Ginny
September 6
When the letters arrived Ginny had been ecstatic. Well, not over the prospect of marriage at such a young age and especially not over an arranged marriage. But she had gotten matched with the in her opinion hottest guy in school, plus the guy she had had a budding friendship with for years. Their friendship had been precious and she had truly enjoyed his company through her third to fifth year but then the war came.
The war. It destroyed absoulutely everything. Sometimes Ginny looks at herself and can't even recognize who she really is and then that is truly nothing compared to Hermione. Hermione, Ginny would say she was her best friend but she also knew that Ginny was not the kind of friend Hermione needed. No, her friend needed someone who understood her trauma, who could comfort her without feeling awkward and someone who would encourage her and help her. Ginny wanted to be that person, but she wasnt. She was awkward, not good with feelings, but at the same time felt too much. Hermione had been the rock and that was wrong because out of all of them Ginny was pretty sure Hermione had lost the most.
Sure, the Weasley siblings had lost a brother, loads of people lost family members, significant others and their sanity. But Hermione. She was the one who kept Harry alive since day one, the one who figured everything out, the one who was expected to know everything and hold everyone else up. Hermione was the girl who created the DA and the one that did most of the work during the war. But she was also the fiersest one in battle. Ginny couldnt help but mourn for the childhood her friend could have had. While everyone else, except maybe those with death eater parents and Harry, had gotten atleast a childhood, Hermione hadnt. That wasnt the only thing the girl had lost though. Ginny was sure Hermione hadnt told her everything but just to start listing things is her youth, innocence, her family and therefore her life in the Muggle-world, parts of her personality, people- loads of people and that spark. The spark that said Hermione Jean Granger, the little ambitious girl who wanted to take over the wizarding world and would do anything to reach her goal.
From Ginny, the war had taken a brother, her innocence, but most importantly it had taken Blaise. Her companion, the guy she went to when she needed someone to talk to, the funny boy who would always make her laugh. In sixth year they had lost that because they couldnt risk doing it since they were on different sides of the war. Blaise was better than her. He was the kind of person who knew when to comfort and when to joke. Blaise was the sun on a cloudy day, the prettiest flower in the bouquet. She hadnt realized she had a crush on him before it was too late and she was together with Harry in the middle of the war. Then she had seen him the day of the battle, it had filled her with relief, he was alive.
After the final battle Ginny had talked with Harry and they had agreed to stay friends instead of continuing dating because neither really had any interest in the other anymore. She had then resumed her friendship with Blaise via owl. They had written over the course of the summer and her friends would look weirdly at her when she burst out laughing over a piece of paper. Not Hermione though and when she had asked Hermione only smiled and told her that it didnt matter who or what did it but she just wanted her to be happy. Laughing had become sparse after the war especially from Hermione. She had been a happy girl who would burst out laughing from the smallest and baddest of jokes but now she didnt laugh at all. It was like she was just a shell of the girl Ginny knew.
She still loved her, of course. But she knew that Hermione wasnt okay and Ginny wasnt the person who could help her, Harry wasnt either and absoulutely not Ronald. Hermione was her sister and Harrys too but the girl needed someone else and that was fine.
Therefore Ginny had been happy to see Hermione being comforted by Draco Malfoy and the other Slytherins. She had sat with them and Luna and Harry for a while before pulling her two friends away so the others could talk without being bothered by them being there.
Now the last days, Hermione had been with her new friends all the time and Ginny was glad. She seemed happy and Merlin knows she deserved to be just that. When the matches had first come in Ginny had been a little sceptic over Hermiones match but now as she saw her friend walking and laughing with him on their way to their next class, she knew they were a good match. Now that she thought about it as she walked through the corridor, they were a pretty perfect match and not just because of their percentage. They were both top students, smart and ambitious, loyal, they would do anything for their family and friends, loved fiercely from what Blaise had told her at least, and probably a lot more things.
She watched her friend grab onto his arm onto his arm to steady herself and how his usually cold face broke into a smile as she laughed. Ginny held her books to herself and couldnt help the grin from spreading across her face. Her friend would be okay, she most certainly was not, but she would be.
