Chapter 56

                                    

                                          
Hermione Granger
It was some long days before the lessons would begin. She wasn't certain what Umbridge had planned for the coming months. It's been quiet, even during the DADA lessons. Whether that was a good sign or a bad, Hermione couldn't tell with Umbridge. The woman's mind was not something she ever wanted to understand.
Hermione sat within the common room, thinking deeply on what the days will bring. Tomorrow, Harry will begin the lesson and hopefully prepare them to face the coming dangers. Amelia was already excited to start, having said so many times as they enjoyed each other's company.
The fire crackled, spreading warmth throughout the room, calming Hermione as she looked through the window. It was getting dark and the early snow had disappeared already. Hermione thought she would be stressed out of her mind this year. She is, yet not as much as she thought she'd be. 
Hermione thought about the future a lot more these days. It's all early, but she always wanted to be prepared for it. But with Voldemort it felt uncertain. No matter how much she wished to plan her future with Amelie, she couldn't think more than a month ahead. Especially with the Tyrant Toad Face marching around.
"Hey, Hermione," Ginny said, making Hermione look away from the window. Ginny took a seat on the opposite side of her. She was fidgeting in her seat as she looked to be trying to find the words. "Got a minute? You look rather deep in thought; don't want to bother if it's important."
"It's nothing important. What's up, Ginny? You look rather troubled by something," said Hermione, giving a comforting look.
"It's about Harry," she said eventually, her voice dropping to a whisper as to not let anyone else hear her. "I've... noticed him spending time with Pansy. They seem different. It's like they gotten closer, maybe?"
"Closer?" Hermione inquired. She noticed too when she was with Pansy. Pansy even admitted it yesterday but clearly downplayed the importance of it. But if Ginny pointed it out, there's more at hand than she thought. "What have you seen? Something happened?"
"Well, they talk. A lot these days. They seem to... really listen to one another," Ginny said, one of her hands pulling at the end of her sleeve, as if to keep her hands busy. "And the way she looks at him... I don't know. It's silly, and stupid, but it bothers me."
Hermione blinked for a second. That's unexpected. To say the very least. She placed a hand on Ginny's, a soft smile on her face. It must be hard to see her crush seemingly getting closer to someone. Perhaps not necessarily the act of getting close, but probably because it was Pansy.
"It's not silly, Ginny. Far from it, given how you feel for him," Hermione said. "Have you talked to him? A difficult thing to do, but sometimes, even as a friend, a necessary step."
Ginny brows furrowed together. "That's not really something I can do. What would I even say?  'Hey Harry, what's up with you and Pansy? Something going between the you two?' Doesn't really feel like a good thing to do."
"Well, me and Amelia have been open and honest from the get go, Ginny. Not similar cases as we knew each other from a young age. But it still helped to be as open we could, to tell each other what we were thinking. So, being open works for us," said Hermione gently. "Unfortunately, many others do not see certain things; like missing the fact someone is interested in you. It may help just to check in on Harry. Not necessarily pouring your heart out."
"I don't know. If I do, it feels like it will change everything..." sighed Ginny.
"Yeah, maybe, but that's not a bad thing. Knowing what is happening is often better than never knowing. And you're not alone in this, Ginny. If you're really affected by what you're told; I can always help you through it."