Christmas Holidays (Part 6)

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So sorry for not writing for soooooo long. I've been too busy. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

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When Hermione came back to the house, Ginny and Harry have vacated the sitting room to her relief. She just couldn't face them right now, feeling so dirty as Ron pointed out. She was a cheat and a liar, and a slag to boot.

She quietly went up to Ginny's room, hoping that Ron was still on the hill trying to calm himself down, and that her girl best friend is already sleeping.

Upon opening Ginny's door, she saw her already lying on her bed facing away from the other bed. Thank Merlin!, Hermione thought, she doesn't want another talk before going to sleep.

She tiptoed quietly to her side, and lied down. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, knowing she needed her strength to face Ron tomorrow. Hoping with all of her being that he would not lash on her in front of everyone.

She did love Ron, and she was really sorry for what she have done, but it's as if Draco enchanted her. She just couldn't understand her sudden sexual attraction towards the blond.

She tried falling asleep, taking deep breaths to calm her still pounding heart. It is as if her world suddenly turned upside down again in just a span of a few months. She thought after defeating the most evil wizard, her life would be peaceful again, but it's as if fate would not let her live a drama-free life. Now even her friends, her adoptive family, could turn against her because of her sudden lack of morals.

Adding to her troubles was the nausea she's having for a few days now, and her current whirlwind of emotions.

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"Hermione, wake up," Ginny said, gently tapping her still sleeping friend.

"Gin," she replied sleepily. "What time is it?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.

"It's almost noon, 'Mione," she replied. "You missed breakfast, Harry and Ron have gone to work already. I tried waking you up earlier but you're sleeping like the dead," she explained.

"Oh, sorry Ginny. I just feel kind of off," Hermione replied honestly. She was gauging Ginny's interaction with her, wondering if Ron or Harry told her anything about her revelations. She could see that her friend is still acting normally and she took it as a sign that she was still clueless about her liaison with the Slytherin Prince.

"Come on, let's have lunch. Mum said we will be flooing to Diagon Alley at one," Ginny informed her.

"Alright, just give me ten minutes to shower and dress," Hermione answered, her stomach suddenly felt queasy.

"Okay, 'Mione," Ginny agreed, then walked out of the room.

"Oh my," Hermione took out the bucket under her bed and heaved. She feels so clammy and tired after being sick on the bucket, still she stood up to go to the bathroom and prepare for the day.

After tidying herself up, she slowly went downstairs to eat lunch with Ginny and Molly. She tried joining on their conversations and eat her lunch, hoping she looks well enough so Molly will allow her to go out. She just remembered that she will be meeting Draco at Flourish and Blotts this afternoon, when Molly asked her what shop she wanted to visit.

"Books again, 'Mione!" Ginny exclaimed good-naturedly upon hearing her reply. She just gave her friend a smile at her reaction.

At promptly one o'clock, Mister Weasley walked inside the kitchen, after apparating outside the Burrow's wards. He will be coming with them to Diagon Alley to visit George at his shop.

The four of them flooed to Diagon Alley one by one, then met outside the Weasley Wizard Wheezes shop. Upon entering the shop, Hermione noticed several new prank items on the shelves, and the store was quite full of customers.

Ginny and Hermione kept themselves busy while waiting for George to be free, looking through the shelves, while Arthur and Molly plowed through the crowd to help their son and Angelina Johnson who was manning the store.

It took them almost an hour inside the shop before George was free to go with them for ice cream at Fortescue's when Lee Jordan showed up for his shift.

The four Weasleys and Hermione went to the ice cream shop and seated themselves on one of the outside tables. They chatted noisily while waiting for their orders, and Hermione felt herself relax as George kept on telling them about the joke shop's new offerings.

The hour has gone by quickly and George needed to get back to his shop, they bid each other farewell and George promised his parents to drop by for dinner before their annual New Year's Eve party.

When George left, the group of four proceeded to Gringotts Bank. There was a lengthy queue when they arrived there.

Hermione checked her Muggle watch every so often as she waited for their turn, hoping she would not be late for her meeting with Draco Malfoy.

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Draco Malfoy arrived at Flourish and Blotts at half-past three that afternoon. He hoped Hermione would not forget their rendezvous that day. He thought of sending her an owl yesterday, but decided against it- he still has his pride, he won't beg her to come.

The shop owner was busy when he entered the shop, but he still felt his eyes on him. How he wished that people just stop staring or glaring at him when they see him.

He went to the back of the bookstore, scanning the shelves for something to occupy him while his guts twisted nervously, anticipating Granger's arrival. Please come, he thought fervently.

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"Arthur and I will need to visit some shops to buy supplies, we can meet inside the Leaky Cauldron in two hours," Molly told the girls after they exited the bank.

"Alright, mum," Ginny replied. Hermione nodded to Molly, relieved that they will be separating with the adults, leaving her to deal with Ginny.

"Please be careful, you two," Arthur reminded them. "Don't go anywhere dark, or near Knockturn Alley. Don't lose each other," he added.

"We will be fine, dad," Ginny assured her father. "Come on Hermione, let's get going," she coaxed her friend to the other side of the street, wanting to explore some shops, and buy of course.

Hermione checked her watch again, it was almost four in the afternoon, she needs to get to Flourish and Blotts soon without Ginny.

"I really need to buy a new dress for our New Year's Eve dinner," Ginny told her as they walked along the street.

"Where do you  want to shop?" Hermione asked politely, still thinking how to lose her friend.

"I think I want to try looking in Twilfitt and Tattings because I want something different this time," she informed her friend. She noticed Hermione looking at her watch. "Well, it will take me sometime to look at dresses there, do you want to come with me?" she asked, knowing that Hermione is not into dress shopping unless she needs to.

"If you don't mind, I would like to visit Flourish and Blotts instead," she responded, relieved that her friend gave her a chance to be alone.

"No worries, 'Mione," Ginny replied, smiling at her. "I'll just come and get you there before six. You know me, I need to find the perfect dress before buying anything. And dad wants us to be together," she added.

"That will be fine, Ginny. Anyway, the bookstore and the Leaky Cauldron are just near each other, so we can go together there to meet your parents after you shop. I'll walk you to Twilfitt before going to Flourish," Hermione agreed.

She walked Ginny to the dress shop and told her that she will be probably inside the bookstore the whole time so she can just drop by anytime when she's finished her shopping. Ginny waved merrily at her before entering the store, already spotting a dress on display.

Hermione continued her walk and hastened her speed upon checking her watch, it was already 6 minutes past four! She was late!

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