There's Only One for Me…Possibly Two

A/N: This is AU. Cheers!

So this is it. I, Hermione Granger, have finally graduated from Hogwarts, my home away from home for seven years. Many amazing things have happened during my stay, Tri-wizard tournaments, quidditch cups, even a murder. But, sad to say, nothing stands out more in my mind than the events that occured in my seventh year. Here is my story...

Chapter 1

"Hermione! OI! HERMIONE!" I whipped my head in the direction of the voice, and saw my friend Emily Jones hanging out of a window, aboard the Hogwarts Express.

"Gods, Emily, be careful!" I said, rushing in. I found my way to the compartment that I had seen her hanging from and entered it. Inside were two of my best friends. I had met them at varous times in my life, but they were both very near and dear to me.

"Hey Mione." Bianca Marinas said, helping me pull my trunk in behind me. Maria closed the compartment door and took Crookshank's carrying case from my hand.

"Hey, you great furball. And hello to you too, Crookshanks." she cooed, looking at me pointedly, opening the case. Crookshanks leapt out gracefully, and settled, purring, into her lap when she had sat down again.

"Oh, thanks." I said, rolling my eyes. I sat down across from her and Bianca. "My hair doesn't merit that name anymore anyways." I said.

"Oh! Hermione! She's teasing!" Bianca said.

"It looks lovely." Emily said soothingly. I smiled.

"Thanks." I said. My hair had finally lost it's bushy quality over the years. Now all that was left was a mess of curls.

"Harry Potter won't be able to take his eyes off you." Emily said slyly. I glared at her.

"Shut up." I said, hiding my face behind a muggle novel, "Gossip Girl: I Like it Like That.". It was a very weird story, full of swearing, hot, blond guys, hot blonde girls, and other such things. Those American kids... but I was a bit pre-occupied with other thoughts. Thoughts concerning a certain, messy-haired wizard.

It was true. I had been falling for Harry ever since fifth year. Yes, I know, most girls had been infatuated with him since second, but I'm a late bloomer. Now, though I'd never admit it, I'm just as boy crazy as all the other girls at Hogwarts.

I was knocked out of my reverie by a little giggle.

"Her eyes aren't even moving!"

"She hasn't flipped a page for at least ten minutes."

I looked up from my book, and Emily and Bianca were smirking.

"Who are you thinking about, Mione?" they said in unison. They promptly started laughing, and I rolled my eyes again.

"Shut up you two. Where are Ginny and the guys?" I asked, changing the subject. Bianca got a hold of herself first.

"Oh, she said she had to go talk to Seamus." she said, winking. I smiled. At that moment, Ginny walked in, followed by Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter.

"Well, all we did was talk." she said, glaring at Ron over her shoulder. He grinned back

at her.

"Well, what kind of big brother would I be if I didn't threaten to hex you when you two tried to," he shuddered, "suck each other's faces off." Ginny stuck her tongue out at him and sat down beside me, on the left side.

"Now, now Ginny. That tongue could be put to much better uses." Emily said calmly.

"Aw, now Jones, don't make me hex you." Ron said. Harry's head snapped towards him suddenly, then he looked down, lost in thought. (A/N: Can you guess why?)

"Oh Ronald, I meant for ice-cream... and... lollipops." she said, winking impishly. I smiled at the good feelings in the compartment, and Bianca giggled, but Ginny just turned red, and turned her focus to me.

"Oh Hermione! I love your hair! It's properly curly. Mine is just boring old waves." she pouted, picking up a lock.

"Thanks." I said quietly. She smiled and leant into Seamus, who wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I love your hair." he said, kissing the top of her head. Feeling a little depressed, I looked away, and found a pair of green eyes looking into my own. I looked away, but I could feel the blush creeping up my cheeks, and his eyes still focused on me in amusement. He had taken to doing that, just to make me uncomfortable, or a bit pissed off, depending on my mood.

"Hey Hermione." Harry said. I looked back at him and replied in what I had hoped was a normal tone.

"Hi Harry. How was your summer." He blinked.

