I was to 'ave my parents contact 'is in any way zat is not complimentary to ze family name."

"I see, well, thank you again. How did you know we were here?"

"I could 'ear your voice. I zink I am able to 'ear you from miles away now."

Juliette smiled, her eyes sparkling at Hermione. Hermione smiled back, color faintly forming on her cheeks.

During this entire conversation, Ginny could feel the anger building in her body again, even more so than when Malfoy was taunting her. She watched as the two interacted, completely oblivious to her existence. Once Hermione finally tore her eyes away from Juliette's, she looked at Ginny and her smile instantly faded at the look on Ginny's face.

"Ginny, can we continue our talk from the library?" Hermione asked.

"No, I think I'm good…" Ginny muttered through clenched teeth, glaring at Juliette who stared back at her curiously.

"Ginny…" Hermione started.

"I said I'm fine, Hermione!" Ginny shouted.

Juliette took a step forward towards Ginny, but stopped when Hermione grabbed her arm.

Ginny looked at Hermione's hand on Juliette's arm and saw red. She turned and ran from the corridor, leaving her books all over the floor.

That evening, Ginny was sitting in her dormitory alone, leaning up against her headboard. Demelza walked in, carrying the books Ginny had left behind in the corridor with Hermione and Juliette. Ginny stared at her, confused.

"Hermione gave them to me. She said you probably wouldn't accept them if she tried to give them to you."

Demelza set the books on the small table beside Ginny's bed and then nudged her over a bit so she could sit next to her. Ginny leaned her head on Demelza's shoulder and nestled into her.

"What happened?" Demelza asked gently.

"I kind of lost it on Hermione…" Ginny whispered, fighting back tears.

Demelza paused for a moment. "Okay… Do you want to talk about it, or – "

"I just got so overwhelmed by it all… Seeing her and thinking of everything she'd kept from me… She knew she fancied girls, but didn't tell me… She's dating Juliette, and didn't tell me about that either…" Ginny mumbled, the tears now threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Ginny… Remember, it's not about you…"

"I know… I know it's not… It's just… It's not a great feeling… I'm supposed to be her best girl friend… Obviously that's not the case, now that she has Juliette…"

"You and Juliette serve different purposes in Hermione's life… You can both be in her life, Ginny," Demelza said softly into Ginny's hair.

"I don't want Juliette in her life…" Ginny pouted under her breath.

"Ginny… Do you trust Hermione?"

"Of course I do," Ginny said, turning to look up at Demelza.

"Then give it a chance. If you want to be in Hermione's life, you're going to have to accept that she's with Juliette," Demelza said earnestly.

Ginny mumbled something unintelligible and Demelza chuckled lightly.

"It'll all be okay… Just give it a little time, you'll get used to it in eventually. It's just something new that you need to adjust to, that's all," she said, pulling Ginny in as close as she could and kissing her temple.

"Can you… Can you sleep here tonight?" Ginny asked hesitantly, looking up at Demelza. "I want to be close to you…"

Demelza smiled down at Ginny before placing another kiss on her temple. "Of course I can."