The Surviving Love Chronicles: Life or something like it

Chapter One: Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid

By: Jazmaniandevil

Disclaimer:

This is not mine. All characters except for a few belong to J K Rowling. No infringement on the copyright is intended. This all belongs to J K Rowling.

Hermione sighed as she flipped over another page of her book and tried to ignore the sounds coming from Harry's room down the hall. Hermione sighed yet again and wondered how things had changed over the last few years. It had been 7 years since the trio had graduated from Hogwarts and since then Harry and Hermione had moved in together. Their relationship hadn't changed; it was still platonic and neither of them had considered a romantic relationship but they were best friends so flatting together had seemed the logical thing. Since the final battle, the trio had skyrocketed to fame. Part of it was that they had destroyed Voldemort once and for all but they also were already rather famous. Both Harry and Ron were quidditch sensations and Hermione a researcher for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Ron and Luna had since married but sadly, Hermione had yet to find that special someone. It appeared that Harry hadn't found his special someone either. He spent most of his time with a different girl each night. It seemed that he was not interested in a long-term relationship. Hermione however wanted that very thing, someone to love. Well actually, she had found that; she was in love, but not with someone who was in love with her too. Harry was hardly in love with her as she was with him. He probably loved her but not in the romantic way that she loved him. That is the way it always had been and he would never think of her as more than a friend. She glanced at her clock and saw that it was already 11:00pm. Hermione then rolled over in bed placing her book on her bedside table and fell asleep.

The next morning, a Saturday, dawned brightly and Hermione headed down to the bathroom. As she walked past Harry's room, she heard giggling. Thinking that Harry was watching some show on the TV, she decided to join him. The sight that greeted her was not one she had prepared for. It was clear that Harry hadn't spent the night alone. This wasn't really something new for Hermione, but she hadn't walked in on anything before so it was a bit of a shock. Mumbling a hurried apology, Hermione rushed out of the room abandoning all plans of using the bathroom. Hermione hurried down the stairs and sat at the breakfast bar. Picking up the Daily Prophet Hermione saw a familiar sight. Harry was standing with a pretty girl (obviously the one who had stayed the night) inside a nightclub. The headline read:

The Boy who Lived parties through the night with new love Angelica Milloy

Harry could hardly stay out of the public eye. He always seemed to make the front cover and didn't seem to care. It now seemed that he liked all the attention that he got from the press. He had changed, but it wasn't for the better. Hermione knew that Harry didn't really care about much anymore, he wasn't the same Harry, the Harry she had once known. He was a shadow of Harry, a changed person. On that fatal day when he destroyed Voldemort, part of Harry died. It was like he didn't care anymore, like he was just living for the sake of it. He wasn't as open with Hermione as he had been. They couldn't sit and talk like they used to, they didn't have much in common now. He was almost sullen and moody towards her. Harry liked being popular, his morals had changed, he just wasn't the Harry Hermione had once known.

Hermione walked over to the pantry and grabbing a bowl, she tipped some cereal into it, then poured some milk into it. Settling herself at the breakfast bar, Hermione flicked through the Daily Prophet and found her article about using magic underage. She read through it and when she had finished both the article and her cereal, went back up to her bedroom and changed. Since it was a Saturday, Hermione, Ginny and Luna always had a girls' day. Mostly they went shopping ad sat and talked for hours. Hermione decided to apparate out quickly so she wouldn't have to come face to face with Harry and Angelica. Taking her purse, Hermione apparated straight for Malfoy Manor, the home of Draco and Ginny Malfoy.

When Hermione entered the house, she saw Ginny sitting on the settee reading her magazine Charmed.

"Hi Ginny."

"Hermione! What are you doing here so early?"

"Please don't ask. Let's just say it involved me walking in on Harry with another girl in a less than compromising situation."

"Oh."

"Yes. So I had to get out of the house just in case they came downstairs. I didn't know where else to go. I'm sorry if I caused any problems."

"None at all. What with Draco gone on his Auror trip I've been rather lonely."

