An Act Never Stays An Act [ongoing]

Chapter 17

"I still can't believe that happened," Ginny said as she took her own seat beside Hermione. "I mean, who would? After all, everyone knows how much Pansy loves Malfoy. Or was it obsession? Either way it's so strange. The way she actually cried in front of the entire sch—Hermione, are you listening to me?"

Ginny cocked an eyebrow upwards at her friend who seemed to be lost in thought.

"Huh?" Hermione blinked a couple times as she snapped into reality, noticing that Ginny had stopped talking.

"You seem to be pretty busy daydreaming, 'Mione," Ginny said as she arranged her quill and notebooks on her table.

Before Hermione could answer, Ginny's hands paused at her task and started merely hovering above her things. A wide grin appeared upon her face as an idea struck her.

"Did something happen between you and Malfoy, again?" She asked excitedly.

Hermione's eyes widened at the question and quickly glanced around the room in alarm. "What? No! Of course not!" Hermione yelled in a quiet voice. "Ginny, tone down a little bit, won't you? You can't just ask stuff like this when we're in public."

Ginny's head turned left and right to look around the room. "It's not like they can hear us or anything," she said once she scanned every classmate she could see.

"Still," Hermione said softly.

"So, did anything happen?" Ginny asked again, ignoring what Hermione said.

"I already told you. Nothing happened. I'm just bothered by something," Hermione said.

"You know, you can tell me about it. We still have about twenty minutes before the professor arrives," Ginny pressed on.

Hermione frowned, showing disapproval on how her friend is acting. "Ginny..."

"Hermione..." Ginny gave her a smile that she used for times when she had to convince somebody. "I'm your best friend, right?"

A few seconds later, Hermione let out a large sigh, giving in to her friend's plea.
"Alright, alright," she said. "Just... next time, remember to not ask me about this in public."

"Okay. Sure," Ginny said with a smile. "Now, speak what's on your mind."

"Well, it's not really a big deal—"

"Oh! Shush!" Ginny cut her off. "Everything is a big deal, Hermione Jean Granger. We both know that."

"Only you know that."

"Believe me. We both know that. Continue."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at her friend.

"Anyways," Hermione continued, "as I was saying, I'm just thinking that... since Pansy isn't clinging onto Draco anymore... doesn't that mean that we're gonna stop this dating act thing?"

Ginny blinked a few times as she stared at Hermione with confusion and shock.
"That's... bothering you?" She asked.

"Oh—well, yeah..." Hermione said nervously. "Just a little bit."

"Wow, 'Mione!" Ginny suddenly exclaimed. "Does this mean you've actually fallen in love??"

"Fallen in love?" Hermione's eyes widened in shock. "How is that even possible?"

Ginny stared at her friend with an expression that clearly read, 'are-you-kidding-me'.

"Oh bloody hell!" Hermione said as her hands flew to her mouth. "I've fallen in love with Draco Malfoy? That's love already?"