Chapter 6 - A Wreck That Is Hermione
Saturday morning dawned on clear the following day. Hermione woke up, feeling like she didn't get enough sleep.
She walked over to the bathroom, peeked inside and when she was sure no one was around, got herself over to the mirror to freshen up.
Ugh! I look like I haven't slept for a week! She had a trace of dark circles under her eyes, not really noticeable, but enough to see that she wasn't able to get a decent sleep.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she tied her hair into a messy ponytail, wore some sweat pants and a big shirt then went down to the kitchen for breakfast.
Upon her arrival in the kitchen, she saw Ron at the table, sipping orange juice and eating pancakes.
"Mornin' `Mione!" he said brightly.
"Morning..."
"Did you sleep well? You look like you could use some more," Ron observed.
"Where's Ha - Ha - Harry?" she asked while trying to stifle a yawn.
"Oh, Kingsley flooed. Said he's got an important assignment for Harry. So Harry might be in the Ministry or wherever Kingsley placed him," Ron replied, still munching on his pancakes. "Have some pancakes. The maple syrup is over on the counter."
"Thanks," said Hermione. She stood up and busied herself over the counter. Pouring coffee and finally getting the syrup, she sat back down with Ron.
"So how was pr -practice?" she asked while stifling another huge yawn.
Ron chuckled. "You really need to sleep again, `Mione. I think a little nap after breakfast would do you some good. It's Saturday, anyhow."
"Yeah, I think I'll do just that," Hermione replied dully. "So like I said, how was practice?"
"Coach was a nightmare. He had us practicing till the wee hours of the morning, can you imagine?! I was so beat up. Only flooed home, this morning. Can't apparate. Or I would've splinched myself," he shuddered at the thought.
"What time is it anyway?"
"It's almost 11:30."
"Wow," was all Hermione could say. She really wasn't able to get a decent sleep last night. She kept on tossing and turning, finally drifting off to dreamland when it was close to light.
She looked down at her pancakes. Sipping her coffee before taking a bite, she said, "Well, this isn't really breakfast, it's lunch."
Ron laughed quietly. "You're right as usual, Miss Granger."
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"Potter, you will be working with Longbottom on this assignment. It's not hard and I expect a report on my desk by tomorrow or Monday morning at the latest," Kingsley's deep voice boomed in his little office.
"Yes, sir," Harry replied.
Kingsley nodded and asked, "So, you two - any more questions?"
When both shook their heads no, Kingsley told them to move on with their assignment.
"So what are we onto now, Harry?" Neville Longbottom asked.
Neville gained a lot of confidence during their last years at Hogwarts. After the tragic end of Hogwarts, Neville vowed to better himself in everything possible. Especially after the tragedy during the end of their sixth year. He studied hard and aced his N.E.W.T's. During the final battle with Voldemort, Neville was one who fought the Death Eaters. After graduation, he signed up for Auror training with Harry, which shocked many.
"We are to track a muggle doctor, which our sources claim was a previous Death Eater, who is trying to give his muggle patients prescriptions with several, probably harmful, potions. I believe we are to find out if this is true or not," Harry replied briskly, his Auror robes billowing around him as he walked. "After we've proved this, we report back here and leave it to the hands of the Senior Aurors."
"Hmmm… Piece of cake then, eh?" Neville smiled.
Harry nodded. "Let's meet in the Atrium in 10 minutes. We have to wear muggle clothes since we are going to the heart of London, where his clinic is."
"Right-o," said Neville and they separated ways.
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Ginny apparated at the Trio's house that afternoon, hoping to catch Hermione alone. When she rang the doorbell, thrice already, she presumed nobody was home. She was about to turn around, head back to the apparition point when the front door suddenly opened. There stood a much disheveled Hermione.
"Whoa. You look like a wreck!" she commented.
"Thanks. Why don't you come in, Ginevra?"
Ginny cringed at the use of her full name and knew at once that Hermione is not a girl to cross at that moment. She went in towards the living room after Hermione.
"So, what brings you here Ginny?" Hermione asked and Ginny, relieved that Hermione used her nickname again, shrugged.