"When is he coming back?"

"In two weeks. I've been missing him so much."

"I'm sure you have Gin. So tell me what's the plan for today?"

"Well I thought we'd go shopping in Diagon Alley, stop by at the Burrow to see Mum and have tea, then head to Hogsmeade for just a bit more shopping, and then come back here for a chat."

"Sounds good to me."

"Luna should be here any minute. So how are things with you and Josh?"

"We broke up."

"What? I thought he was really into you."

"He is. I broke it off."

"You? But Hermione you said he was very nice, and charming, and fun, and smart."

"Well he is. I'm just not interested."

"It's Harry isn't it?"

"Excuse me? What do you mean?"

"You're still stuck on him aren't you?"

"Harry and I are just best friends."

"Exactly, you're best friends but you wish that you were more than best friends.'"

"That's not true. Where did you get that from Gin?"

"Hermione I know you. Even if you won't admit it, I do know the truth."

"Fine! What you said is true! Happy?"

"Very."

"What? You're happy that I'm suffering here, because the man I love just considers me as a friend."

"Wait up. Man that you love?"

"Uh oh, I actually said that didn't I?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Great! Just great! Now you know my biggest secret."

"Calm down Hermione, I'm not going to tell anyone. I'm going to help you."

"Help me?"

"Yes. Make Harry want you."

"Like that'll ever happen."

"Hermione I may not be smart like you, but my magazine is more popular than Charmed and all I write about is make-up, clothes and looking pretty. Oh yeah, I also happen to own a fashion boutique and a hair salon. I know what I'm doing."

"So what exactly are you going to do with me?"

"I'm going to give you a makeover."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Yes. And Luna's going to help me."

"What am I going to do?" Luna asked as she walked into the room.

"Help me give Hermione a makeover so she can make Harry see her as more than a friend and then get him to fall in love with her all because Hermione secretly loves him."

"Ginny you said you weren't going to tell anyone!"

"We can trust Luna."

"I know but still."

"Hermione loves Harry ohhh!"

"You can't tell anyone that Luna."

"Like I would Hermione, I'm your best friend."

"I know, I know. I just worried that it's going to leak and Harry will know the truth."

"Won't happen Hermione, trust us."

"I don't know why I let you two do these things to me. Oh well, if you say it's going to help..."

"It will, trust us Hermione."

Almost six hours later, Hermione with straight chestnut brown streaked with blonde hair, and countless bags of clothes from designers she had never heard of, stood outside the Burrow ready to face the Weasleys for tea. The past few hours had been quite entertaining and Hermione finally understood the meaning of 'shop till you drop'. Hermione's bank account had suffered too. It wasn't that Hermione wasn't very well off, but when one does buy a whole new wardrobe it does take effect on one's bank account. In fact Hermione was pretty sure that she had dipped into her saving's money.

Ginny and Luna had first taken Hermione to have her hair done. After that, they had begun the marathon shopping. To Hermione it seemed that she paid a ridiculous sum of money for some rather, shall we say, revealing garments that Hermione normally would never have purchased. Hermione, along with Ginny and Luna, stumbled through the door into the burrow, dropped their bags haphazardly, and sunk down into the nearest chair. A delicious smell wafted in form the kitchen and Hermione suddenly became aware of how hungry she was after all that shopping.

"Hi mum! We're home!" Ginny shouted. Mrs Weasley came bustling out of the kitchen clad in an apron.

"Hello girls! How was the shop-" Mrs Weasley broke off having seen Hermione's hair. When she had regained the ability of speech she asked, "Hermione what have you done to your hair?"

"You don't like it?" Hermione asked nervously.

"What was there not to like about your hair before you ruined it?"

"Ginny and Luna gave me a make over."

"You let Ginny near you? Oh, I don't know, I suppose it is all right. It's just that… oh you'll think I'm just old-fashioned, never mind. I'm glad to have you here Hermione and you too Luna. You and your husband never visit enough."

"Oh I'm sure Ron does visit you here quite a lot, you just don't know. For example, have you noticed any missing food lately?"

