A/N: I don't own the Harry Potter universe or anything in it. I just like making the puppets dance.

Regret - a negative conscious and emotional reaction to personal past acts and behaviors; what would have been obtained if a different course of action had been chosen.

Neither Freer

Prologue

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Dearest,

I'm going crazy without you. These nights just aren't the same with your warmth so far from my body. Sometimes I wake up drenched in sweat because I swear that I can still hear you calling my name. I know I still say yours out loud when I'm alone. Your name is all I have left.

But I did this to myself, didn't I? I did this to us. And I think you knew I was going to…

I think at the time you knew that my heart would break you, but you had so much love for me in yours that you took the risk to have faith in me anyways. In your infinite wisdom of my person, you knew that I'd possibly turn on a dime. I was young and stupid and cold and callused. Everything had to be rational with me. There was no room for emotions spiraling out of control.

But you tried anyways. You tried so damned hard. You tried to surprise me, woo my heart and convince my mind with the unbearably beautiful words that poured from your swollen lips… but I, in all of my insecurities, had made up my mind.

You knew the whole time that I wanted you beside me, but I never had the bravery—no, I never had the common courtesy to tell you that I loved you back. I watched your heart blow open and stars pour from your chest…and I said nothing.

Your love was undeserved.

It's been six years since then and I wish you could see how I've changed and grown into the woman you always knew I could be; how I would never allow something so fruitless as insecurity to drown us, to drag us down and tangle us in fear.

But I don't think I'll ever get the chance to show you, will I?

I know when I sign this letter with the pathetic excuse that is my name that it'll go into my desk drawer right alongside the others because…

We lost what we found.

And neither of us is freer for it.

~Hermione

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A/N: More to come soon, and don't worry...my chapters are usually quite lengthy. Reviews, first-impressions, and concrit are all loved and welcomed. =)