Hermione Granger and the Two Lovers

Chapter Seven

"Where have you been?" Ginny asked when Hermione entered the dormitory.

"With your brother," Hermione quickly answered while trying to hide her blotchy face and puffy eyes.

"Why?" Ginny asked in a disgusted tone. "I've never understood why you hang around with him."

"I don't just 'hang around with him'. He's one of my best friends, Ginny. Besides, he's just helping me..." Hermione didn't continue her sentence. She moved towards the end of her bed and opened her trunk.

"Is this about Harry? Are you still not over him?" Ginny asked curiously.

"I don't want to talk about it, Ginny," Hermione said rather flatly.

"Mum always says you should talk about your feelings, even if you feel like you can't," Ginny advised Hermione.

"Your mum also decided to have seven children, something I will never do," Hermione pointed out. "I'm going out for a stroll," Hermione informed Ginny.

"May I join you?" Ginny begged.

"No, Ginny, I need time to think," Hermione answered and exited the dormitory.

*~*~*~*~*

Hermione exited through the Fat Lady's portrait and headed for the Library. Since she was Head Girl, she could wander around the school in the evening. She walked down the hallway and noticed Peeves the Poltergeist struggling to take the doorknob off of the Slytherin common room door.

"Try a screwdriver," Hermione mentioned as she slipped by. Hermione assumed he had heard her because he immediately zipped away from the door.

Hermione reached the Library doors and cautiously opened it. Madame Pince lifted her head out of a book she was reading and greeted Hermione, "Hello, dear. Do you have a pass?" Hermione flashed her Head Girl badge at her. Madame Pince nodded and buried her nose in her book.

Hermione walked towards the reference section. She noticed Hogwarts a History lying on the shelf. Although Hermione had read it at least a dozen times, she scooped it up and headed towards Madame Pince's desk.

When she reached the desk, Madame Pince put down her book and handed Hermione the sign out sheet. Hermione signed it and thanked Madame Pince.

Hermione exited the Library and headed up the stairs, towards the Gryffindor tower on the seventh floor. When Hermione walked by the Slytherin common room door Hermione saw that Peeves had found a screwdriver. Hermione giggled at the thought of the Slytherins' faces when they could not enter nor exit their common room.

Hermione reached the seventh and told the Fat Lady the password. The Fat Lady kindly opened the door and Hermione entered. Hermione could see that the lights were still on in the girls' dormitory; therefore Ginny was still awake, waiting to talk to her.

Hermione plopped down on the couch and stared into the fire. Although the flames were so hot, Hermione kept seeing the bitter iciness of it. Tears stung at her eyes, but she blinked them back. She pulled her knees to her chest, her heart was longing for Harry but her brain said no. She couldn't let him back into her life after how he treated her and she knew that, she just wished she could tell her heart the same thing.

At around midnight, the lights in the girls' dormitory finally went out. Quietly, Hermione slipped through the doorway and up the stairs. Without turning on the lights or changing into her nightdress, Hermione slid into bed and stared at the ceiling.

As late as it was, she wasn't tired. Hermione forced her eyes shut and thought about the days ahead. Soon enough, she fell into a gentle sleep, soon to be awakened by a bright new day.