Captured

Together Ch.5

Hermione opened the door quietly, spotting Ginny sitting on her bed, absentmindedly flipping through a magazine but clearly not paying attention to it. The room was filled with an air of melancholy, as though both girls were keeping themselves busy just to avoid thinking about what was really troubling them. Hermione sat down on the edge of Ginny's bed, unsure how to start the conversation. She wanted to comfort her, but she had no real news about Harry and Ron.

"Hey, Gin," Hermione said softly. Ginny looked up and gave her a faint smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Hey," Ginny replied, closing the magazine and setting it aside. "How did the meeting go with McGonagall?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "It was fine. She wants me and... Malfoy to organize a fun day for the school in a couple of weeks. Something to take everyone's mind off... well, everything."

Ginny raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Malfoy? That's going to be... interesting."

"Tell me about it," Hermione muttered, rubbing her temples. "But it's for the students, so I'll make it work. We need something to look forward to, especially with everything going on." She hesitated, then asked, "Ginny, are you okay? I know... it's been hard."

Ginny sighed, her bravado slipping for just a moment. "I just keep worrying, you know? About Harry. About Ron. It's like... I'm trying to stay strong, but some days, it feels impossible."

"I understand," Hermione said, her voice soft but filled with empathy. "I miss them, too. Every day. But we can't let fear take over. They're smart, and they're tough. They'll come back to us. They have to."

Ginny nodded, her eyes welling up a little, but she quickly blinked away the tears. "Yeah. I just wish I could do more than sit here and wait."

"I know," Hermione agreed. "But we are doing something. The Order is working tirelessly to protect them, and we're keeping Hogwarts going. In our own way, we're helping them by making sure there's something to come back to."

Ginny smiled weakly. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Thanks, Hermione."

They sat there in silence for a few moments, the weight of everything still hanging between them but made slightly lighter by the shared understanding. For now, it was enough.

Hermione stood up and gave Ginny's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We'll get through this, Ginny. Together."

Ginny nodded again, her smile a little stronger this time. "Together."

Hermione gave Ginny's shoulder one last squeeze before turning toward the door, but before she could leave, Ginny called after her.

"Hermione?" Ginny's voice was soft, hesitant.

Hermione turned back, eyebrows raised in question. "Yeah?"

Ginny hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How... how are you really doing? I mean, with everything going on, you always seem so strong, but I can tell something's on your mind."

Hermione felt a lump form in her throat. She was used to being the one holding things together, being the logical one, the one who came up with the plans and kept everyone moving forward. But lately, she had been carrying a lot more than just the weight of missing Harry and Ron. There was also the constant tension between her and Malfoy, the secret she was hiding about what she'd been up to every Friday night, and the fear that something terrible was just around the corner.

Hermione sighed and sat back down. "Honestly? I'm not sure," she admitted. "I feel like I'm walking on eggshells all the time, trying to keep everything from falling apart. And working with Malfoy—" She broke off, unsure of how to explain what working with him had been like. It wasn't just difficult because of their past. It was something else, something she didn't even understand yet.

Ginny's eyes softened. "Malfoy," she repeated thoughtfully. "That must be awful."

"Surprisingly," Hermione said, thinking of the times she'd seen brief flashes of vulnerability in him, "it's not always what I expected. I don't know how to explain it, but he's different. Or maybe I'm different. I don't know." She rubbed her eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over her.

"Different?" Ginny asked, clearly confused. "How so?"

Hermione shook her head. "He's still infuriating, don't get me wrong. But... sometimes, it feels like he's just as scared as we are. And that scares me because Malfoy's never been the kind to show fear, at least not like that. I keep thinking there's more going on with him than he's letting on, and I don't know whether I should be worried or..."

Ginny sat up a little straighter, her brow furrowing. "Hermione, you're not... sympathizing with him, are you? I mean, it's Malfoy. He's—well, he's Malfoy."

Hermione laughed weakly. "I know, believe me. I'm not saying I trust him. But... I don't think things are as black and white as they used to be. Not anymore. People are changing, all of us."

Ginny was quiet for a moment, considering. "Do you think he's changing for the better?"

"I don't know," Hermione admitted. "Maybe. But it doesn't matter. I have to keep my guard up. This is war, and we can't afford to trust anyone who's on the wrong side of it."

Ginny gave a small nod, seeming to understand. "Well, whatever happens, just be careful, okay? I don't trust him. And I don't want you getting hurt."

Hermione smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I will. I promise."

She stood up again, the conversation leaving a strange heaviness in the air. As she headed for the door, she glanced back at Ginny, who was now staring at the closed magazine in her lap.

"You should try to get some rest," Hermione said softly. "We all need to be strong for what's coming next."

Ginny nodded, but Hermione could see the same unease that she felt reflected in her friend's eyes.

As she left the room and closed the door behind her, Hermione leaned against the wall for a moment, closing her eyes. There was so much more she hadn't told Ginny—about the secret meetings, about the strange tension between her and Malfoy, about the growing sense of dread she couldn't shake. But she couldn't put that burden on her. Not now, not when everyone was already struggling to hold on.

She took a deep breath and pushed off the wall, heading down the hallway. Her mind, however, kept drifting back to Malfoy, to the way he'd acted lately—quiet, tense, almost... lost. Whatever was going on with him, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was going to collide with her life sooner rather than later. And she wasn't sure she was ready for that.

"Stay focused, Hermione," she whispered to herself. "You've got a job to do."

But as she made her way back to her dormitory, she couldn't help but wonder if it was more than just a job now—if Malfoy was more than just another enemy