When Hermione finally regained her breath they continued walking and Ginny couldn't help but put their height difference on her pro-list for their future relationship. Hermione were probably the shortest or at least one of the shortest girls their age while Draco were definitely the tallest of the guys.
-"Hi, tesoro" she heard from behind her as strong arms wrapped around her middle. She giggled as he placed a kiss to her head. "Hi to you too handsome" Ginny replied softly while turning around in his arms so she faced him. She put her arms around his neck and he placed a quick kiss to her lips.
-"How long are we going to hide our secret affection for each other from the others again?" he asked as he started pressing kisses to her exposed neck. Having to fight hard not to pant from his administration's she answered "Until at least one pair has started dating" He snorted against her neck and lifted his head to look into her eyes with his chocolate brown ones "Well I dont think that will take as long as we believed it would cara mia" As an afterthought he added "Hermione is already an obvious part of our group and she is getting really close to Draco since apparently he is the only one with enough work ethics and takes the most classes."
To that Ginny chuckled. "Well, that is Hermione for you. She won't take anything but the best." Blaise frowned and complained "But me and Theo is right behind him score-vise." She then straight up laughed. "Lets bet on how long it takes them to start dating, 10 galleons" she said.
He nodded thoughtfully and then said "Well I think they will be dating in two weeks, I will get the opinions from the others and share with you." Ginny smiled and said "I think they will be dating in one week and 3 days"
Then they shook hands and shared a kiss before making their way to their respective classes.
After her last class she met Hermione in the common room. "Hello Hermione" she said and sat down next to her on the couch.
The girl smiled at her and answered kindly "Hi, Gin"
They chatted and they talked. About everything over and under the sun. Hermione talked about the Slytherins and how she had missed Ginny and Harry and Ginny talked about the Gryffindors and Luna and how she had missed them too.
After a while her friend had nervously asked "You arent mad that I am friends with them now Gin?" Her head laid on Ginnys shoulder and Ginny answered with as much softness as she could possibly muster "As long as you are happy, Hermione. I dont have anything against them." She chuckled. "Godric, I wouldnt be opposed to becoming friends with them if they are good to you. I am sure Harry feels the same."
It was quiet for a while before Hermione spoke "They are. Good to me I mean." Ginny just nodded because she already knew and she also knew that she would go straight through hell for her only sister, well not biological. Hermione continued "I, I would really like it if you and Harry would hang out with us too. You know, get to know everyone. Well, for you it wouldnt be everyone as you know one of them quite well."
Ginny almost choked on air. They had been discreet. Hadnt they? How would she know?
A smirk spread across Hermiones face and Ginny couldnt help but think it was eerily similar to that of her friends so called "matched".
Stuttering, Ginny tried to form a sentence. "I, I, well, we, eh."
-"How did you know I was dating Blaise?" she blurted out at last. The traitor had the nerve to laugh at her.
In between chuckles she managed to explain "Well Gin, I have known about your friendship with him since fifth year as you were incredibly bad at being discreet with your waves. Also I have seen you correspond with someone over the summer, plus I saw your reaction to the matches. Oh and of course. I saw him absolutely devouring you against the wall the day after that."
Ginny felt her already red face in Weasley fashion become even redder. It should be impossible for a face to get so red but here she was, breaking all records. Not even Ronald would surpass her. Nor would Percy, who despite his cool demeanour actually was quite the hothead. Of course, they got red for a diffferent reason. But that was beside the point!
When Hermione appeared to see her friends reaction she was quick to reassure "Oh Gin, I think it is amazing. You deserve happiness, as does the others. I wont judge but I will say that I really think you two are perfect for each other."
After that they talked a bit more and Ginny promised to hang out with the Slytherins with Hermione and Harry sometime.
Walking to her dorm as she smiled to herself. At least she had her sisters support. So even if most of the Weasleys didnt approve she knew that Hermione as the loyal friend and kind of sister would stand by her and be there for her. Ginny also knew that she would do the same for her friend when the time came. Because she was pretty sure it would and she already knew who.