"Well, nothing really. Just want to chat with you, you know. Catch things up… So… is Harry or Ron around?" Ginny asked nonchalantly.
"No, they're both out. Harry is on an assignment. Ron is over at Luna's I guess."
Ginny nodded in response and after few minutes of silence, Ginny noticed that Hermione had gone off to dreamland again, so she blurted, "What's up with you and Harry?"
That got Hermione's attention. Shaken out of her stupor and looking bewilderingly at Ginny, she wasn't sure how to answer. Ginny grinned triumphantly, and after a while when Hermione didn't answer back, she said, "So there is something going on… Come on now. Spill."
Hermione sighed, and then straightened up. "Hm, I think I'll go get something to drink, you want anything? Soda? Water? Butterbeer?"
"Soda?" Ginny asked.
"It's a sort of a muggle drink."
"I'll try that then, I guess," she replied smilingly.
Hermione walked towards the kitchen. After a couple of minutes, she went back to the living room and tossed a soda to Ginny.
"So…"
"So?" Hermione said.
"So spill! What happened when I visited you here last week? There was obviously something major going on," Ginny grinned, wriggling her eyebrows suggestively.
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "Nothing major was going on, Ginny."
`Then why were you both looking flustered? Not to mention, Harry looked like he'd kill me if I didn't leave soon," Ginny stated matter-of-factly.
Hermione sighed again. I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell Ginny these things that I'm feeling. Might do me good, get some advice.
"Alright, I'll tell you."
Ginny nodded her head vigorously and sat up straight, preparing to listen intently to Hermione.
"Well, last week, just before you got here, Harry - well, Harry - I think… I think… he was going… no - er - trying, yeah, trying to kiss me," Hermione blushed as she stuttered. Ginny didn't make a sound meaning that she's really listening to Hermione.
"I don't know why he did that and what came over him, especially when he wanted you out. And then he explained that it's because you ruined what he wanted to do, which proved that he wanted to kiss me because he was looking at me like he wanted to devour me. But why would he want to kiss me? I mean, we're best friends, right? So I thought, what's he playing at? Maybe he's just tired because he came from a rigorous, two-day Auror training," Hermione said this all very fast. Luckily for Ginny, she had the ear of a reporter (seeing as she's working at Witch Weekly) and was able to catch everything Hermione said.
She didn't reply at first, clearly mulling over her friends confession.
"Hmmm… Let's see now… He might be feeling something for you, you know. The way he was acting that night…" said Ginny, tapping her index finger on her chin.
"But he's my best friend! And he's probably just tired after all his training…" said Hermione.
"Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?" Ginny rolled her eyes. "Listen, Hermione. I think you guys need to sort this out. Maybe talk or something…"
"But we already talked…"
"Ooh… do tell" Ginny said looking intently once more at Hermione.
"Well, it wasn't really a "talk," come to think of it. He asked me why I was avoiding him for the past week and - "
"You've been avoiding him, why?" Ginny interrupted.
"- I said that I was really busy with work. He told me that that's not the entire reason why I was avoiding him and I told him that there were no other reasons. He just said `forget it,'" Hermione finished.
Ginny nodded her head, understanding now what's going on. "You know what, `Mione? I think Harry got the gist better than you have."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and said, "If Harry wants to talk to you, it's because he already noticed something's going on between you and - "
"But we're only best - !"
"- friends, yeah I know. Will you listen to me first, `Mione?" Ginny said exasperatedly. "You avoided him. Just for the reason that you are probably falling for your best friend and you're afraid that you might ruin your friendship. Harry saw through this and thought that you guys should talk. Meaning, he's probably feeling the same way about you and would like to find out by talking to you," she explained.
After a while, Hermione replied, "I guess… So what do I do?"
Ginny grinned. "Well, first - I think we need to let you have a make-over!"
Hermione chuckled while Ginny started to ramble about how to get Hermione in her best for Harry. You really are your brother's sister. She thought while remembering Ron persuading her to buy some new robes.
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(A/N: Thanks again to everyone who read and reviewed. You guys are the best! It keeps me wanting to write and update often. ;p And to my beta - Dylan. Thanks a bunch to you!)
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