AN: All characters will be returned when I've finished playing with them.
Hermione cheered and threw confetti along with everyone else, but in her heart she didn't really feel like celebrating. She was the only member of the Golden Trio still unmarried – hell, she didn't even have a boyfriend at the moment. Then again, after her last, disastrous, relationship, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. She still had Crookshanks, after all, even if Ginny and the boys did think it pathetic for a 24-year-old to have just a cat as a companion.
Later that night, at the wedding reception, Hermione swiped a bottle of champagne and wandered outside. It was just typical of Harry and Luna to get married at Hogwarts – after all, it was Harry's first real home. No-one noticed her slip away; they were too busy celebrating the wedding of "The Boy Who Lived".
She made her way to the Whomping Willow, prodded the knot at the base, and sat down under the tree, where she proceeded to drain the bottle of champagne. It wasn't that she didn't approve of Harry and Luna; she did. But there was nothing like someone else's wedding to make you feel lonely.
Peering through the mist that always seemed to fill the Hogwarts grounds, she spotted someone walking towards her. Standing up, she headed out to meet them. Perhaps they, too, had celebrated enough tonight.
Charlie Weasley watched as Hermione Granger made her way unsteadily towards him. She'd obviously had far too much to drink, but who could blame her? He'd definitely had more than he should have done.
Charlie sat down, facing the lake, and gestured for Hermione to sit next to him.
"You fed up of all the happy couples too?" he asked.
"Definitely. Seems like I'm the only one left now."
She leaned her head against his shoulder, and began to cry softly.
"Hey, Hermione. Don't cry."
"C… can't help it… feel so alone."
"You're not alone, Mione. I'm here."
Hermione looked up at him, eyes bleary from the tears.
"You're here now, but what about after the party?"
"If you want me to stay, Mione, all you have to do is tell me."
He pulled her into a hug, and she clung to him. She didn't know (or at least, he didn't think she did) exactly what his feelings were for the bushy-haired ex-Gryffindor. She hadn't noticed that he'd slowly fallen in love with her.
Perhaps now, he'd have a chance to show Hermione Granger how he felt, and maybe, just maybe, she'd feel the same way.
AN: What do you think?