Chapter 7 - Several Surprises
The following day, Ginny scheduled a make over. She carefully planned everything that they had to do that day, from Hermione's hair, to her clothes, to her shoes.
"'Mione! Aren't you done yet?" Ginny hollered from the hallway down the stairs leading to Hermione's bedroom.
"Just a minute!" Hermione called back. After a couple of minutes, Hermione emerged from her bedroom, looking fresh but still wearing her usual boring clothes. A loose-fitting white t-shirt and her knee-length blue skirt, plus her white thongs.
"Tsk tsk," Ginny said shaking her head as she watched Hermione amble down the stairs.
"What?"
"We, missy, have got a lot to do today, if we are going to make you look good for Mr. Harry Potter," said Ginny, weaving her arm through Hermione's as they walk towards the front door to disapparate to Diagon Alley.
Hermione just raised her eyebrows at Ginny and said nothing. They continued to trudge on when the front door suddenly opened, revealing a much disheveled Ron. This time, it was Ginny who raised her eyebrows.
Disentangling herself from Hermione and walking over to Ron, Ginny asked, "And where, may I ask, were you my dear brother? I have the impression that you didn't spend the night here…"
Ron blushed as fiercely as his fiery red hair. "Well… I - I - I was… you know… I was…"
Hermione's curiosity perked up as well. "Come on, Ron. Come to think of it, I didn't hear you come in last night. So where were you?"
Ginny giggled madly while Ron continued to blush, looking at the young ladies in front of him. Ron started to walk towards the stairs but Ginny hold onto his arm and stalled him.
"Tsk tsk," said Ginny while shaking her index finger in front of Ron. Then facing Hermione while weaving her arms with Ron, she said, "Well, let me answer you there, `Mione. My good old brother here -" she takes a side-glance at Ron, "most probably spent the night at -" But where Ron spent the night, Hermione didn't hear since Ron quickly covered Ginny's mouth with his free hand.
Ginny struggled and upon accidentally stepping on her brother's foot, Ron let her go with an "Ouch! That hurt, Ginny!"
"Hmph! Served you right," said Ginny indignantly. "Now, as I was saying," she said while facing Hermione. "Ron here - slept at someone's house last night instead of here. Can you think of somewhere, Hermione?" asked Ginny while pointing at Ron's disheveled look.
Suddenly, Hermione eyes widened, her mouth forming an "o" and shrieked, "Oh my god, Ron! You slept at Luna's, didn't you?!"
Ron grinned sheepishly, blushed and then nodded.
"Oh, Ron! I really don't know what to say. `Congratulations' is most probably in order!" said Hermione in between giggles.
"Yeah, I agree with Hermione," said Ginny while wiping the tears that had sprung from her eyes. "But now, `Mione, we've got to go. We have a full schedule ahead."
Hermione nodded and marched off with Ginny. Once outside the front door and within the apparition point, Hermione and Ginny prepared to disapparate.
"So, where to now, Ginny?"
"Diagon Alley. We've got to get you knock-him- off-his-feet clothes, first. Then try on some shoes and accessories Then we'll do your hair and make-up …"
Hermione laughed as Ginny rambled on about what they were to do. A distinct pop can be heard and the two witches were gone.
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Harry sat up straight and stretched his arms above his head after stooping low for hours now. He didn't realize it was already 2PM. He missed his lunch break (not that there would be one since he was working on a Sunday). He'd been working on his report after their "raid" on a clinic in muggle London.
Neville insisted that they return to their respective houses that morning for some shut-eye and work on their reports at home to turn in on Monday. But Harry stayed on, not wanting to go home unless he's done with his job. At least that was the reason he fed to Neville. Truth is, he doesn't really want to face Hermione just yet. What, after their talk - things are bound to be awkward between them. So instead, he napped for a couple of hours in his cubicle and after, started to work on his report for Kingsley.
Harry stood up, stretching his legs as well and started for the loo. On his way there, he suddenly bumped into someone he least expected.
"Oh!"
"Angela?" Harry asked while fixing his glasses that went askew. "What are you doing here? It's a Sunday!"
