Essence of Hermione

Chapter 3: Advice and Musings

Hermione ran up to the Gryffindor tower as fast as her legs would carry her. She desperately needed to talk to someone, someone who would understand and would be able to help her sort through her mess of feelings. Luckily, she knew one such person.

"Ginny!" she called as she jumped up the stairs to the girl's dormitory's two at a time.

"In here!"

Hermione entered Ginny's room cautiously. The other sixth year girls weren't there and Hermione sighed in relief.

"Are we alone?" Hermione asked her out of caution.

Ginny looked up interestedly from the book she was reading.

"Yes... what's up Hermione? You look... frazzled."

Hermione sighed and sat down on the bed next to Ginny, performing a sound barrier charm on the door before she did.

"Oh Gin!" she cried, and buried her face in a pillow.

Ginny stroked Hermione's curls gently, waiting for her to say more. Finally Hermione turned from the pillow to face her friend. She took a deep breath.

"Ginny, you're more... experienced... with relationships then I am."

Ginny shrugged.

"Erm...maybe?"

Hermione nodded.

"Have you ever..." Hermione took another deep breath. "Have you ever liked someone but felt physically attracted to someone else?" she said very fast, as if getting it out quickly would embarrass her less.

Ginny nodded.

"Sure. I always think guys are good looking other then the one I'm dating at the time."

"No, I mean.... Physically attracted like you want to... erm... act on that attraction..."

Ginny looked at her strangely and then her eyes flew open.

"You mean sexually attracted!"

Hermione nodded. Ginny squealed.

"Who, Hermione! Oh, you've got to tell me who! And what you've done!" she grinned. "Gossip time."

But when Hermione turned red, Ginny contained her excitement and pulled her into a hug.

"It's ok Hermione. It's only normal to feel that way, especially when you haven't... well you know, really done anything before..." she trailed off and looked at Hermione, hoping she hadn't offended.

"Really? Even if you like someone else too?"

Ginny nodded.

"Maybe you're afraid that you'll get rejected by the person you really like, so you turn to the other guy. Usually, if you're feeling a really strong attraction it's because the guy has made a move somehow, or has told you he feels the same way. It doesn't mean that you have to forget about your feelings for the first guy, but you can't waste away your life on him. Have a little fun while your waiting for him to come around, and maybe you'll realize that he's not the one for you after all." She smiled slightly. "And maybe if my woolen headed brother sees you with someone else it'll make him come around."

Hermione blanched and Ginny took her hand.

"Don't worry, I haven't told anyone that you like my brother."

"No, it's not that. Ron can't find out that I'm with him, he'll kill him...." Hermione whispered, half to herself.

Ginny's eyes widened once more.

"Hold on, back up. I think I'm catching on to something here. The reason you're so worried isn't the what you'll be doing, it's the who you'll be doing it with, am I right?"

Hermione nodded slightly.

"Who?"

Hermione looked around as if to make sure they were still alone, and then whispered something so quietly that Ginny didn't hear.

"Who?" she asked again.

"Malfoy," Hermione said in a barely audible whisper and then dove into her pillow once again, half expecting Ginny to hate her there and then. But Ginny just smiled a small smile.

"Hermione... Hermione look at me. This is perfectly natural."

Hermione stared at her in disbelief.

"Look. You're mad at Ron, you're sexually deprived because Ron's too stupid to realize his feelings-" Hermione gasped but Ginny waved her into silence again, "Malfoy probably made a move for you-and he is incredibly sexy, I'd call anyone who didn't feel some kind of attraction to him mad- so, wanting to get back at Ron, and needing some excitement in your life, you go for something forbidden. And Malfoy is a forbidden as they come." Ginny grinned. "I half wish I were you, from what I've heard, Malfoy is great in-"

"Ginny!" Hermione shrieked and hit her with the pillow.

Laughing, Ginny held up her hands.

"I was going to say great in the kissing department! What dirty thoughts were running through your mind, Hermione Granger?"

Hermione shook her head, ignoring Ginny's comment.

"I'm not going to go that far with him. Maybe a good snogging session is all I need..."

Ginny laughed.

"I doubt it with Draco Malfoy. He always gets what he wants... not to scare you," she said hastily.

Hermione shrugged.

"I can handle hormonal boys. Heaven knows I put up with enough of it everyday."

Ginny nodded solemnly.

"If you ever need any help... handling... him, let me know," she said, then grinned wickedly.

"Ginny!"

"I'm joking! I'm not a slut, you know."

Hermione smiled.

"No, your not. And you're an incredibly good friend. Thank you so much!"

Ginny nodded and gave Hermione a hug.

"Oh, Hermione. Make sure you don't get too... emotionally attached to Malfoy. I mean, a little romp is fine but... you don't want to start getting feelings for him. That's when he holds the power."

"I don't think there's any chance of that happening."

"Are you going to tell Ron?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Harry?"

Hermione looked at her.

"He's so distant now... Ron and I try to get him to talk to us, but he's just not ready. He probably won't even notice anything's different, he's got so much on his mind."

Ginny nodded.

"Alright. And you're right, Harry just needs time. Don't worry; I won't say a word to anyone."

Hermione nodded gratefully.

"Thanks Gin, you're the best."

"One condition, though."

"Name it."

Ginny looked at her impishly.

"I want details."

Hermione laughed.

"For you, anything."

The two girls linked arms and headed down to the common room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco sat in the Slytherin common room in a pair of green silk boxers with his thin, maroon housecoat draped around his shoulders, exposing his well-defined chest and rippling stomach. His eyes were closed, as he was deep in thought, and he did not hear the scraping of wood against wood as Pansy pulled up a chair next to him.

"Draco," she simpered, running a finger over his chest.

Draco opened his eyes slowly and took a deep, calming breath. Pansy never failed to annoy him.

"Yes, Pansy," he said between clenched teeth.

"Do you think we could go somewhere a little more... private?" she giggled.

He sighed. Didn't she ever want to do anything besides screw? Not that Draco was complaining, in his opinion, more witches should be that willing. Just not Pansy. She was just so damn ugly! True, he had had her before, when he was really desperate. In fact, she had been his first. He shuddered. He had been young and naïve, and although it had satisfied him, now Pasy thought that she would be forever his. She probably thought they would get married and have kids. He nearly gagged at the thought.

"I'm not in the mood, Pansy," he said.

"But, Draco," she whined, and he stood up abruptly.

"I'm going to bed," he announced, and seeing her slightly triumphant look added, "alone."

Pansy looked more then a little disappointed, but Draco ignored her and climbed the stairs to his room. He was looking forward to tomorrow. His plan was going well, Granger was as good as his. He still had a ways to go yet, he had to make her come to him, but for now, progress was progress. Maybe a little visit to the broom shed was in order... just to get her relaxed, and then leave her wanting more. He nodded. Tomorrow night would be perfect. The day after that, Christmas Holidays would start, a perfect time to get his plan really going. He smiled to himself as he got in bed. He didn't think there was anything more then a friendship between Granger and Potter, she obviously had a thing for Weasely, but even so, before sleep claimed him, he found himself thinking, watch out, Potter. Big, bad Draco's coming to steal the girl away!