Anyone But Me

Chapter Twenty

She rushed up the stairs hoping she hadn't missed them. They were due back at any moment and she had gotten caught up in her visit with Hagrid and Buckbeak. Her early arrival by Floo had allowed her time to get settled before any of her other friends had come back. She had found herself bored with nothing to do and decided to go see the half-giant for a cup of tea.

Turning the corner into the Gryffindor hallway she watched as Harry, Ron and Ginny stood and argued with the Fat Lady.

"What do you mean no?!" Ron asked the portrait indignantly.

The robust woman sighed from where she had draped herself across the chaise in the background of her picture. "There is a new password. And please don't shout..."

"But we've been away, how are we supposed to...?"

Hermione ran up to the group, breathing hard. "Harry! Ginny!"

Over the Holidays she had thought Ron would write... He hadn't responded to her "Happy Christmas" note that was sent with the new set of wizarding chess pieces. An attempt at a heartfelt apology for her atrocious behavior... Instead she had gotten silence. The same with the next two times she had reached out to try to patch things up. If she wasn't worth even five minutes of his time to write a quick note then she didn't have the time to acknowledge him either. Knowing full well it was childish she deliberately left him out.

All three turned to her and had curious expressions about her outerwear plain on their faces, so she offered up the explanation. "I got back a couple of hours ago. I have just been down to visit Hagrid and Buck... I mean Witherwings. Did you have a good Christmas?"

"Yeah, pretty eventful. Rufus Scrim..." Ron tried answering, expecting her to act as if everything was normal and he hadn't spent the last two weeks avoiding contact with her...

She interrupted him, not interested in much of anything he had to say. "I have something for you, Harry. Hang on... The password is Abstinence."

"Precisely." The Fat Lady muttered before swinging forward and allowing them access to the crowded common room. Ron and Ginny went first, followed by her and Harry.

"What's up with her?" Harry asked.

"Overindulged over break, apparently. She and a friend drank their way through all the wine in that picture of drunk monks down by the Charms corridor." An exasperated roll of her eyes expressed her displeasure in having to spread portrait gossip. She reached into the inside pocket of her jacket and pulled out the scroll McGonagall had tasked her to give to him. "Anyways... Here you go."

"Great. I have loads to tell him and you... Let's sit down." His green eyes shone with worry as his eyes scanned what could only be a summons from Professor Dumbledore. He was excited over... Something. This couldn't be good, he didn't get that type of intense look unless it was serious.

Suddenly her ears were bombarded with a hair-raising shriek from Lavender of "Won-Won!" before the witch launched herself at the unsuspecting boy. She suctioned her lips to his in a kiss that didn't look like it would be ending anytime soon.

Hermione couldn't stop the grimace of disgust that flashed across her face. It wasn't that she didn't understand wanting to have an amorous reunion. It was only natural. But to always have to make it public and to the degree that they would... Ugh... It had to be one of the girl's kinks with the regularity that it happened. She shook her head and turned to Ginny and Harry. "There is an open table over there..."

"I need to go and meet Dean. I will see you guys later..." Ginny said before slipping into the crowd to find her boyfriend. They really needed to have that talk. By the lack of enthusiasm the girl displayed she knew it wouldn't be for her benefit. While they had written quick notes back and forth over break neither one had wanted to get into what was going on with them through written word.