Angela chuckled and flipped her long blond hair out of her face. "I should well be asking you the same thing, Mr. Potter," she said smilingly. She still wore her Auror robes which were open to reveal her working, more tight-fitting clothes underneath.
Harry noticing this said, "Oh, now I get it. You just got back from a mission as well?"
Angela cocked her head to one side, looked at Harry scrutinizingly and said, "Well observed, Mr. Potter. They don't call you the top Junior Auror for nothing." She smiled one of her dazzling smiles.
Harry felt his cheeks reddened a bit. Sure, they were flirting for some time now and people are questioning what it is that they have going on between them. But now, well - he's not sure how to react to her, now that there's Hermione.
"So," said Angela casually. "Did you take your lunch already?" Harry didn't answer and just looked at her as if entranced, though truthfully he was arguing with himself about what is now going on between him and Hermione.
Angela surveyed him for a while and noticed that there were dark circles under Harry's eyes. His Auror robes were disheveled and his skin was pale. She sighed. "Well, I guess the answer is no, right?" She smiled once more.
"Wha - oh! Yeah, no - I haven't taken my lunch yet," said Harry a bit embarrassed for being out of it.
"Come on," said Angela while hooking her arm with Harry's. "I haven't taken my lunch yet, either. Let's go, my treat." She glanced sideways at Harry and grinned.
Well, it's not like there's anything serious going on between me and Hermione. So why don't I go out and explore other things and situations? Especially with a very pretty witch like this by my side. He thought as he looked at Angela. Harry returned her smile. "Ok, let's go."
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At the Leaky Cauldron, Ginny and Hermione were having a late lunch, after a rigorous shopping for new clothes and robes. The two friends ate companionably in silence. After a while, Hermione broke the silence by asking Ginny, "So, Gin, just a tad curious - how was Harry in a relationship?"
Ginny, back during their Hogwarts years, became romantically involved with Harry during the middle of Harry's sixth year, her fifth year. Back then, she was so overwhelmed and happy that the person which she had been crushing on for several years already, had taken notice of her. They maintained their relationship until the end of that school year, but due to the circumstances at that time, Harry thought it best for them not to continue their relationship. Ginny agreed with him.
"Hmmm… He was great. Really great," Ginny mused. "He's totally sweet and caring and thoughtful. When he broke things up with me, I didn't take that personally, well, you know how the circumstances were before. And well - you already know the rest…"
"Actually, I didn't. Only that he broke up with you since he… well - we had to go find the Horcruxes to destroy Voldemort, ultimately. And he didn't want things more complicated between the two of you…"
Ginny looked down at her plate. "Yeah, I understood that perfectly. He didn't want people to get hurt because of his fate."
"I know. I'm even surprised he didn't protest much when Ron and I said that we were to go with him even if he doesn't want to. Especially since he knew of my relationship with Ron.
"He loved you guys. Still does. You were his first `family' as he would say," said Ginny, smiling a little as they reminisced the painful part of their past.
Hermione patted Ginny's hand that was on the table. "He loved you, too. No - loves you."
"Not like before. Not like that anymore…" said Ginny quietly.
Hermione fidgeted in her seat. Here she was, having a make-over for her friend's ex-boyfriend, and she couldn't help but not feel overwhelmed about it at all after their conversation. Ginny sensed this and said, "Look, what happened, happened 6 years ago, `Mione. And now, I'm with Dean again and perfectly happy. So, I say - just go for it" She grinned sincerely.
Hermione stared at Ginny worriedly. "You reckon so? Even after my brief relationship with Ron? I feel like - what does Ron call them? Ah, a scarlet woman - since I've been with Ron first and now if ever, I'm going for Harry and they're both my best friends!"
Ginny chuckled. "A scarlet woman? Indeed… `Mione, it's been 6 years and a half. I think we've all grown up already and got past our differences and well - we're all ok!"
Hermione finally smiled. "Yeah. Yeah, I think it's going to be finally ok."
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(A/N - Thanks to all who read and reviewed! You guys inspire me. Thanks a bunch still to my beta - Dylan! Mwah!)
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