avisoppugno (avisoppugno) wrote,
@ 2010-03-15 18:40:00

the platform
The platform looked completely different. Granted, she hadn't been there since her sixth year, but it still felt both awkwardly familiar and strange. She noticed first years with their parents nervously observing the steam engine; old friends embracing one another. That made her gut twist and with a deep breath, Hermione pulled her Australian-sun tanned shoulders back and straightened up. A few months wasn't too long. Not as though she'd been gone for years. Even if it had felt like it.

She could have looked for that jet black hair, which would probably be accompanied by pointing and staring from those around it, but instead she scanned the crowed for a tall head of red. Hermione wanted to find that more than anything. Hermione was wearing an uncharacteristic sun dress and cardigan that she kept smoothing down as she looked for the familiar hair, both worried about how she looked and to keep her hands dry.

Where were they? Had they decided not to come back for another year? She should have written first and told them she'd meet them at the platform. Hermione bit her lip and kept looking around, trying to find one of the three people she'd missed the most.

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gingersnap
2010-03-15 05:08 pm UTC (link)

Ginny had to try hard not to let Hermione's smile cause one of her own. Although happy to see her best friend after months of being apart, Ginny wasn't ready to warm up to her so easily.

"Family's over there somewhere," she said nodding her head to the right. "Can't blame me for thinking you wouldn't go back. We haven't heard from you since..." Ginny trailed off, not wanting to bring up the memories of the war and deaths.

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	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 05:12 pm UTC (link)
	"Erm." Hermione had even practiced on the plane how she would apologize and explain, but now that she was face to face with Ginny, she forgot the script she planned. "Right. Sorry about that." Hermione shifted nervously and avoided Ginny's gaze. "I was busy. There's lots to do down in Australia." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gingersnap
2010-03-15 05:19 pm UTC (link)

Ginny stared at Hermione for a minute, there had to be more to it than just 'lots to do.' When Ginny opened her mouth to speak it took all she had in her not to shout at Hermione. "Right, you seem awfully torn up about it," she sarcastically. "I'm sure you had loads to do. Maybe just as much as we did. You know with trying to put all our lives back together after the war." While she wasn't particularly in the mood to discuss the war, Ginny wanted to remind Hermione what they had all been through the last year.

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	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 05:24 pm UTC (link)
	Hermione crossed her arms, feeling defensive. "We all put our lives back together differently," Hermione said with forced calmness. "I needed space, and there isn't anything wrong with that." Which was exactly what she told herself every time she felt guilty while she snorkled or suntanned or sat through intermissions at the Opera House. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gingersnap 2010-03-15 05:26 pm UTC (link)
	"No, you're right. There is nothing wrong with that," she said agreeing with her and remembering that she had told Harry something very similar. "But there is something wrong with not writing once just to tell your friends that you're okay." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 05:31 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm sorry," Hermione said again. "But I was wrapped up with finding my parents at first, and then they wanted to show me around Australia, and then I found a job and made friends and whenever I thought that I should write, I thought maybe you were all too busy to reply." She pushed some hair off her shoulder. "Or too mad." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gingersnap 2010-03-15 05:34 pm UTC (link)
	Ginny couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealously when Hermione mentioned making new friends. "We could have never been too busy or mad," she said shaking her head. "We just needed to know if you were alive, Hermione!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 05:35 pm UTC (link)
	That was an argument Hermione hadn't considered, and she looked at Ginny with a furrowed brow. "Alive? Why wouldn't I have been alive?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gingersnap
2010-03-15 05:39 pm UTC (link)

Ginny gaped at her and couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Just because Voldemort is gone, Hermione, doesn't mean that everyone is safe," she said rather loudly and causing some heads to turn. She glared at the people still staring before looking at Hermione and speaking more softly, "He still has followers out there and we had no way of knowing if you were safe in Austrailia. For all we know one of them could have followed you there."

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	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 05:44 pm UTC (link)
	She gave Ginny a look of skepticism. "I was travelling under a fake name, I took a Muggle plane...Ginny, it was hardly a dangerous journey." She tightened her crossed arms and looked past Ginny towards a few familiar faces, although their names escaped her. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gingersnap
2010-03-15 05:49 pm UTC (link)

Ginny scoffed and shook her head. "You can up with all the excuses you want but there isn't a reason why you couldn't have at least told us you were safe," she said. "You have no idea what it's been like since you left. Ron and Harry have been worried sick about you, Mum and Dad would listen to every bit of news hoping it wouldn't be about anything in Austrailia, and I," Ginny paused wondering if she wanted to continue. "I just needed a friend here."

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	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 05:50 pm UTC (link)
	That pause sent a wave of guilt over Hermione, and she reached out to touch Ginny's shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "I didn't--I miss you like mad. I really did." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gingersnap 2010-03-15 05:54 pm UTC (link)
	"I missed you too," she finally admitted, but Ginny still wasn't ready to completely put her guard down. "You might have a splendid time in Australia but it wasn't sunshine and daisies for us here." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

avisoppugno
2010-03-15 06:04 pm UTC (link)

"It wasn't for me, either!" Hermione exclaimed. Though she'd certainly had fun and enjoyed the opportunity to relax, she didn't want Ginny thinking that she hadn't had a difficult time. "It took weeks to stop letting all of it consume me. That's why I got the job and stayed down there. I needed to stay busy, stay distracted. I spent the whole plane ride crying on my way, and most days when I got there."

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gingersnap
2010-03-15 06:19 pm UTC (link)

Deep down Ginny knew that this probably was the best way for Hermione to heal and she might have even accepted it a little bit. But being as stubborn as she is, she wasn't ready to just admit that. "I'm glad you were able to distract yourself so well," she said. "I just wish you would have wrote to us. I know Harry and Ron would have appreciated even just one letter."

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	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	"Okay!" Hermione had enough. She'd wanted to catch up and have fun with her friends, not get yelled at. "I know, all right? And I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ignore any of you or hurt your feelings, but there's nothing I can do about it now, so can we please get onto the train and get some sweets?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gingersnap 2010-03-15 07:12 pm UTC (link)
	Ginny was caught off guard by Hermione's tone but she made sure not to show that. "Look, I understand why you had to stay in Australia. Okay? I get it," she said finally admitting it. "But I don't know what your expectations are now that you're back, a lot of things have changed. And you think I'm being harsh? The other two might be harder on you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 08:18 pm UTC (link)
	Hermione lowered her eyes, mad that she'd allowed herself to snap at Ginny. "I expect it from Ron, even Harry, but I was hoping you'd be a little more forgiving." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gingersnap 2010-03-15 08:45 pm UTC (link)
	Ginny sighed and finally softened her tone. "I am forgiving, Hermione. It's just not instant and so simple," she said. "A lot has happened while you've been gone. It's going to take time to adjust to everything and all." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	avisoppugno 2010-03-15 08:46 pm UTC (link)
	Frowning, Hermione asked, "Well? What happened?" (Reply to this)(Parent)

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