"Well now that you mention it, just yesterday half a batch of brownies disappeared and the week before, half an apple pie, four scones, some of my lasagne, a number of chocolate chip biscuits and some of my chocolate cake."

"See Ron has been to visit you. Visit you for food at least."

"Don't you feed him Luna?"

"Oh I do. I just don't think anything can satisfy his appetite."

"You do have a point there Luna."

"Where is he by the way? He said he'd be here for tea."

"Oh he is. The lot of them are out on the field playing quidditch. Quite a turnout really. What with Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Lee, Charlie, Bill and Harry we are going to be very crowded. Plus all of their spouses and girlfriends and Arthur and I and all of you."

"Harry's here?"

"Yes Hermione, is there a problem with that. He brought his girlfriend too. Now what was her name? Oh yes, that's right, Angelica. Horrible girl really. Goes around thinking she's the best thing since dragon blood. Oh I don't know! What is it with Harry lately? Al he does is spend time with girls who are so… horrible! Now if he'd consider someone like our Hermione then he would be fine! But no! Oh well I must be getting back to the cooking and you girls are probably sick of listening to me rant and rave. They're all out on the field watching the boys play, you might want to go out and watch…" Mrs Weasley walked back into the kitchen humming a tune.

"If Harry's here I have to get out! I cannot sit and watch him and Angelica. Why I walked in on them this morning."

"You're not going anywhere Hermione," Ginny instructed, "you are going to stay here and knock Harry off his feet. Now come on, Luna and I are going to get you ready."

"Get me ready?"

"Yes. It's time for makeup Hermione!"

"What have I got myself into?" Hermione said under her breath as the two girls dragged Hermione up the stairs along with all of her bags of shopping.

As Hermione sat in Ginny's old bedroom peering into the mirror, she felt very nervous. Maybe it was because of the low cut halter neck she was wearing, or maybe the amount of makeup she had on, maybe it was just the fact that soon she had to face Harry and one of his insufferably horrible girls. Hermione's halter neck dress was white and make of a thin material, it was rather short reaching only down to her mid thigh. She had some matching white sandals and the overall effect wasn't actually as bad as Hermione suspected it would have been. Normally, Hermione wasn't one to wear makeup but since Ginny and Luna had insisted that it would help she had and really Hermione had to wonder why she hadn't worn makeup before; it was rather nice. It was really quite amazing what Ginny and Luna could do in less than half an hour.

So after all of them were changed they went downstairs and off to the field to call everyone in for tea. Hermione walked down to the field with as much confidence as she could muster. Ginny kept on saying to her, 'hold your head hight, keep your back straight, don't slouch' and 'be confident not embarrassed, you show him Hermione and don't let that Angelica interfere'. As they neared the makeshift pitch, Hermione saw eight players in the air. She made out Katie, Alicia, Hazel, Wendy and Angelica siting on conjured seats. Ginny went about the business of calling everyone in for dinner and Hermione stood there rather nervously watching as Angelica and Harry cam closer and closer. The reaction she got form Harry was rather unexpected, "Hi I'm Harry Potter," he said sauntering up to her and abandoning Angelica. Hermione heart skipped a beat; he was flirting with her and using that smile he usually gave the pretty girls he met at cubs. He doesn't realise it's me! He thinks I'm someone else.

"Harry Potter, what a pleasure to meet you!" she purred batting her eyelashes.

"Trust me the pleasure is all mine," he said as he flashed her another smile . "May I enquire as to what you are doing tomorrow at seven?" Harry asked flashing her another smile. Hermione became faintly aware of the hand sneaking around her waist.

"Tomorrow at seven I'd say you'd be picking me up for our date," Hermione said adopting a voice that wasn't at all like hers.

"I like the way your mind works."

"So do I." Harry's arm was slowly pulling her closer and closer to him.

"So are you a friend of Ginny's?"

"Amongst others. I know Ron too; he and I go back along way."

"What about me, you know me don't you?"

