*This is my first fanfiction ever. I have always loved HG/SS so I am going to try to write my own version of it. I hope that you enjoy the first chapter - reviews would be very much appreciated!

Hermione's Secret Wish

CH1

It had been two years since the war had ended. Hermione Granger, now nearly twenty years old, had settled into an apartment overlooking Diagon Alley. She had spent a year traveling around Europe campaigning for equal rights for House Elves and another interning as a journalist for the Daily Prophet, occasionally writing commentaries on social issues in the magical world. She should have been happy; many would have killed for her internship, she had been seeing Ron for about a year and her friendships had never been stronger. Yet, Hermione was coping with an increasing restlessness and unease with her existence; surely there was more to life than walking to the same office and seeing the same faces every day? Surely, there was more to life the editing dull wordy articles? A wistful look came into her warm brown eyes as she contemplated her reflection. She was consumed by a wave of nostalgia – a longing, but for what? It was a strange nostalgia, for it wasn't for the past, but rather for the way she wished life had turned out – even though she couldn't define how it should have been. All she knew is that she often woke up wishing she were somebody else somewhere else.

Sighing, she adjusted her ivory silk blouse. Simple and understated, it complemented the warm undertones of her skin, tawny mass of curls – decidedly less bushy than it had been during her years at Hogwarts – and bright brown eyes. Hermione had become quite attractive since she left school; two years had added a much needed maturity to her face and a new grace to her figure. While she would never be as breathtaking as Fleur Delacour, she was undeniably pretty; her features were small and regular, her lips bow-shaped and her shoulders delicate, lending her a discreet but very feminine charm. She also had a very petite and well-proportioned figure; slender legs encased in slim-fitting black trousers, a tiny midsection and a trim hourglass shape. She picked up her olive trench coat and headed out to meet Ron for dinner. They had planned to meet at the Leaky Cauldron, where he was working as a bartender; old Tom was no longer young and needed help running the place. When she arrived, she saw Ron perched on a stool, roaring at something the blonde behind the bar had said. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she watched. The girl had long platinum hair and a huge cleavage in what looked like a bubblegum-pink corset. Her face was familiar…wait, it was Lavender Brown! Hermione clenched her fists, trying to keep calm as she walked over to Ron.

"Oh, hi 'Mione," said Ron blushing guiltily as he tore his eyes from Lavender's impressive décolletage.

"Oh, Hermione," Lavender's gaze was clearly sizing her up, "I didn't know you two were still in touch."

"Oh, we've been seeing each other for a while now," answered Hermione coolly, "I didn't know you worked here."

Lavender tossed her shiny hair over her slim shoulders and giggled, "Ooh, Ron, does this mean I'm your dirty little secret?"

Giving her a contemptuous glance, Hermione pulled Ron by the arm, saying, "Come on, let's go somewhere classier"

As soon as they were out of the smoky pub, Hermione's anger was unleashed.

"Why didn't you tell me that SHE worked there?"

"Hermione, I didn't think it mattered," Ron said, looking irritated.

"Oh come on, she is CLEARLY making a play for you. And you don't seem to mind, I saw you staring at her cleavage and flirting with her when I came in!"

"That's ridiculous," scoffed Ron, trying to be dismissive.

"Really? So why didn't you bother mentioning that we're seeing each other?"

"It just didn't come up, OK?" Now Ron was looking quite exasperated.

"No wonder you don't want to start looking for a serious job, with her walking around there half dressed!"

"Hermione, we've talked about this before. I have plenty of time to start looking for a job, I just want to have fun right now – and what's wrong with the Leaky Cauldron?"

"You can't seriously tell me that you want to spend your life working as a bartender. And Ron, if you want to have a chance at becoming an auror, you need to start applying early, it's so competitive…"

"Stop nagging me, OK? You're worse than my mother!"

"But you need to be sensible Ron…"

"No, I don't, now will you shut up about it?"

Furious at being told to shut up and still steaming over the incident with Lavender Brown, Hermione's eyes flashed as she shouted, "If talking to me is such an ordeal, then don't put yourself through dinner with me!"

"Fine, I won't!" shouted Ron.

Feeling angry tears coming to her eyes, Hermione whirled around and disapparated. When she was on firm ground again, she was outside Harry and Ginny's apartment. Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, she knocked at the door. Seconds later, it opened to reveal Ginny, glowingly pretty in a royal blue silk cocktail dress with her flaming hair loose and tousled.

"Hermione!" said Ginny looking surprised, "We weren't expecting you…are you alright?" she added, noticing Hermione's watery eyes.

"I'm so sorry to barge in like this Ginny. I just wanted to have a chat with Harry, but it looks like you're going out, so I can come back…"

"Oh don't be silly, come in, I'm not quite ready, you can talk to him while I finish applying my make-up" she ushered Hermione in, taking her coat for her.

