Jealousy Redeemed

Lavender was near tears as she held her cup of tea. Her best friend offered her a sad smile. They'd gone over this more than a dozen times throughout the summer, but each time Lavender thought about it she would burst into tears. Parvati, whom she had followed, gossiped with, clung to, shared secrets with, cried with, and laughed with throughout her entire time at Hogwarts would not be joining her for her the final 7th year.

"I just don't know," Lavender said. "Honestly, Vati, who am I going to hang out with? There is only going to be Hermione there with me and we both know how absolutely dull she is. I can't even imagine what a terror she's going to be." She set her tea down hard, the tears finally spilling as she lifted a hand to wipe her eyes. "And Seamus has been such a terror this summer."

When he had asked her out right before the train had landed in London on the way home from her 6th year, Lavender had been elated and hoped that he'd help her to get over Ron. He'd come over to visit her more than a dozen times and had continually gotten more and more grabby. While snogging was all good and fun, Lavender had never been able to get interested in doing anything more with him. He had started to mock her and tell her that she was unnatural before she finally gave him the boot.

"You were right to tell him no," Parvati said quickly, reaching out to touch her friend's hand. "It's up to you how far you want to go. I don't blame you," her voice grew hushed, "If Daddy thought I did anything like that with any boy I'd be absolutely dead." She sat back, offering her best friend a sad smile. "I'm sure you'll be fine. He can't be too much of a bother at Hogwarts, can he be? You could always go to McGonagall. Even Hermione would defend you, and he can't get into the dorms."

"I just don't want to talk about her," Lavender said, sticking out her chin. "She's probably been snogging W--Ron all summer and she's just going to flaunt it in my face and be absolutely terrible. And I'm sure she's going to be taking more N.E.W.Ts than anyone else at Hogwarts and she'll try to make a study schedule for me again."

"Oh, Lav," Parvati sighed. "I wish I were going."

"Me too," Lavender said, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve.

As much as Lavender was proud of her own appearance, and as confident as she felt about herself -- most of the time -- she was jealous of Hermione. Not only had she somehow managed to captivate the amazing Viktor Krum, she was the smartest witch in the school and had stolen Lavender's boyfriend.

"You should at least try to be her friend." Parvati covered her head to save herself from any pillow that Lavender might try to toss at her. "I know, I know, Lav, it's not easy. But, really, she might help you out with school?"

A friendless existence was not at all something Lavender was prepared to take, but Hermione?!

"No way."

---

"Bacon?"

"No, thank you," Hermione said. It wasn't lost on her that Ron wouldn't look up into her eyes as he offered the plate. He'd only done it after being prodded by his mother. Ginny reached over and gave Hermione a reassuring squeeze of the hand. Hermione didn't know that she would have been able to deal with all of the drama that had gone on between herself and Ron without Ginny there, ready to help her lambast the foolish red head.

She was too glad to begin clearing the dishes. Ron was scowling at her and Harry reached over and grabbed his arm, leading him out to the yard for some Quidditch. "You don't want to join them?" Hermione asked Ginny, her tone snippy as she stared after the boys.

"No, I'll stay with you," said Ginny. Hermione knew she'd rather be out there, but she appreciated the gesture. While Hermione did the dishes, Ginny went ahead and sat on a stool, staring at her.

"What?" Hermione leaned against a cupboard as she waved her wand, the magic doing most of the dirty work.

Her friend paused. "So, you're sure it's over between yourself and Ron?"

"Absolutely. I went through all of that with Lavender Brown last year. I'm not about to stand for it again." She waved her wand too hard and the dishes crashed into the water, splashing the two of them. "Oh, of all the things," Hermione sighed, cooling down. "Honestly."

"He said he was sorry," Ginny said, playing the Devil's advocate again.

Hermione sniffed. "He can keep saying it if he likes. I'm through." Catching Ron making out with one of the tiny and blonde workers at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes had been more than Hermione could take. She had been so sure that things were finally going to clear up between them, but then he had had to go and do one of the stupidest moves he'd ever made.

"Well," said Ginny. "I always had hoped you'd be my sister, but if he's going to be such an wanker I can't blame you." She stood up and the two girls embraced. "We both need a good drying charm, and then we'll be fine. School starts in two days. Why don't we get packed? That always cheers you up."

Of course she was heading to spend an entire term with LAVENDER as her only roommate, but she'd have to make it through for the sake of her N.E.W.T.s. Despite Harry's claim that they were going to start the horcrux hunt immediately, Molly Weasley and Hermione's parents had been adamant that they would do it while also preparing themselves for their tests.

"Packing it is."

The boys could finish the dishes later.