"Of course, everyone knows Harry potter. You're so famous and incredibly sexy if I may say so."

"You may." His face was very close to hers. Hermione could feel his breath on her face and when she looked into those green eyes of his she felt like she was melting. Harry's arms encircled her waist and Hermione reached up to wind her hands around his neck. Their faces were inches apart. Harry was going to kiss her. She was going to kiss Harry. Then all of a sudden, someone shouted.

"Harry!" Fred shouted. "Stop trying to hit on Hermione!"

"Hermione! Is that you?"

"Sure is Harry! Are you sure that those contact lenses of yours are working because a few seconds ago you didn't seem to know who I was?" Hermione noticed that Harry's arms were still around her waist and her hands around her neck, she gently removed them and took a step back. Hermione then turned and walked over to Ginny and Luna swinging her hips side to side with a little purpose in her stride.

"Did you see his face?" she asked excitedly as she walked back to the house with the two girls.

"When? When he saw you for the first time or when he recognised it was you he'd been trying to hit on?"

"Both! I could not believe it. If Fred hadn't have said anything I don't what I would have done."

"Might have ended up kissing him," Luna suggested.

"Oh don't make me feel mad at Fred. Anyway, how did I go? With the whole flirting thing, I mean."

"We're proud of you Hermione. We couldn't have done it better than that."

"Really?"

'Yes. Pretty good for an amateur I say. I think you have made a start in this whole make Harry fall for you thing!"

"And I'm feeling great about it too!"

"Good for you Hermione. You never know, in a dew weeks time you and Harry could be a whole lot more than friends."

"I'm hoping that too."

Dinner was a rather unpleasant event. It wasn't that the food wasn't nice, quite the contrary, Molly had made a delicious roast lamb with all the trimmings and desert was a lemon meringue tart and homemade ice-cream. It was rather the moods of a certain people that made it almost unbearable for Hermione. Harry seemed embarrassed and perplexed and Angelica seemed angry and agitated. But the thing that was really annoying her was that Harry wasn't talking to her. Not that he ever did much, but he hadn't spoke a single word to her over dinner and he wouldn't look at her. Now that deeply annoyed Hermione. After dinner, with more wine served the group spilled out into the garden to mingle and chat. Hermione was sitting alone at a table away from everyone else when Angelica came and sat next to her.

"Hermione darling, do you mink if I join you?" Without waiting for an answer, Angelica sat down.

"So Angelica, how have things been going with you?" Although Hermione practically hated the girl, she was trying to be friendly for Harry's sake. Anyway, if she wasn't nice it wouldn't really mater because tomorrow there would be someone new. None of the girls ever lasted longer than two days.

"Oh just the usual, you know. Just signed a two-year modelling contract with Andrew Capriani. Oh I suppose you don't know who he is, well-"

"Actually this is one of his dresses form his summer collection."

"Oh."

"Yes, I just went on a shopping trip today with Ginny and Luna."

"Well was the summer collection at Gladrags good?"

"I wouldn't know sorry. I only went to Andrew Capriani, Ginevra Malfoy, Dominic Thompson; you know all the fashion boutiques down Diagon Alley."

"I must enquire though, how did afford to buy all of this?"

"Quite easily. I can make my own money Angelica."

"Yes I know that. I'm just questioning your ability to make a lot of money."

"I am quite capable of doing that Angelica."

"If you say so."

"Well at least I work for my money."

"Are you trying to imply that I don't?"

"How smart of you!"

"Let me tell Hermione, that modelling is not easy. One must put a lot of work into it, one must eat carefully, one must exercise, and it is no mean feat. I hate you to go away with some illusions that models are hopeless cases of girls that don't put in the hard yards for their money, like some dumb blonde."

"Angelica, my opinion of you will stay the same regardless of what you say."

"And what would your opinion be?"

"You summed it up pretty well yourself."

"Why I am truly flattered Hermione. Flattered that you think I do put in the hard work and-"

"Oh you must me mistaken Angelica, I was speaking of the latter description."

