𝑀𝒶 𝒷𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑒

𝒯𝓌𝑜

Hermione panted as she put her hands on her knees and dropped her head to her chest, the ring that the mysterious boy gave her all those years dangled on a small chain wrapped around her neck

She slowly stood up and took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders

It's been almost six months since the war, her letter from Hogwarts laid abandoned on the floor of her home studio, after reading the words of acceptance, instead of feeling joy with the fact that she was going to be able to finish her school life all she felt was panic about the fact that she was going back to Hogwarts

She played with the ring, she never let it go after meeting the mysterious boy, he was after all her friend, even though she never knew his name

The door opened and a sleepy Ginny walked in

"It's two in the morning" she grumbled "why are you still up?"

"I couldn't sleep...did I wake you?" Hermione asked her

Ginny shook her head, she sat on the floor by the wall

"I woke up—what are you wearing?" Ginny asked

Hermione looked down, she was wearing a black long sleeve leotard and her pointe shoes

"Clothes" Hermione stated

Ginny chuckled and shook her head

"I've never seen you wear something like that"

"Well I don't wear this when I go grocery shopping, I'm not mad" Hermione answered, she put on a pair of sweatpants and sat across from Ginny

"Are you scared?...of going back?" Ginny whispered

"Terrified..."

The two girls stayed silent, each lost in their own minds

"Show me...how you dance"

"Gin..."

"Come on, don't be like that" Ginny whined

Hermione rolled her eyes, she sighed and stood up again, removing her pants she waved her hand and the music started playing

She began dancing to the slow tempo music, closing her eyes she got lost to the song

Ginny watched her as she spun on her feet, she still didn't know how that didn't hurt Hermione, Ginny watched as the music began to pick up its pace so did Hermione

If Ginny was being completely honest, in that moment Hermione looked like a rich pureblood, it was common knowledge in the Wizarding world for purebloods to know ballet, doesn't matter if your a boy or girl, if you have money, you must know how to dance ballet, but Ginny never told Hermione, she didn't want to discourage her best friend

The song slowly came to an end, Hermione bowed towards Ginny who was clapping, Hermione smiled and sat down across from her once again

"How do your feet not hurt? Stop denying that you don't put a cushioning spell in those dreadful shoes" Ginny said

Hermione chuckled but shook her head

"I've been doing ballet since I was young...habit I guess" she shrugged

"I would not be able to handle a day in those"

"I don't wear them in my everyday life, I just wear them when I'm dancing"

She slowly removed her shoes and wiggled her cramped toes

"And your hair! How do you put it into that tiny bun?"

Hermione laughed, she brought a hand up and put it on her hair

"Practice and a lot of hair gel" she answered truthfully

"Who gave you that necklace?"

That's when Hermione froze, none of her friends had ever seen the ring, she had kept it hidden in her robes and her shirts her whole life, it was her secret and hers alone

"An old friend" she whispered

Before Ginny could ask who it was, Hermione stood up and walked to her water bottle

"Ah...an old friend" Ginny smirked

Hermione choked on her water, she coughed violently while Ginny laughed

"N-No! Ginny! He was just a friend!"

That was probably the wrong think to say by the look that Ginny gave her, Ginny sat straight up and looked like a lioness ready to pounce

"So it was a he...what's his name?"

"Ginny!"

"Come on 'Mione, tell me this young lovers name"

"Your off in your head" Hermione muttered, Ginny stood up and walked up to her

"Come on Hermione...spill the secrets"

"There was nothing between us, we were six, we still thought that the opposite gender gave us a disease, besides I only saw him once"

"Once it's all it takes to fall in love"

"You're twisted Ginevra Weasley"

Ginny laughed

"Do you think that he goes to Hogwarts? Can you imagine if he does, it's like a fairy tale, after years apart you f—"

Hermione cast a silencing spell on Ginny, the red hair witch was glaring at Hermione while still talking with no sound, the brunette witch knew that Ginny was calling her some not so nice names

"If you let the topic go, I'll let you talk again"

Ginny silently huffed and nodded, Hermione removed the spell

"I hate you"

"You love me, don't lie Ginny, don't you remember? 'You mustn't tell lies' don't break the rules"

Ginny visibly shivered, the sound of the awful witch the momentarily ruled the school still rang in her brain

Hermione removed the bun and groaned with relief as her scalp wasn't being pulled back anymore

"That's much better" she whispered softly

"I'm going to try to get some sleep, goodnight Hermione...dream of your young lover"

Ginny bolted out the door before Hermione could hex her, Hermione groaned in annoyance but a small smile fought its way to her lips, little did Ginny know that Hermione had tried to imagine how he would look now that he was older, unfortunately none of her images felt quite right, but it didn't stop her

"I always do"