A/N: The end draws near!
Ginny
"Ginny, I think you're overreacting a bit." Luna told her. Ginny spun around to the opposite direction, dragging Colin and Luna along with her, the moment she saw the Golden Trio at the area she was heading. She knew she shouldn't be avoiding Hermione like this, but she was upset and she was also a bit ashamed to face her - she didn't react very well over Hermione rejecting her for this Friday.
How stupid was she? There were other Fridays to go Hogsmeade. Hermione had work, who was Ginny to throw a fit about that?
"I just... I dunno, Luna. I know I am but I don't want to speak with her for some reason." Ginny frowned as they weaved their way through an alternate route to History class.
"You can't drag this on longer, mate." Colin butted in. "It's just going to make things worse."
Ginny sighed, slightly annoyed with her friends. "I know, I know!" She calmed. "I just... maybe I need time to myself."
"It's always good to think of time for yourself," Luna assured. "But you shouldn't take too much."
"What am I supposed to do?" Ginny groaned.
"Apologize." Colin said quickly. "I mean, say sorry and plan it out again for next Friday. I'm sure she won't cancel out the second time around."
"And what if she doesn't want to be out with me?" Ginny worried.
"Now you're being a typical teenage girl in love. Perfectly normal." Luna thoughtfully commented, making Colin snicker and Ginny roll her eyes.
"Right. Okay. Apologize. It's just I don't think I can face her just yet. I was really embarrassing last time." Ginny bit her lip.
The conversation continued until they reached their destination. History was a bore today, and honestly when wasn't it? Ginny's mind would wander off to Hermione and how she was going to fix this, but she had a stubborn side that wouldn't give in. No, she needed more time to herself to recover from what happened earlier. She just hoped that Hermione would be accepting when Ginny was ready.
She sighed. Soon, History was over and she was already shuffling out of the room with Colin and Luna. "You know, you could still go to Hogsmeade this Friday. Go with us! You've got a Butterbeer on me." Colin offered.
"Deal." Ginny smiled at the prospect of free drinks.
"So how do you plan on apologizing? How about getting her some kind of 'I'm sorry' gift for when you're ready?" Luna asked softly.
Planning and scheming continued on among the three while they scuttled over to their next class for that day. But they weren't the only ones cooking something up.
Hermione
"You could just walk right up to her and say sorry, you now." Ron said over a mouthful of the muffins Hermione bought for him as an apology gift for the previous night. The trio were comfortably perched in the Gryffindor common room, enjoying the warm crackle of the fire.
"Ron, I want her to see I'm genuinely sorry. And just saying so might not make the cut."
"Well, how about you still go through with the plan of surprising her at Hogsmeade?" Harry suggested.
"No, no. I want that surprise to be for when I'm telling her my feelings already." Hermione shook her head, putting on a thoughtful look.
"Well that puts you in a pickle." Ron said, finishing off the batch of muffins.
Just then, a young girl rushed down the Gryffindor staircase and caught Hermione's eye.
An idea struck her.
"Romilda?" The brunette called out. This startled the younger girl, who also blushed because of Harry's presence.
"Oh- Hermione!" She smiled at her, looking as if she was about to explode into another round of 'thank yous' so Hermione went on ahead of her.
"Would you mind if I asked you for some help?"
Ginny
"Good lord, we can't be late to Transfiguration!" Ginny cursed to herself, briskly walking down the corridor murmuring apologies and excuses to the people she weaved in, out and around of. Colin and Luna were close by, catching up to the athletic girl's pace. They were running late because of a little mishap during Charms class that involved an exploding inkwell and lots of stains. Naturally, they had to clean up after the mess. Even with the help of magic, it was quite the tedious task.
Just then, her momentum was ruined by a collision with another body. "Ouch!" Ginny dropped all of her books and so did the other girl.
"Oh, no. I'm so sorry!" It was Romilda Vane. She hurriedly bent over and started picking up her and Ginny's belongings to help her.
"Oh, it's fine, it's fine." Ginny said hurriedly, scrambling to get everything together. Once she felt that everything was in order she darted down the corridor, Colin and Luna following closely behind.
Romilda stood there, smirking. Her right hand flipped her wand and it sent bright red sparks rushing out to an unknown destination, the left one held Ginny's Transfigurations essay.
Hermione
Hermione, Ron and Harry were at an empty classroom, bent over the Marauder's map. They were paying particular attention to the footsteps labeled 'Ginevra Weasley'
"There!" Harry said, pointing. "She's bumped into Romilda. Okay, now we wait."