"Not subtle are you?"

"Why should I be? I have nothing to hide form you."

"You know Harry has talked of you often. Made you sound like some godsend perfect woman. I must inform Harry how wrong he is in his assumptions."

"And I'm sure he'll value that information. Honestly, Angelica, Harry has known me since we were eleven. We are twenty-four now; I do not think he is going to change his opinions of me from what you say. Particularly because you have known me for four hours."

"You think highly of yourself Hermione."

"As do you Angelica. You parade around as if you are some celebrated person. But really you wouldn't be on half the newspapers you are on now if you weren't the girl on Harry Potter's arm."

"I hardly think that your opinion is adequate Hermione."

"Honestly Angelica, how long do you think Harry will keep you? There will be someone else tomorrow. You almost lost him to me earlier today! Tomorrow is another day and there will be another girl."

"Hermione I reiterate, you think highly of yourself. Tell me that when I move in and Harry has to ask you to move out."

"I'm sorry to break it to you Angelica, but you are too thinking highly of yourself. Harry is not going to ask you to move in and if he does, he cannot make me move out. I am a shared owner in the flat. And he can't throw me out as much as you want him to."

"We'll see about that when it's time for me to move in Hermione. Anyway, I do not think of you as competition. You are just the best friend. Or should I say the best friend with a boring job, no taste, who is overweight, ugly, horrible, rude, dateless, and grumpy, well the list goes on but I have just one more point to add; the best friend who is, shall we say, pining over her best friend."

"I am in no shape or form pining over Harry."

"Yes darling, I'm sure."

"You know what Angelica; you think Harry will care about you tomorrow? I know him and I know that tomorrow you will be forgotten. It will be someone new. Someone who just like you is looking for a bit of stardom. At least I know that tomorrow I still will be a prominent part in Harry's life."

"You see Hermione, that's where you're wrong. Tomorrow it will be you that is forgotten. I will not lose to you. I will not admit defeat to an inferior. You will be the one left behind. It will be you that looses out to me."

"You can say all you want Angelica, I have no issues with that. But expecting me to believe it is a completely different thing. Quite frankly, you can say all you want just don't expect me to believe a word of it."

"Hermione I have one thing to say to you. Stay away from my man, or else." Angelica picked up her glass, turned around, and walked off in the direction off the house.

"Nasty piece of work she is," Ron muttered as he sat next to Hermione.

"I absolutely agree."

"What Harry sees in her I do not know."

"Ron she just like very other one."

"Every other one?"

"Girls Ron. That is all he seems to care about. Girls and quidditch."

"He's changed, I know that."

"You can say that again. But really I do try to be nice to them but Angelica well she just couldn't stand me. Insulting me in every way, shape and form."

"I know, I heard half of that conversation."

"How?"

"My brothers are Fred and George."

"Well that explains it. So how are things with you and Luna?"

"Well telling you honestly, married life isn't what it's made out to be."

"No?"

"Not at all. No different at all I say. But talking about different, what about you? Luna says you had quite a makeover."

"Well the day as been interesting, I will say that."

"Yes what with Harry trying to hit on you."

"That did add to it, yes. But shopping with your sister and Luna is a strenuous experience. I was literally dragged from shop to shop while they stuffed garments into my hands and made me pay for them. We were just acting out the expression shop till you drop."

"Well there you go, classic example of Ginny. She tried to rope me into shopping one time. But I politely declined. Shopping with her is worse than shopping with Luna."

"Definitely. Anyway, I think I'm going to have to depart soon. I do have quite a bit to do at home. The girls made me buy a whole new wardrobe."

"Well goodnight then."

"Goodnight Ron."

After saying goodbye to everyone and thanking Mrs Weasley for the meal, Hermione collected all of her shopping and apparated home, telling Ginny that she wasn't going to be able to make it for drinks at Malfoy Manor. When Hermione arrived home she out all of her clothes in her room, changed into comfortable clothes and headed downstairs. When she had a coffee in her hand Hermione finally relaxed for some quality reading time. She had just begun to really enjoy her book when Harry came storming in, slamming the door behind him. He looked ready to kill Hermione and she had a sneaking suspicion why.