"Well, it was great, if you like doing maual labor and being treated like shit." he said bitterly. I winced. Stupid me, mentioning the fact that he lived with muggles of the worst sort.

"Right. Sorry." I mumbled, and stood up.

"I'm going to go change into my uniform." I said. Emily grinned at me.

"Here." she said, handing me a bundle. I thanked her, wondering why she had my stuff in the first place. I looked at Bianca, but she just shrugged.

Once in the washroom, I sat on the clean white floor, shaking my head.

"Why am I so stupid!" I asked myself aloud. Sure, I was technically the brightest witch of our age, but when it came to a Harry and me, I was as intelligent as Neville. When I get my defenses up I'm fine, but he bloody snuck up on me!

Usually I was tactful enough not to mention Harry's home situation. Come to think of it, I was basically the smart one, knowing all about feelings without actually showing them myself. After a few minutes of mild self-loathing, I got up and looked in the large, well lit mirror, critiquing my appearance.

I'm short, only 5' 2", but not the cute kind of short like Bianca. I have brown eyes and below-shoulder length, brown hair. As already mentioned, I'm practically flat chested, just a tad below a B, but I have a large bum that doesn't balance out. I also am not blessed with a cute little nose like my pretty friends. I have a bump on the bridge. Besides that, I suppose I could be alright. At times, when I'm alone, I actually feel pretty. But when I'm around other girls...

I pulled on my white, button down shirt. I had finally found one that hugged me just righ, but I still cursed genetics for giving me the chest from my dad's side of the family, who were all B cups at the most, and wondering why Emily was so damn lucky to get a 36-C. She's lucky all the way around actually.

Emily could honestly be a model. She's perfect on a physical level. She has thick , luxurious brown hair, and spring green eyes, framed by long, curled eyelashes. She has the traditional hourglass figure, tiny waist, long legs, and big boobs, and she's like, 5'7". I hate myself for being envious, and I hate myself for caring about looks. I didn't use to. I hate society.

I buttoned up my shirt, did up my tie, and pulled on my navy blue skirt, navy blue blazer, and white, knee-high socks, before realizing that something wasn't right.

Usually, my skirt went to just above my knees. Very conservative-like. But now... did Mom shrink it in the wash? It was just below mid-thigh... no, couldn't have shrunk. It was fine when I packed it yesterday... EMILY! The witch, that's why she had my uniform! I took out my wand and attempted to lengthen the hem, but Maria had done her work well, perfroming the charm that disallowed future alterations.

"Curse witching clothes designers for creating that damn spell!" I huffed, trying again, but knowing that it was no use.

"Crazy bitch! What ever possesed her to do such a thing?" I muttered, and stormed out of the washroom.

"Ooh, looking good!" the traitor said, grining cheekily. I looked straight at her, my eyes narrowed. She looked back at me without a trace of shame.

"Whatsamatter?" she asked.

"What did you do to my skirt?" I said quietly, trying to keep my voice calm.

"What? Nothing. It's always been like that." she said smugly. I took out my wand.

"Emily, fix it. I swear..."

"No can do babe. The charm is irreversable. You know that. Besides, it looks hot." she said, signifying that that was that.

"It really does." Dean said. I turned to look at him in exasperation.

"Stop taking her side!"

"He's not. You look good." Harry said, grinning.

Damn boy. Why is he so oblivious? His innocence is so becoming, girls swarm all over him... does he know what he's doing to me? Probably not. Just comes naturally to him..." thoughts kept swirling through my head.

"Geez Mione, you're blushing!" Ginny said. Bianca giggled, and I looked at them witheringly, shaking my head.

"No. It's just really hot in here." I said, opening a window. Lucky for me, it actually was hot.

"In more ways than one, possibly?" Bianca asked innocently from her seat, where she was sitting cross legged. In a skirt. Dean was almost salivating.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help thinking, yeah, she really summed it up.

A/N: So how was that? I need reviews, constructive critisism only, no flames. My poor heart couldn't take it! lol