"Come on, come one." Hermione whispered, waiting. And after a short while, red sparks came rushing up and exploded like mini fireworks over their heads.
"Right! She's got the Homework!" Ron cheered. "Alright, Neville. You're up!" Neville was a bit further away from the table and was carrying a crate of unknown, heavy plants. "When you get out the room, turn left and just keep going down that corridor, you should run into her from there."
"Right!" He got up and rushed out the room.
Ginny
Ginny bit her lip, annoyed. Just my luck! Did her classes really have to be at the opposite ends of the castle?
"Oh, goodness. Can't we just skip it?" She complained at Colin.
"Sound good to me, mate, but we can't today." He sighed. Luna didn't seem to be too bothered by their tardiness, but then again not a lot of things could bother Luna.
Ginny took a hurried right turn and just then, had to stop yet again.
"Oh, sorry for the blockage!" Neville said, hurriedly moving around pots and plants to clear the way.
Ginny's nerves ticked, but she couldn't bring herself to snap at the poor boy. She made her way around the mess of shrubs and pretty, bright, flowers and made sure to be careful in case any of them were poisonous or might bite (you never knew).
"Oh, it's your Transfigurations right? Goodluck with that essay you were working on last night!" Neville called out and Ginny froze. She then started to frantically search through her things.
"Shit!" She panicked. "Merlin's beard! Colin, Luna, you guys can go out without me. I think Romilda accidentally got my stuff!"
"Vane? Romilda Vane?" Neville interjected. "I saw her go right down that hallway, I can't be sure though."
"Good enough for me. Thanks!" And then the redhead dashed down to the direction Neville pointed.
Ginny looked around for where Romilda could've gone. Hermione spent so much time helping her with this, she couldn't just miss the deadline!
She stopped to catch her breath and tapped a random Gryffindor girl in her year on the shoulder. "Hey, would you happen to know which direction Romilda Vane went?"
The young girl only shook her head in denial, when Ginny heard someone call out from behind her.
"Ginny!" It was Seamus, hands full of chocolate frogs and licorice. A few lemon drops here and there, as well.
"Sorry, Seamus. Can't talk!"
"I heard ya looking for Romilda, last I saw of her she turned that direction there, yeah?" He said, chewing on some chocolate.
"Thank you!" Ginny said, genuinely grateful of the help.
"Here, have a frog, mate!" Seamus tossed her one, and her Chaser abilities snapped into action and she quickly tucked it in her robes.
I'll never get to class in time. But I might as well get my essay passed. She resigned herself and sighed.
Hermione
"Alright! Seamus has done his part!" Harry smiled. "This is going bloody well."
"It's not over 'til the fat lady sing, mate." Ron popped his knuckles and leaned over to the Marauder's Map to review the progress.
Ginny was already at the same corridor as their room.
"Right. We ready?" Harry looked at Hermione.
"I'm sending the signal." Hermione waved her wand, sending a purple spark out the doorway of the room they were in.
Ginny
Ginny stopped at yet another corridor, yet this one was kind of empty. She sighed, annoyed at everything. This wasn't going to be a good day for her, was it? First Hermione, now this?
A little purple spark flew past her, startling the redhead. She gazed to the direction it went and lo and behold, Romilda Vane!
"Romilda!" Ginny called out, exhausted and exasperated.
"Oh! Ginny? Oh, dear. Are you alright?" the other girl asked when Ginny jogged up to her, panting and exhausted.
"You... have... my transfiguration essay, I think." She said between breaths.
"Oh no, do I? I'm so sorry. Hold on, my things are in this room. Come follow me." She took Ginny by the wrist and gently led her to a room down the corridor the purple spark came from, however, when she opened it the room was empty.
Ginny spun around, "What were you doing in... here. Romilda?"
She found herself to be alone and found a little note on the table.
Check your Transfiguration textbook.It said in familiar script. She dropped the note and scanned the pages of her textbook. There, she noticed a little piece of paper, folded and petite. Barely noticeable.
Hi, Ginny.
I'm very, very sorry about what happened. I can see you got upset and I shouldn't have denied you so quickly and adamantly. It's not that I didn't want to be with you, trust me I really do, but I really did have a reason to say no then.
Please, forgive me? It's hard to go about with you not speaking with me. I don't understand exactly what, but I feel like I did something wrong. I hope we can clear this out. You know you mean so much to me.
P.S. if you do decide to accept my apology on this, check the chocolate frog card from Seamus.