"What did you say to her! What did you tell her!" he demanded.

"I'm sorry Harry, have I done something wrong."

"You have done the unthinkable Hermione. You just didn't like Angelica, did you?"

"No more than she like me Harry."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Harry I hate her and she hates me."

"Why would she hate you and why would you hate her?"

"Why don't you ask her?"

"Because thanks to you Hermione I don't have a clue where she is."

"Like that's a great loss."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh come one Harry. Tomorrow there would have been someone new."

"You don't know that."

"Harry I know a lot more than you think. I'm not blind nor am I stupid."

"Will you answer my question? What did you tell her?"

"The truth."

"About what?"

"You, her career, what I think of her."

"Well whatever you did offended her and I think you should apologise."

"I suppose Angelica didn't tell you what she said to me?"

"Yes she did."

"Then you should be angry with her too."

"Why she was being very nice to you."

"That's what she says. Ask Ron, he'll tell you what happened."

"Yes I'm sure he'll tell me that Angelica was so nice to you."

"I don't think so. She hates me Harry. She didn't hold back her insults from me. Basically she told me straight out that I had a boring job, no taste, and is overweight, ugly, horrible, rude, dateless and grumpy."

"Well that's okay because that's the truth," Harry sneered, his voice scornful. Hermione had had enough of listening to first Angelica then Harry insult her. Hermione turned, taking her coffee and book, walked up the stairs.

"Hermione, wait!" Harry shouted. "That came out wrong!" But Hermione didn't care what he had to say. When she reached her room, she slammed the door shut and let the tears stream down her face.

The next morning when Harry woke up, he felt bad. He had not had a very good sleep and had spent most of the time thinking about how he had treated Hermione. Harry got out of bed, changed and went to Hermione's room to apologise. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

"Hermione can we please talk?" Again, there was no answer, so Harry opened the door and found that Hermione was gone. On the bed, there was a note.

Harry,

Gone to the Manor. Need time to think. Do not come over. I'll be back later.

From Hermione

Harry knew that Hermione did not want him to go to Malfoy Manor, but right now, he didn't really care. He just wanted to see Hermione and apologise. So without further ado, Harry apparated straight for the manor and Hermione. When Harry walked through the gate of the Manor and knocked on the door, Ginny came to answer. She was holding a cup of coffee and a clothes catalogue in the other.

"Hi," Harry said rather nervously.

"What do you want?" Ginny asked aggressively.

"I'd like to speak to Hermione."

"Well she doesn't want to speak to you! You should be ashamed of yourself Harry! How could you speak to her like that?"

"Ginny it was an accident and I'd like to apologise to her!"

"Look Harry, Hermione really doesn't want to see you. Why don't you came in and we'll have a little talk?"

"Uh okay," Harry entered the Manor, closing the door behind him. The two of them sat down and Ginny placed her coffee and catalogue on the table.

"Well to get straight to the point Harry, you haven't been much of a best friend to Hermione lately. In fact, you haven't been much of a friend at all. Hermione puts up with a lot from you-"

"What?"

"Harry, you hardly speak to her, you don't even go out together anymore. You bring home a different girl every night and Hermione has to put up with it. You come home drunk and expect her to brew you a potion no matter what time. You only talk to her when it suits you even if she wants to talk you don't care, but when you want talk then she has to listen. She puts up with paparazzi banging on the door when you're out wanting to speak to her. She has to deal with all he calls and letters that you're fans send you. And on top of all of that, she has to cook and clean for you. You don't do anything but Hermione has to do everything!"

"Well Ginny, I'm a very busy guy. I have quidditch practice, quidditch matches, quidditch meetings-"

"No Harry, you're to busy shagging!"

"What?"

"Oh come on, you don't half as much time on the quidditch pitch as you do with girls!"

"It's my life and I'll live it how I want Ginny!"

