DISCLAIMER: The author does not own any recognizable characters, features, or anything regarding the Harry Potter series.
Chapter 1
Hermione shivered as she hustled down the muggle streets of London, wrapping her coat around her. The wind blew her bushy hair over her face, and she brushed it away without thinking as she hurried to reach her destination. The roads were deserted, and the lamps lit as it was midnight, September 19. Of course no one would know that is was her birthday; she was of no importance to the Wizarding World now that the threat of Voldemort was gone. And even then Harry and Ron got all of the credit, which wasn't necessarily why she was so sorrowful. It just would have been nice if even they could have stopped by to say "Happy Birthday," like they did in their Hogwarts years.
She slowed down her pace as she stopped outside of the apartment, and fished out her key. Fumbling with it, she opened the door to her home and stepped inside, turning on the light. Throwing her keys onto the counter, she shrugged her boots off and collapsed on the couch, tears free-falling from her eyes, her lashes wet with the salty water. She never imagined that on her birthday she would feel so lonely. So, to celebrate her pitiful birthday, she had travelled to the place where she knew she could find the most comfort: the library.
Even when she was little, Hermione loved to bury herself in the world of books, where the nerdy and uncool girls got the guys, and in the end had a happily-ever after. Or the books where she could lose herself in the fascinating world of facts, where she didn't have to try and prove that she was the smartest one. And Hermione never tried to. It just came naturally to her. People might have complained that she spent too long writing her essays, or that she had to raise her hand for every single question in the class, but she always had a passion for learning, and she wasn't going to let anyone take that away from her. She had already let them take everything else.
At eight in the morning, Hermione had gone to the library, and had immediately pulled out one of her favourite classic novels of all time, Of Mice And Men. She thought the storyline was fitting for such a gloomy day as this one. It was kind of disgraceful that she had to spend her birthday there, but she had learned to accept it a long time ago, and she tried to make the best of it. She chose a beanbag and snuggled up close to it, smelling the scent of the parchment, her eyes greedily absorbing all the information the book had to offer. She hadn't realized the whole day had passed when she finally finished the book, and, weary after her long read, trudged down the streets and finally reached her apartment. Now that she had no distractions, Hermione felt miserable that the best way to spend her birthday was the same way she did everything else: read. Her eyes starting to droop, she slumped into the couch cushions, and soon fell asleep weeping. Her first cry as a 25 year old, but definitely not the last.
Hermione woke up to the chirping of the birds, as she groggily sat up and rubbed her eyes. She had fallen asleep on the couch, and the memories of her birthday came flooding back to her. She wasn't sure how she had went from beloved war heroine to a stranger who couldn't afford any company on her birthday in just 3 years. But, she did know. And it pained her every time she thought about it. . .
FLASHBACK
Hermione Granger was probably the most happiest person alive. And why wouldn't she be? She had everything: fame, money, friends, and a loving fiancé. In fact, she was just on her way to her and Ron's apartment on Christmas Eve; it was almost midnight. She wasn't supposed to be here, but she booked her flight back to London a day early to give Ron something special. It was the holidays after all. Hermione wanted to surprise her soon to be her husband so she silently unlocked the door and kept the lights off. Their wedding was on New Years, and she was going to give him something he had been wanting for a long time, herself. She finally found she could trust him, and wanted to give him the most magnificent Christmas present ever-they would make love at midnight, and 6 days later, become married.
As she reached their bedroom, she slowly opened the door and froze at what she saw. Her jaw was wide with shock, and she felt her eyes starting to water. There was her fiancé, naked in bed with Lavender Brown, kissing her and groaning so loud, Hermione didn't know why she couldn't hear it from outside the apartment. And as she stood there, Ron finally opened his eyes and stared right back at Hermione, gaping at her presence. Stuttering he spoke, "H-Hermione? W-What are y-you doing h-here? You're not supposed to be back until tomorrow!" Lavender was smirking at the dumbfounded Hermione, and continued teasing Ron. Hermione didn't say anything, just stood there as her tears began to fall, and she shut the door. Without saying anything else, she packed her belongings and apparated to muggle London, crying silently on the streets for the entire night.
The wedding still took place, only instead of Ron marrying Hermione, he was marrying Lavender. Of course Harry and the Weasleys all sided with Ron, but what pained Hermione the most was that Ron didn't even apologize, and dared to send an invitation to the wedding. She didn't go; she couldn't see her first love marry another who was only in it for the sex. After that, Hermione became an outsider to the Wizarding World. The Daily Prophet ridiculed her in front of everyone, until she just snapped. She quit her job, and moved to a remote apartment in muggle London, where she worked as a muggle doctor. And she was in the exact same place as she was then at 25 years old.
END FLASHBACK
I will try to update as often as possible, but tell me how you like it! Should I continue? I'll try to get the next chapter up by next week.
