Ginny listened to Hermione talk with a very open mouth. Hermione thought this was really rather rude of her. After all, she had heard that Hermione had-er-kissed Draco Malfoy in the library before; it wasn't as if this was news.
"He broke up with you?" Ginny asked, seeming a little too excited for Hermione's taste. She stiffened and nodded curtly.
"Don't worry," Ginny said at once, noticing this. "He was bound to, after you telling him about Lavender. I would have done the exact same thing. Plus, he was always a big git. Haven't you noticed yet? There are plenty of others out there."
Ginny eyed Harry, who was sitting a few feet away and laughing about something with Ron and Neville Longbottom.
"Besides," Ginny added as Hermione looked skeptical, as she turned hastily away from Harry in fear that he might notice her staring, "I've had break-ups too, remember? Michael Corner-he was always a stupid idiot, I can't believe I've only just realized that- and Dean Thomas. I can help you through it." Ginny drew herself up importantly.
"I don't know," Hermione said, shrugging. "Maybe he is a git. But he seemed...I don't know...."
"It could be for his family," Ginny said reasonably. "He's a pure-blood, you know. And you're, well, you're a Mudblood, according to him."
Hermione seriously doubted this. He had invited her over for Christmas, hadn't he? Or had that been to endanger her or somewhat? Even if she had accepted, he would get in trouble for bringing a Mudblood into the old family Malfoy Manor.
"Lavender won't be happy," Hermione said after a very long and uncomfortable pause.
"She won't," agreed Ginny, much too cheerfully, staring at Harry again.
"You could ask him out, you know," Hermione said, relieved to have finally found an excuse to end this conversation.
For the rest of the breakfast, Hermione and Ginny were much more relaxed, joking about Ginny and laughing at each other, though both were still very relieved when the first bell chimed.