"Yes Harry, but if you're not careful, you're going to lose your real friends. Hermione isn't going to hang around forever just to play second to all those girls."

"So? I don't need her!"

"You're in love with her, of course you need her."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me Harry."

"I'm not in love with Hermione, Ginny!"

"Harry you can't fool me. You're in love with your best friend."

"How did you find out? If Ron told you then-"

"Ron didn't tell me Harry. It's female intuition. Anyway, why don't you do something about it?"

"Because I don't want push her away. She doesn't see me as anything more than a friend and I don't want to ruin what we have."

"And…there's something else isn't there Harry?"

"I'm scared."

"Scared?"

"Scared she'll be taken away. Scared she'll get hurt. Scared they'll kill her."

"Harry you vanquished Voldemort. You can deal with his Death Eaters."

"It's just that-"

"Harry you cant live in fear. Make your dreams come true Harry. I know that sounds a bit clichéd, but trust me you don't want to live your life without living your dreams. You don't want to have regrets. I know when I look back on life I have heaps of regrets and there's nothing I can do about it. So Harry, don't settle for the norm, go for it. Live life how you want and just forget about everything else because it's not important."

"So you're saying that I should live how I want, do what I want, and just forget about everything else?"

"Exactly Harry. Just throw caution to the wind."

"But what if-"

"No buts Harry! Just do it."

"What if she hates me afterwards?"

"Look Harry that's just the risk you have to take. Are you prepared to take that risk for Hermione?"

"Yes."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"Thanks Gin. Is Hermione here?"

"Uh no."

"Where is she?"

"Back at your place. When you came she apparated back."

"Okay. See you later and thanks again!" With a pop Harry was gone leaving behind a very happy Ginny.

When Harry entered the house, he collided with Hermione who by the looks of it was on her way out.

"Oh are you going out?"

"Yes."

"Look Hermione, I'm really sorry."

"It's okay Harry, I know you are."

"So maybe we could talk tonight when you come back?"

"Okay, I'll be back around 7."

"I'll see you then." Hermione walked out the door and Harry feeling much better than tis morning, sat down on the couch and starting thinking about to tell Hermione he was in love with her.

Seven o'clock went passed and Hermione still hadn't come. She was usually punctual so Harry became a little worried. But by the time nine o'clock passed and she still hadn't come Harry was frightened. He flooed to the Burrow and the Manor but neither households had seen Hermione. Harry even called her parents but they also had not seen her. Harry sat on the couch thinking about all the places she could be. He took out her address book and contacted all of the people listed, only to find that so one had seen her. Harry got up and got himself a coffee to keep him awake and hoped against hope that Hermione wasn't hurt because if she was the person that hurt her was going to pay dearly.

Harry waited up for Hermione for most of the night, only when the clock struck 4 o'clock, did he fall asleep. The next then he knew, sunlight was filtering into the room and there were footsteps in the hall. Then Hermione came walking in looking full of the joys of spring.

"Finally home, are you?" he asked rather menacingly.

"Why are you talking to me in that tone? I haven't done anything wrong."

"Where have you been all this time?"

"Why do you care?"

"Why do I care? Well for one thing you've been missing the whole night! I was worried!"

"Why? I can take care of myself!"

"You could have called!"

"Why are you being so overprotective? You never call when you stay out the whole night! I was at Josh's house and I was fine. I mean what could he do to me?"

"I don't like the way he looks at you."

"Well grow up Harry! You give millions of girls the same look and you take them home all the time! Have you ever done anything wrong to them? Maybe that's why you're nervous; you don't want Josh to hurt me like you've hurt them!"

"I've never hurt any of those girls! They know what they're getting into when they come home with me!"

"So do I Harry! I knew what I was getting into and at least Josh treated me like I was someone special, not someone being used! Josh actually cares about me! He cares about the real me, not what I look like! You've never cared about anyone you've brought home!"

"Are you saying that I don't care about the girls I date?"

