But unfortunately, Hannah and Susan had been overheard by Ernie and Justin who had talked with Terry and Michael who'd been overheard by Lisa and Padma, and within a day the whole of the fourth year knew about it. A day later the whole school knew about it. Practice dating was suddenly all the rage except with the person who it had originally been intended for: Harry.
And, well, Hermione.
Nobody had asked her to go on a practice date, especially not Harry. She tried hard not to feel discouraged by that. Other girls hadn't been asked out by anyone either, she reminded herself briskly. As far as she knew Morag and Lisa hadn't. And Harry wasn't the only boy who was shying away from the whole thing; Ron had so far ignored all the hints Lavender had dropped in his path (Hermione was waiting for her just to jump him), and Draco had avoided Pansy like she was the carrier of some fatal plague.
"Isn't this the third practice date Neville and Hannah have had?" hummed Luna with an innocent expression that was completely faked.
Hermione smiled. "Fourth, if you include the last Hogsmeade weekend."
Neville and Hannah had gone to browse the shops just the two of them while Susan had ended up tagging along with the original Gryffindor trio to see Sirius at the School House where Dobby had plied them all with cookies and hot chocolate.
"Do you think they'll still call it practicing when they get married?" joked Luna.
Hermione chuckled, her mood lightening. "It's a possibility." And it was a possibility; Neville and Hannah seemed really happy together and their families both approved of the fledgling relationship. She decided to change the subject. "So what are you up to today?"
"Charms essay." Luna said happily, finishing her pancakes. "I'm going to spend the day in the library."
Tactically it was a good move since most of the rest of the school would be at the Quidditch match.
Hermione checked her watch and sighed. "I'll walk with you and pick up that book you recommended. You really think it'll make a difference?"
"I think you'll see what you need to see when you need to see it." Luna said matter-of-factly. "But the book couldn't hurt?"
They chatted all the way to the library. The book turned out to be a hefty volume and Hermione tucked it in her satchel under the watchful eyes of Madame Pince. She said goodbye to Luna and raced to the tower to get her outdoor cloak.
She was surging down the steps of the Gryffindor girls' stairwell when she heard crying in the third year dormitory. She paused, torn between the urge to get to the match and the sense of obligation to check nobody was injured or truly upset. She hovered for a long moment on the landing before she sighed and tapped on the door.
There was no answer but Hermione pushed the door open and peered into the room. It was empty save for Ginny curled up on her bed, crying.
"Ginny!" Hermione hurried over to the younger girl. "Are you OK?"
Ginny hunched away from the touch of Hermione's hand on her shoulder. "I'm fine."
Hermione debated whether to leave the younger girl to it, but Ginny was clearly not fine and Hermione's compassion stirred. She sat down tentatively next to Ginny, ignoring the vibe of 'leave me alone' emanating from Ginny in waves.
"What's happened?" asked Hermione softly.
"You wouldn't understand!" Ginny sobbed, not looking at her.
Hermione resisted the urge to sigh. "I understand you were supposed to be pitch-side as a reserve for the team so I'm assuming something happened to stop that?"
Ginny swiped a hand at her face and nodded.
"What happened?" Hermione pressed with a sinking sensation that whatever it was she wasn't going to like it.
"You're going to yell at me like Angelina did." Ginny said simply, sniffling.
Hermione stayed silent and waited her out.
"It was stupid," Ginny admitted, "I mean, I know it was stupid but Lydia and Jessica wouldn't stop asking and…"
"And?" prompted Hermione impatiently, although truthfully she could see where Ginny's confession was heading.
"I let them into the changing rooms." Ginny blurted out, wiping her hand over her wet cheeks.
Of course she had.
"There are separate areas, aren't there?" Hermione asked. "What did they think they were going to see?"
"It works like the stairs here." Ginny explained with a huff. "The boys can't get into the girls' changing rooms but…"
"But the girls can get into the boys." Hermione sighed heavily and pinched the brow of her nose. "You tried to sneak Lydia and Jessica into the boys' changing room."
"We didn't actually see anything." Ginny complained with a sniff. "Fred spotted us and George chased us out." She gave a hitching little sob. "Angelina went ballistic."
Completely understandable, Hermione thought dryly. She would have gone ballistic in Angelina's place.
"She told me that I was banned from playing as reserve today and…and…" Ginny started crying again, "she's going to talk to me later about my place on the team! She's going to drop me! I know she is!"
If Angelina did, Hermione wouldn't blame her; Ginny's lack of regard for Harry's – well, all the boys' privacy was appalling.
"She'll give you a second chance." Hermione said to Ginny confidently. "You made a mistake but as long as you sincerely apologise and don't even think of doing it again, it'll be fine."
At least Hermione thought Angelina would be OK with it although if she had any hint that Ginny's interest in Quidditch was primarily to get closer to Harry she'd probably not give Ginny a second chance. It could be worse, Hermione reminded herself; Ginny hadn't followed Romilda Vane's example and headed to a mind healer to have something in common with Harry (although after the events in the Chamber of Secrets with the basilisk Ginny really did need to see one in everyone's opinion except for Ginny's it seemed), and Ginny was genuinely interested in Quidditch beyond Harry.
"Harry hates me!" Ginny sobbed.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry doesn't hate you."
"He barely talks to me!" Ginny argued angrily. "He avoids me!"
"You and your friends are basically stalking him everywhere!" Hermione retorted.
Ginny turned over and glared at her. "We do not stalk him!"
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