This is my attempt at a fanfiction, as I have been reading fanfiction for a few years now. All characters belong to J.K Rowling, but the story is mine.

Chapter 1

Hermione woke up in her condo on the south side of Diagon Alley after a good night's rest. She turned on her side and saw her orange furball, Crookshanks, snoozing on his pillow by the opposite wall and the large Gryffindor clock above his bed. She rose out of bed and drew the maroon curtains away letting in the early Britain sun. Crookshanks let out a snarl and bolted under Hermione's bed. Hermione smiled, and walked to the bathroom to start getting ready for the day.

Hermione stepped out of her shower and picked out a light blue robe from her wardrobe, then headed out the door to Flourish and Blotts, her employer. She had been working there for five years now, ever since she left the Ministry due to stress issues. Hermione made a modest living, but that was okay with her, seeing as she only had to support herself. On the bright side, she could borrow any book from Flourish and Blotts, and she viewed that as one of the best perks of her job.

Little Mrs. Humphrey came into the store at 1 o'clock like she did every morning, and ordered a coffee from the small café the bookstore had in the back. As Hermione was returning from the back of the store with Mrs. Humphrey's coffee, she saw a familiar image leaving the store. A head full of unruly black hair and a slender figure was all she could see, but she was all but certain it was him. She stopped in her tracks for a moment, and thought back to the last time Hermione had seen him.

It was a Saturday night, and Harry was relaxing with a glass of wine in his humble apartment after a long day at the Auror's office when Hermione apparated into his house. Harry sat up and could see the redness in her eyes and the pain in her face-the pain he had seen many times in their years together- and quickly stood up and pulled her into an embrace, savoring the smell of Hermione's scented shampoo. They stood like that for a few minutes, Hermione soaking Harry's shirt, but Harry didn't mind. What had happened to his best friend? After a few moments, Hermione pulled herself together, and Harry went to get her a glass of wine to calm her nerves. He handed Hermione the glass when he returned and she sniffled a thanks in reply. He sat waiting patiently for Hermione to tell him the story, and Hermione began after nearly downing her glass of wine.

"Ron cheated on me." Hermione stated simply, with a note of despair in her voice.

Harry sat there silenced and shocked, wondering what had gotten into his best mate. Ron had never been one to cheat, so there must have been a reason.

"Explain, Hermione."

"Well, I was coming home from the Ministry and I noticed that the front door was unlocked, which is unusual because I always get home before Ron. I smelled alcohol when I walked in and walked into the bedroom to see Ron and..." Hermione started sniffling again at this point, "and another girl in bed. In OUR bed Harry!" Hermione was sent into another fit of tears and Harry could do nothing but pull her into his arms again.

A few minutes later, Harry brought up the courage to ask, "But who was it, Hermione?"

Hermione sniffled before answering, "Lavender Brown! I knew he was still talking to that no good fucking slut."

Harry sat with a shocked yet sad smile on his face, as Hermione rarely used these type of words. Without having an answer, Harry waved his wand, wordlessly filling Hermione's wine glass back up. Hermione grunted a thanks and took a long sip of it, before asking, "Got any harder stuff?"

Harry went to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of Firewhiskey and Hermione took it and poured herself a hearty share. Harry could clearly see she was going to drink herself into deeper misery. Harry and Hermione had some short talk and Harry brought up moments from their Hogwarts days to try to cheer up her mood. Before long they were talking and giggling like school-children and had to wipe the tears from their eyes.

Harry recovered from a laugh long enough to begin to say, "Remember when Hagrid tried to cook that pie for us in-"before he was cut off by Hermione's lips on his. She pushed him into the back of the couch before pulling back with a look of fire in her eyes, locking onto Harry's surprised eyes. But Hermione didn't care. She had been pushed around for way too long, and now she was going to get what she wanted. She kissed Harry again, and Harry kissed her back against his better judgment. Soon enough, he was carrying her upstairs to the bedroom, stripping clothes off along the way, until they were lying in their underwear on his bed. Harry marveled over his best friend's body, never noticing the sleek contours and curves of her body. Harry could feel himself growing even more aroused as Hermione ran her slender hands over his shoulders and arms, relishing in how she had wished for this for so long, and was now finally getting it. Harry slid down Hermione's body until he was kissing her naval, and he slowly pulled off Hermione's lacy red panties, and started to nibble on her inner thighs. Hermione arched her back in pleasure as Harry darted his tongue around her opening. Hermione wondered how he was so good at this, then remembered he was the magical world's most eligible bachelor. Harry looked into Hermione's eyes looking for a confirmation to continue, and when he received it, slid into Hermione slowly. Hermione let out a low hiss of ecstasy, and soon enough they were matching each other's rhythm, daring each other to go faster and faster. Harry felt Hermione tighten around him, and soon enough, Harry got his.

Harry rolled off next to Hermione and felt her eyes on him. He turned to her with a cocky grin and heard Hermione say, "God, I've wanted to do that for a long time." Harry pulled her into his arms and they fell into a slumber minutes later.

Harry awoke next morning in an empty bed with no note, and that's when he realized what he had done. He had broken the bond between his best mate and himself, and Hermione probably now hated him. That must have been why she had left with no note. Harry was sick with himself, and after taking a cold shower, apparated to Neville's house to get out of his now dirty house.

Hermione arrived minutes after Harry left with the ingredients for pancakes, and saw Harry's half-finished note he had written that he had intended to send to her with his owl.

"Hermione, I know what we did last night seemed great at the time, but now I see that it wasn't. I've gone away from my house, and I don't know when I will be back. You probably hate me, and I don't know when I'll talk to you again.

Harry."

Hermione dropped the groceries for their breakfast and simply poured herself a glass of wine and cried in Harry's bed all day. She just couldn't ever get what she wanted.

Harry sat at Neville's, telling of how great last night was, and how much he realized he loved her after it was over. But he thought had ruined everything between them, and he believed it would never be the same.