"I'd hardly call what you do dating! Why you have a new girl everyday! And dumping girls after spending a night with them; that's hardly caring for them. I mean, who was the girl you were with last Monday? I bet you don't even know!"

"So what?"

"Well the point is that you don't give a damn about any of those girls! If you did one would still be around now!"

"That's my choice!"

"Exactly and it's my choice if I want to stay the whole night with Josh!"

"He's using you Hermione!"

"Like how you use all of those girls who come home with you Harry? Face it, you use girls and you treat them wrongly! You don't care what happens to them as long as you spend one night with them! At least Josh got to know me before he took me to bed! And at least he didn't throw me out straight after one night!"

"I get to know those girls too!"

"No you don't! You wouldn't know a thing about them! What's the most time you've ever spent with one of them? Two days maximum?"

"For your information it was a week!"

"A week! Big deal! I've known Josh for way longer than that and it was our first time last night! Anyway, Josh and I slept together because we care about each other! We like each other's personalities, not looks!"

"Yeah right Hermione! Like he didn't like what you looked like that night! You looked good."

"That's just proving my point! You're so selfish! You only care about how you feel that night, not about how they feel after you're done with them! And you only date girls who look like your dream girl! I mean most of them are models! Even if the most beautiful girl had a personality of a cow you'd still want her! Face it you're just doing all of this for yourself!"

"So what? I'm Harry Potter, I can do what I like! Besides I enjoy the night, they enjoy the night! You're just jealous because you know I'd never want you!"

"You know for once you're right. I was jealous of all of them. But now I can't believe how stupid I was! I've known you for years and you've changed Harry! The caring person that I thought I loved has gone! I actually thought I was in love with you! But now I've finally realized what you've become, what you've always been; a heartless, uncaring, using and selfish prat who thinks he's better than every other person. Just because you're Harry Potter you think it's okay to go out and treat girls like that! I can't believe I fell for you! I cant believe I got a makeover so you would notice me! I cant believe I ever considered you as a boyfriend! I mean why have all those girls never come back, why haven't you kept them?"

"I've been looking for the perfect girl Hermione and no one has come close, well only one."

"Oh yeah? Who?"

"What do you care Hermione? To you I'm just an uncaring, selfish, using, heartless prat!"

"But above it all you're still my best friend well at least you were! I just don't see you as someone I'd like to spend the rest of my life with, not anymore."

"You wanted to spend the rest of your life with me?"

"Yeah, I do. I mean I did. I still care about you Harry but I think it would be best if I moved out."

"Don't go. Stay."

"Give me one good reason Harry. One good reason and I'll stay."

"I love you. I'm in love with you Hermione."

"Don't say that Harry! Don't lie to me! You said you were looking for the perfect girl; I've been here with you for seven years. If you're in love with me why haven't you acted? And if you are in love with me why have you strung all those girls along?"

"Isn't it obvious Hermione? You were the one girl that I've been comparing all those girls to."

"If you had really truly loved me you wouldn't have had to compare me! Why did you compare me to them if you did love me?"

"Because I knew that you never loved me at least not in a romantic sense."

"But I did. I really did. You're just too late now. It's over before it even started. I'm done with you and I'm sick of moping around and waiting for you to notice me! I don't want to be used like all those other girls. I want to be loved and feel wanted and special; Josh gives me that and you don't. That's all there is to it. Goodbye Harry."

"Hermione wait!"

"What!" she exclaimed.

"Don't walk out."

"No your right I shouldn't." Harry suddenly felt relieved as Hermione brushed pass him. He sank down onto the couch and waited for Hermione to come down. Ten minutes later she did, in her palm miniature suitcases.

"Well I think that's everything. Have fun living by yourself Harry. Bye!" and with a pop Hermione was gone.

A/N: Well that is Chapter 1 of the Surviving Love Chronicles: Life or Something Like It. Please review. Even constructive criticism is welcome and if this story just sucks please tell me. This is my first fic so please give me some sort of response. I'll try to update soon but with school and other things I'm not making any commitments.

Thanks, Jaz