Win Win Situation

Ginny sighed as she came up the front walk after a hard day at the office and noticed that Hermione's car was gone. She was either late getting home from work, or out with Harry and Ron for the night. Unlocking the front door to their two bedroom flat, Ginny tossed her coat on the couch and hung her keys on their rack. She'd had a long day and wanted nothing more than to just relax for a bit. Just as she was pouring herself a drink the phone rang and startled, she picked it up. Hermione's tinkling laughter and sugary voice were heard along with Harry and Ron talking and some sort of rock music. Ginny swallowed a sip of the hard scotch she'd poured and spoke, knowing already who it was.


"Hey "Mione, what's up?"


"Heya Gin. Harry and Ron were wonderin' if you wanted to meet us at Bill's bar. They've got a great band tonight and we were thinkin' you might wanna get out for a bit."


"'Mione, are you drunk," Ginny already knew the answer from her friend's slurred and clipped speech, but was trying to delay Hermione begging her to join them.


"I've had a few drinks, but I'm alright. Look Gin, we're having a blast and it would be better if you joined us for some debauchery. Whaddya say?"


"Really 'Mione, I swear I would, but it's been a long day and I have a report due to Malfoy tomorrow. I haven't even -"


Hermione cut off the redhead's feeble attempt to get out of it, "Screw Malfoy! Come have some fun, gin. I miss the old days."


Ginny cursed mentally and continued to decline the offer. "I'm sorry, Hermione, I just can't tonight. I'll take a rain check though and next week I promise we'll go out."


"Oh Ginny, you are just no fun!"


"I know 'Mione, I am lame, I know."


"Fine. If I can't get you to come have fun, I'll do double in your spirit!"


Just then there was a lot of laughter, Harry hooting, and Hermione squealing loudly. It seemed she had forgotten about being on the phone until Ginny hear her yell, "Harry James Potter, that is not the appropriate use of a pool cue and you know it! No! Harry, stop it, I am still on the phone you know."


Ginny hear Ron and Harry laughing hysterically in the background when Hermione came back on the line. "Sorry about that, Gin. The boys are drunk and acting retarded."


Ginny, knew the tipsy brunette would continue to try and get her out of the house unless she found a way to get off the phone. "It's okay, 'Mione, go have fun." Pausing for a moment, Ginny, pretended to be startled, "Crap, got a call coming in. Are you going to be home tonight?"


"Doubt it. I'll probably just crash at the boy's apartment for the night." Hermione seemed have to given up on getting her roommate to join them. "We love you, Gin. Talk to you tomorrow!"


With that, the other end of the line fell dead and Ginny hung up the receiver with a sigh. Looking down at her almost full glass of liquor, Ginny raised the glass to her lips and drained the liquid, leaving nothing, but ice in the bottom. Putting a hand to her brow, she brushed some crimson strands out of her eyes and closed them to rest for a moment. In her mind, Hermione's words echoed over and over again.


Screw Malfoy!


"If only you knew,'Mione. If only you knew," she spoke aloud to nobody in particular. There was more truth to those two words than any of Ginny's friends could handle.