A/N: I am so sorry this took so long to get up…I have had a slight case of writer's block and my family has been in and out of the hospital, so yeah…that's why I haven't posted in so long. Sorry guys, I hope I'll make up for it in the next few chapters! I like how this one turned out, which is really saying something ^^;. All criticisms are greatly appreciated, and I hope all of my reviewers will remember this fanfiction because it's been so long since I've updated! Thanks for everything guys, ya'll are the great! And of course, thanks to Another for being my awesome beta. Well, here goes…
.::.Chapter Four: Ginny's Announcement.::.
Hermione sat at her desk while reading a summary Seamus had made for her. She looked around her office distractedly while thinking about the one thing that wouldn't leave her mind. Harry. He was comfortable right in the front of her brain, right in the place she didn't want him to be. It was getting frustrating to think about the other night, and it made Hermione feel like she had done something terribly wrong.
Why hadn't she said something? The question should have been why she hadn't done anything…. The last time she saw Harry was that night, she hadn't even made contact with him all morning, which was saying something. She usually talked with him periodically throughout the day, but he wasn't making any point to talk to her…and she could see why. It was all her fault that nothing happened that night. Something should have happened, but nothing did. She kicked herself mentally, and felt like doing it physically. But she had to stop beating herself up over something that had already happened, she'd just have to live her life as the days went on.
Hermione was meeting with Ginny today for lunch, since Ginny had said she needed to tell her something and Hermione had only gone into the Ministry for the morning anyway. She had an idea about what Ginny was going to tell her. Draco Malfoy was Ginny's boyfriend and it looked like they were getting serious. She was always talking about Draco whenever she and Hermione saw each other, and recently it sounded like their relationship was really serious. No one had thought they would make it in their Draco's seventh year at Hogwarts, but those many people were so very wrong.
After Harry's defeat of Voldemort, Draco's family went into hiding. Ginny saw Draco drop a letter from his parents at school that day, and being the nosy girl she was, she decided to read it. That eavesdropping paid off, and Ginny got Draco to bring himself to his senses. His parents didn't want him after that, but in the long run…that was alright. Three years later Draco's mother, Narcissa, came out of hiding. His father came out another year later, and soon they were a better family. Draco still had fights with his father every now and then, but Ginny was there for him.
After grabbing her briefcase and purse, Hermione headed out of her cubicle, and down to the Floo Fireplaces.
"191 Wicker Street!"
.+.
Harry was sitting in Ron's office, while they were both discussing the Quidditch World Cup. Harry was going to be one of the Auror's watching the camp, along with many of his colleagues. The Quidditch Cup wasn't for another few months, but it was good that they were planning ahead. It was Ireland VS. Africa, and it was the first time that Africa had made it to the World Cup in a long while. It was a huge deal this time around, and there was work to be done. Ron was working on the ticket prices and Harry was reading over possible camp sites and portkey locations. Ron finally let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a few minutes. Harry put the papers down and Ron slightly jumped, opening his eyes. Ron had been very on-edge in the past few weeks, it was beginning to get irritating. At that, a memo flew in and landed on Ron's desk.
"You're irritated today, now aren't you?" asked Harry. Ron nodded his head distractedly as he picked up the ticket prices again.
"So what did you and Hermione come up with the other night? For Luna's birthday," Ron said, in his desperate attempt to sound calm. Harry's head snapped up, causing his neck to pop.
"Umm…" mumbled Harry.
"Don't tell me you spent the whole night just talking to my about my wife's birthday, because I know that's not true," said Ron, a smile etching on his face. Harry frowned, while still rubbing his neck.
"No, we talked about it. Hermione suggested a muggle café or something … she said that when we get you into the mix, we can set something up. I was thinking somewhere in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley." Ron nodded his head, letting his suspicious stare drop to a minimum. Harry avoided Ron's gaze for a while until he couldn't stand it.
"What?" he asked irritably.
"What happened?" asked Ron firmly.
"Nothing happened," said Harry quickly-too quickly.
"Liar"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"What happened?" Ron asked for the last time. Harry finally looked up at his friend.
"Ron, I'm warning you-"
"Did you tell her?"
"I couldn't tell her!" Harry said loudly. People looked outside of their cubicles in curiosity, which made Harry's voice drop down to a whisper. "I let her leave without so much as a `nevermind.' That's all I've been thinking about the past few days alright? I don't know what I'm going to do."