Harry was in the living room, reading the newspaper. When he heard Hermione's footsteps, he said, "Finally, I thought you'd never be read-" He looked up and stopped in surprise when he saw Hermione.

"Hermione! I didn't know you were coming over."

"I wasn't," Hermione said, pacing and wringing her hands, "It's just…Harry, I need to talk to you."

"Is something wrong?" he asked, "Sit down"

She sat down next to him. She gave him a brief account of the evening.

"I just don't get it Harry! He's been working at that dead end job for over a year and he doesn't seem bothered about looking into real career options. Every time I try to talk to him about it, he's either dismissive or gets angry. I don't understand that he just doesn't seem to care. And he's spent so much time there in the last couple of months – when I saw him with that bimbo tonight, I just knew why he's been so keen to take on new shifts. She dresses like a complete tart Harry and Ron doesn't care how stupid she is as long as her cleavage is out. I think maybe Ron and me should just break up."

"Come on Hermione," said Harry, putting his arm around her shoulders (somewhat awkwardly), "You know what Ron's like. He's never been one to worry about the future; he likes a good time. Just give him the space and he'll decide on his own about his career goals. Nagging will just irritate him. And forget about Lavender; remember how sick of her Ron was at Hogwarts? He'd never want something like that, not really. He probably didn't say anything about her because he hasn't given her much thought. You don't want to throw away a great relationship over a silly argument, do you? It's you and Ron, everyone always knew you'd end up together."

His words were reassuring. "Thanks Harry," said Hermione, giving his arm a squeeze, "You're right, I overreacted about Lavender. And maybe I've been too bossy with Ron. Yes, we were always supposed to be together. I think I'll go over now and say I'm sorry."

"There you are!" exclaimed Harry as Ginny appeared, radiant in her floating dress. He turned to Hermione, "We're heading out now, but good luck with Ron. I'm sure it will be fine."

"Have a good night and thanks Harry" said Hermione smiling at her friends. She disapparated. This time she was back at her apartment. She changed out of her blouse and trousers to put on a strapless jade green dress that Ron had always liked. The fitted bodice showed off her slim shoulders and petite frame while the flared skirt danced around her graceful legs as she walked. She added a smear of peachy lip gloss, gold high-heeled sandals and a tiny star-shaped pendant that glittered at her neck. Smiling at herself in the mirror, she disapparated.

Ron's apartment was above the Leaky Cauldron. She knocked at the door and waited outside. It was chilly, and she shivered as goosebumps crawled across her shoulders. Ron took a while to come to the door. She'd almost decided to leave when the door opened. He was standing in a white t-shirt and striped boxer shorts that she knew well, looking shocked to see her.

"Ron," she said, running up and hugging him as he stood still. "I'm so sorry about last night. I completely overreacted and I'm sorry I was nagging you. Let's go out now. See I got all dressed up for you?" She laughed spinning herself around to show him her dress.

"It's OK Hermione, but I'm a bit tired, talk to you tomorrow maybe?"

Something was wrong. He was practically closing the door on her, eyes darting behind him, flushing as he always did when he felt guilty or nervous. Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"Ron, let me in" she said firmly, trying to push the door open.

It was then that she heard it. The click of high heels, the familiar plaintive voice, "Won-Won?"

Ron had now given up trying to shut her out. Lavender stood in the hallway, her long shapely legs encased in fishnet stockings, lurid pink stilettos heels on her feet, matching garter panties at her hip and her huge breasts bare. "Oops," she giggled, affecting a guilty expression while looking exceedingly pleased with herself.

Hermione felt her stomach knot up as she gasped for air. She was in shock; her suspicion had not been unfounded after all. Here she had been about to apologize for "overreacting" – and there was Ron, cheating on her with a bleached blonde bimbo with big boobs and no brains. She stared up at him hatefully.

"Hermione…" he began. She slapped him viciously, seething.

"How dare you? After insisting that I was being unreasonable you're having sex with er the minute my back is turned!"

"We had a fight! Hermione, I was angry, I wasn't thinking…"

"Clearly," said Hermione looking distastefully at Lavender. The girl had now come forward, staring at Ron angrily.

"You seemed to be thinking fine over the last six weeks!" she spat at him, her cheap accent more pronounced than ever.

"Six weeks?" said Hermione quietly, looking at Ron's guilty face. "You disgust me."

She turned and disapparated before she could hear Ron's useless pleas and pathetic excuses. Once more, she was in her room, in front of her mirror, sobbing in her beautiful green dress. She caught a glance at herself, and once more felt that urge to be anywhere but here.

To be continued…