Under a Nameless God

It had been almost three weeks since she saw Pomfrey. It felt almost like a dream. The night spent vomiting in the bathroom, sneaking back to her down, even the night spent with Draco seemed like the plot of an old book. Hermione had that way about her, always trying to put the bad into boxes, turning them into stories that happened to other people.

Hermione didn't want to focus on the past. The past hurt.

Hermione set her book to the side, looking out at the lake. She would need to recast the softening spell, the ground was starting to feel hard again. Maybe she should head inside.

"Hermione?"

Ginny Weasley was standing beside the willow, hands pressed into the bark. There was something serious to her green eyes. Hermione nodded.

"Do you think I only exist in the library?" Hermione asked.

Ginny sat down beside her. "Sorry. I thought you would be working on the Ancient Runes project. Ron has been looking for you."

"I told him he needed to work it out on his own. I am done with that assignment. I have better things to do."

"I told him to leave you alone," Ginny began. She froze after a moment. "Did you say you were done with the project? I must have misheard."

Hermione set her book to the side. She fell back onto her pillow of grass, enjoying the warmth of the sun. "Yes. I handed it in yesterday."

"I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. So, you are just doing nothing?" Ginny asked. "I thought you tutored on Saturdays?"

"I was, for a while. But it's just the same stuff. People don't want me to help them, they want me to do it for them. So I stopped. Ron has three weeks to figure it out, he will be fine."

"I get ya," Ginny said. She followed Hermione's example and stretched out beside her friend.

"I'm going to France this summer." Hermione turned to look at the redhead. "I got a scholarship to Du Ponte."

"Does this have anything to do with Malfoy?" Ginny asked.

"Yes."

"He's been asking about you. He asked me if I knew where you were. It's why I came looking for you in the first place. He said he had something he needed to tell you. He looked anxious."

"We had sex."

Ginny gave a shout. "No."

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"Just promise you won't tell anyone," Hermione said.

"I won't."

"Good."

"Was he good in bed?" Ginny asked after a moment.

Hermione looked at her friend before bursting into laughter. "Hate sex is pretty good. I won't do it again if that answers your questions. Not worth the risk."

Ginny nodded. "I know all about that."

Both girls fell silent, enjoying the weather. Something hardened between them, tightening the space between them. It almost felt like Hermione had a sister.