"You better tell her."
"I will tell her … when the time comes." Ron nodded his head and looked back down at the papers. Harry thought about what he had just said. When would he tell her? Would that time ever come or would he leave his feelings to himself forever? Harry was determined to tell Hermione the way he felt about her…. There was a tense silence in the room for a few moments, and then Ron changed the subject.
"We could meet at the Three Broomsticks to talk about Luna's party over this weekend. How does that sound?" he asked. Harry grinned wearily and nodded his head as he stood up.
"I think I'm going back to my office, I need to finish some things. Thanks." Ron saluted his friend jokingly and picked up the memo that had landed on his desk earlier.
Ron,
Hermione is coming over for lunch today, I'll try to talk to her about Harry. As for Luna's birthday, I think I have the perfect place.
Your Sister,
Gin
Ron grinned and put the paper down on his desk, while staring out of his office.
.+.
Ginny walked into the living room to see Hermione getting out of the fireplace, and ran over to hug her friend.
"How are you?" asked Ginny. Hermione shook her head as she took her coat off.
"I'm fine, you?" asked Hermione, while Ginny went into the kitchen to get tea.
"Great, I have to talk to you about something," said Ginny in a way that suggested it wasn't a big deal. Hermione eyed her friend as she sat next to Hermione on the couch. "But that can wait. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine Gin, just overly exhausted," said Hermione. Ginny could tell by the dark circles under her eyes that she hadn't had a good night's rest in days.
"Sure you are, with all that's been happening." Hermione stared at Ginny for a moment.
"Yeah I guess you're right. The Ministry has been pretty hectic, what with the Quidditch Cup coming up and all." Ginny took a sip of her tea. They talked about the Quidditch World Cup until the conversation changed its direction in a way Hermione wished it wouldn't go.
"So how is Harry lately?" Hermione froze up and almost spit out the tea she had just attempted to swallow. It would have been a lie to say that she hadn't thought about Harry since she'd entered the house, but she was desperately hoping the conversation would veer away from him.
"Oh…he's alright," she said quickly. Avoiding Ginny's gaze, she took a long gulp of her tea and set it back down on the table as Ginny stared at her through narrowed eyes. "What?"
"So are you and Harry doing alright?" Hermione looked at her feet, and started tapping them together. She didn't answer Ginny for a while.
"What happened Hermione?" she asked, in a serious tone. Hermione could feel her head pounding, and she lifted her head up.
"Nothing major, we just had a misunderstanding the other night."
"Alright then, spill." Hermione reluctantly began to recount for everything that happened that night, which was hard to do. Ginny listened loyally and sipped her tea while nodding her head. When Hermione was finished, Ginny shook her head.
"It wasn't your fault, he should have said something," said Ginny irritably. "But you know Harry, he's stubborn and he never wants to admit his true feelings. Trust me, I should know." Ginny had dated Harry for about a few months during Ginny's fifth year. Things didn't work surprisingly enough, mostly because Ginny was falling for Draco.
"I know … but I don't know what to do. Should I wait for him, or just spill out all of my emotions in a nutshell?" Ginny took the last sip of her tea before answering.
"Whatever seems right at the time Hermione, and I hope that that time comes … very soon." Hermione nodded her head and took the last sip of her tea too.
After Ginny went to get more tea, Hermione reminded her that she had something to announce.
"Well, you know how Draco and I have been dating for the past few years, and now that we've gotten serious … well …" Ginny held out her hand for Hermione to examine. After a squeal of laughter, Hermione embraced Ginny in a huge hug. After letting go, she examined the beautiful diamond that shimmered brightly.
"It's gorgeous Ginny! Wow, who knows how much he paid for it!" Ginny blushed and took her hand away slowly.
"He surprised the hell out of me at dinner a few weeks ago when he said he wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with me. You should have seen me Hermione! I couldn't even answer him I was in such a state of shock! I think he got the message when I pulled him in for a very passionate kiss." Both of the young women giggled and they talked about everything; from bridesmaids dresses to catering. Finally at 11:57 PM, Hermione confessed that she had to get home.
"Oh alright, if you insist…but be careful alright?" Hermione nodded her head, gave Ginny another hug, and apparated home safely.
.+.
A/N: Sorry so short, but I couldn't fit anything else into the chapter, it just wouldn't fit. Don't forget to please review!
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