"So, um, Hermione, I don't know if this is my place to ask," Ginny, who was sitting on the opposite side of me, said cautiously at the dinner table one evening while holding tightly onto her fork and knife as if they would disappear if she didn't have a strong grip.
"But?" I squinted, surprised that she would talk to me when the others are present. We had been on speaking terms, but mostly when her, and my former group wasn't present.
It appeared that I wasn't the only one who seemed surprised. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Ron rose his eyebrow.
"But, well," She swallowed, quickly glanced over her brother and said, "You seem to hang around one of the Greengrass sister a lot recently."
"Yes," I frowned with confusion, "Why?"
"Is that Daphne or Astoria Greengrass?" To my utter amazement, Ron chimed in the conversation. He and I hadn't spoken since the incident after that doomed Quidditch game, and I certainly wasn't expecting him to talk to me again anytime soon after that. Out of all the things on earth he could've break the silence with, he asked about which of the Greengrass sisters I befriended.
This reminded me of how Pansy Parkinson's attempt to talk to me about something.
"Daphne," I said dubiously, and asked again, "Why?"
Ginny's eyes widened and Ron let out a sarcastic sigh.
"Nothing," Ginny dragged the word out, and spoke like she was testing the water, "Though I have to say, it's pretty interesting that you decide to hang out with her. I mean, don't get me wrong, if you want to make friends with Slytherins, that's totally your choice, I'm sure some of them are good."
"Dear Merlin," Ron shook his head and went back to cutting his chicken, "This is painful."
"I'm sorry," I became a bit agitated, "I don't understand what you mean by all that. What's wrong with Daphne Greengrass?"
"So," Ginny leaned forward a little and lowered her voice, "You don't know?"
"Know what?" Instead of speaking quietly like she did, I raised my voice out of frustration, "Is there some kind of gossip going around that I should know but don't? First it was Parkinson who wanted to speak with me about something, and now you are acting all secretive too."
"Really, Parkinson wanted to talk to you?" Ron sneered, then he looked right at me, "Listen, despite all our disputes, I honestly would you rather be friends with Parkinson than Greengrass, and that's for your own sake."
"What the hell is this all about? Is anybody going to explain this insane sentiment to me?" My frustration started turning into anger.
"Go ask Malfoy, he should know," Ron stopped Ginny before she could say anything, "And if he doesn't, then he's an oblivious fool and you should go ask Parkinson."
'An oblivious fool', that phrase certainly rang a bell. And the way how he said it, it certainly reminded me of the first time I heard it. It was the exact same tone.
The sirens went off in my mind. Though as much as I was on the edge of jumping into conclusions, I didn't. Surely, if Ron was in the mix, I might lean toward the thought that Ginny knew something I didn't. Fairly speaking, Ginny did have her ears all around and it would be no shocker if she knew some gossip no one else knew. But Ron, who hadn't spoken to me for the longest time, decided to involve himself in such a seemingly insignificant conversation, just somehow made it all looked way too suspicious.
Did I wonder if Ron and Parkinson were up to something together? More or less. Did I think Ginny was in it too? Not necessarily. Despite Ginny chose to take her brother's side, from the reaction that day on the Quidditch field, I didn't think she would go an extra mile to attempt something in hope to sabotage my relationship with Malfoy.
I told myself the first step to solve this puzzle was to talk about it with Malfoy, whom I chose to trust and love with a good faith.
The weather had become better as the season changed and the air was filled with a fresh spring scent. Malfoy and I went back to our routine escape from the chaos and others by going up to the observatory.
"Frankly, I have to admit I'm slightly glad you befriended Greengrass," Malfoy said while we were sitting against the brick wall, the gentle breeze messed his light blonde hair up a little, but he didn't do anything to fix it, "Stay away from the whole Gryffindor insanity for a while may be good for you."
"I guess," I said half-heartedly as my mind was occupied with something else. Even though my heart was racing, I cleared my throat and said, "Speaking about that, I recently heard some rumors about Daphne Greengrass."
"What kind of rumors?" He frowned.
"It's not really rumors," I shrugged and played it down, "Remember the day Parkinson said she wanted to tell me something about Greengrass? I never ended having time to talk to her. And today at dinner, out of nowhere Ginny and Ron brought it up. Can you believe it?"
"That sounds rather suspicious," He squinted, "Weasley would not take part in a conversation with such nature unless he's planning some absurdity."
"I thought so too," I crossed my arms, "But I do have to ask you, do you know anything that may lead them to say all that?"
"No, but I can guess what they are planning to tell you," Malfoy sneered, "I would assume it's either there's something between Greengrass and I, or Greengrass secretly resents you and want to bring you down by pretending to be your friend."
I sighed.
"Listen," Malfoy turned to face me and said with sincerity in his grey eyes, "You need to trust me."
"I do," I said firmly with a smile, "You know what? There must be something going on to align Parkinson and Ron together. And I'm interested in finding out what that is."
Malfoy laughed before kissing me on the cheek.