Ginny raised a brow, wondering what might be so special about the chocolate frog card.
She quickly unwrapped the sweet, taking a bite off the frog, and then checked the card for anything.
And there was nothing.
Hermione
"Oh, no." Seamus said while he gobbled on a chocolate frog card.
"What is it?" Hermione was on edge, the plan was almost at a close now. There was only one step left...
...and that final step was in Seamus Finnigan's hand. Not in Ginny's.
It was a Chocolate Frog Card with a note at the back. Come with me to Hogsmeade the Friday? As for all the work I have, I've fixed it all ahead so I can make it up to you.
Neville slipped into two flowers in your robes earlier. A carnation and a tulip.
If yes is the answer, would you leave the carnation on the table? If it's a no (and I hope it isn't), leave the tulip.
Much Love,
Hermione Granger
They were at the room beside the one Ginny was in.
"Seamus!" Hermione panicked. Seamus had tossed her the wrong card.
"You have to get over there!" Harry urgently suggested at Hermione.
"This is not part of the plan, Harry!"
"Well what do you want to do?!" Ron panicked, checking the map. "She's heading for the door!"
"I'm so, so sorry." Seamus apologized, sweating up.
Hermione had already dashed out the room to the corridor, and over to the room right beside it.
"Oh... Hermione." Ginny said, still holding the note from her textbook in her hand.
"Well, hello." The older girl said timidly.
Immediately, she was devoured by warmth and red, flowing hair as Ginny gave her the biggest hug she's had in her life.
"Of course I forgive you! Oh, I'm so sorry for overreacting. It was such a little thing!"
She found herself smiling at the youngest Weasley. "If it got you that upset, then it wasn't. I'm sorry, Gin."
"Don't be, 'Mione. I just hope you get to do whatever it is you need to this Friday." Ginny let go of Hermione, but Hermione held on to Ginny's arms.
Hermione swallowed. "About that... I... err."
"Hmm?"
"See, Seamus gave you the wrong Chocolate Frog. That's why it had nothing."
"What do you mean?"
"I... uh. I was actually going to ask you to Hogsmeade this Friday."
"But-"
"But nothing. I fixed out everything I needed to do. And, well, the plan was to ask you through a note."
Ginny just nodded her head for Hermione to continue. She bit back a smile, she loved how Ginny looked when she was thinking hard, putting a puzzle together. Her brows furrowed every so slightly, and her almost-sapphire eyes were sharper, staring hard right back at her, threatening to pierce her soul.
The sudden influx of poetic thoughts caused Hermione to flush a little bit before clearing her throat and continuing.
"I doubt you noticed, but Neville sneaked in two flowers in your robes. A carnation and a tulip. I... I was hoping that if you said you'd go with me, you'd leave the Carnation on the table. And if the answer is no, you'd leave the Tulip."
Ginny raised an eyebrow in thought.
She gave Hermione the tulip.
Hermione's feelings sank.
Of course. She'd have made plans with someone else. Or maybe she's still upset about it after all? Or maybe..
"No. No as in, no way am I saying no to that." Ginny grinned. "Gave you quite the scare?"
Hermione gave a sigh of relief. "Ginvera, I swear you are the death of me." She rolled her eyes.
Ginny only winked. "What else should I be?" She stuck out her tongue playfully at Hermione. "You are an absolute genuis, 'Mione. I wouldn't have been able to think of half of all this."
"It was nothing."
"Oh, please! You even got Romilda Vane in on it."
"Well, she owed me." Hermione chuckled.
"I never would have guessed, blimey. Thank you. This was so much just for an apology." Ginny gave her a warm smile. That was a smile Hermione could stare at all day, she thought. It was warm, and lovely, and energizing and basically everything Ginny was.
But then the redhead went rigid. "Oh, shit." Her expression suddenly turned serious.
"What is it?" Hermione looked at her, concerned.
"Transfiguration! My essay! My class!"
"Oh." Hermione visibly calmed. "I, uh..." She felt herself flush a little, "took care of that? I've made you a letter of excuse, under request of the house Prefect. Besides, MacGonagall loves me."
"Hermione Jane Granger, abusing her Prefect status. I'm afraid I've been a bad influence to you." Ginny teased.
Hermione only rolled her eyes, guilty as charged but happy.
"Alright. Now, for the real reason I had to drag you all the way out here. I'll show you my apology gift."
A/N: Nope, I didn't die. School workload is happening though. -_- Thank you to everyone! And I'm so very sorry for the ridiculously long delay. I hope you guys enjoy and have a great day!