Chapter One

From bad to great in half an hour

Through the tiny glass window, light filtered into the tiny room. It bounced of the old battered floor, revealing the tiny floating particles of dust that inhabited the air. The lacy white curtains blew gently in the icy breeze the open window created. The petal pink walls still smelled, being recently painted

In the farthest corner of the room, ( which considered, wasn't that far) between a bookshelf and a dresser, sat an overstuffed canopy bed, so big and full of sheets, it appeared deserted. Deserted save one feature; a delicate little foot dangled precariously over the edge. Immediately the toes started to twitch. A low moaning was heard. It steadily grew more and more intense.

'Stop! Please! I'll do anything… don't hurt him! Kill me instead! PLEASE!' The voice shrieked helplessly. The foot shook violently. The moaning grew into screams.

'NO!' The sobbing figure of Hermione Granger rose rigidly above the bedcovers. Breathing heavily, Hermione rubbed her eyes, her hands cold and clammy. When she realized where she was, she clutched her chest and relaxed considerably.

Oh, what a horrible nightmare!

But now more than fully awake, she struggled to remember the content.

As she stood up to stretch, Hermione remembered something important.

'I'm nineteen. I'm actually nineteen! One more year, and I'll legally be able to ride a Thestral! I'm going to call Ron and Harry and Ginny, and then we can all…'

A dull ache formed at the pit of her stomach.

'Oh. Right.' Her face sunk like a stone

After Hermione had completed her studies at Hogwarts last year, (Of course, she had been the only one of the three friends to do this. Even Ginny, sweet, level headed Ginny didn't go back, and she was only in sixth year.) Ron decided to fulfill his dream and applied at the ministry of magic to become an Auror. He was accepted immediately, as he had helped defeat the Dark Lord alongside Harry Potter. They sent him a port key to Ireland, where he was completing his training. It wouldn't have been quite so painful to see him leave, if Harry hadn't left with him. She'd sent owl after owl, just trying to make sure they were okay. It had been four months, and still, nothing. No owl, no cockatoo, not even a stupid budgerigar! The only thing that was keeping her from going completely mad was that Ginny corresponded with her frequently and in detail. But again, this was fleeting. As it turned out, Ginny was an amazing Quidditch player, better even than Harry. The very prestigious, exclusive team, the Holyhead Harpies, had sent HER, Ginivera Molly Weasley a letter practically begging her to join the team; as captain no less!

Hermione frowned and smashed her hands into the mattress so hard, it shook the whole bed. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut tight and yelled;

"I'm the one who went back to Hogwarts, I'm the one who studied, I'm the one who stayed up until seven in the morning studying, and everyone still seems to be able to find a job they want except me! Ugggggh!"

After she cooled down, Hermione immediately felt guilty and selfish.

They were all gifted in the areas they needed for their jobs already. They deserved it. I'm just not good enough at any particular thing to get a job immediately. I shouldn't blame my only friends for my worries. I'm sure the Ministry will get around to reading my application sooner or later. I'm such a prat!

Four months ago, the day she completed her schooling, she filled out a job request to the Business Department office at the Ministry, and obviously, no reply had come yet. It was very fortunate that Hogwarts had recently set up an SSP: also known as the Smart Student Policy. It meant the top student in each graduating year was given funding for up to two years after schooling is completed.

The job request. Still passionate about defending, and enforcing the rights of house elves, Hermione wanted with her whole heart to work in a field where she could do that. (As for S.P.E.W., the only member had disbanded, finally seeing that her organization was doing nothing but offending the poor creatures.)

Just then, Hermione felt her arms, realized she was shaking uncontrollably, and saw she was covered in goose bumps. What the…? Oh yes, of course! Eee, for the brightest witch in their year, as Harry had once elegantly put it, she certainly wasn't doing too well now! She strode over to the window and slammed it shut. Still shivering slightly, she couldn't help but remember how warm Ron's hands had been when he last hugged her…

At this point, Hermione broke out in to an ear to ear grin. She finally remembered her dream she had last night. It was actually going really well until the last bit. It involved Ron. Yes, even in her subconscious, Hermione still remembered every detail of him; his long freckled nose, his deep, gentle blue eyes, but most of all, his smile. That warm, friendly, understanding smile that nearly always adorned his sweet face. In her dream, she had been in the grounds of Hogwarts, wandering near the lake. Just then, Ron had appeared behind her. For once, they were completely alone. Like an evening breeze, Ron whispered into her ear…

At this memory, Hermione blushed crimson. She giggled and twirled her hair around her finger. And for the second time in about fifteen minutes, her face and heart sank. She shook her head and whispered

'Guys like Ron don't go for girls like me. It was a stupid fantasy that was never meant to be.' She was constantly afflicted by the knowledge that if she hadn't screwed up two summers ago, she and Ron would be a reality.

Spontaneously, Hermione ran and jumped in front of the mirror. She struck a pose, then slumped to the ground.

Yeah. Right. Again, never going to happen.

When Hermione had been at Hogwarts, she had noticed something shocking. Being eighteen, you'd expect her to notice these things. But being Hermione, usually not one to notice appearances, noticed rather late.

I'm kind of underdeveloped. I mean, I even saw fourth years with a cuter figure than me. And my hair. It's not quite as fluffy, but still, it looks like someone has taken a ball of electricity and rubbed it in my hair like shampoo. And what's up with my height? (No pun intended.) I'm what? Five foot three? I think I can safely say, the only part of me Ron might even remotely consider attractive, are my eyes. At least they're interesting.

She rolled her eyes and gave a disapproving sigh. For whatever reason, although the room was less than ten feet when measured diagonally, Hermione apparated to her little dresser. Thoughtfully, she tapped her cheek. Suddenly;

'Accio yoga pants!' Yeah. Like she was dressed to impress today. The only person she might even possibly see today was Ginny.

They zoomed out of her bottom drawer into her outstretched arm.

'Accio, white tank top. Accio pink sweater.'

The top followed suit. The sweater however, was an entirely different story. It decided to be saucy and the zipper smacked her in the eye. Then it daintily landed on the bed. Hermione said a few colorful phrases, and then snatched her newly christened sweater off the bed. Too lazy to walk, silently thanking God she was a witch, with a flick of her wand, she apparated into the bathroom. She slipped out of her bed clothes and let the hot water from the shower run down her greasy feeling back It felt heavenly. Rubbing shampoo deep into her scalp, she burst into tears. She missed them so much, she could hardly stand it. She tried to rub the salty tears off her cheeks, but this just made her eyes burn.

What is wrong with me?

Turning off the shower, she stepped out and splashed her face with cold water. She wrapped her body in a small white towel. Hermione reached into the crevices of the bathroom drawer for her much hated comb. She winced at every tangle. Pinning the back of her hair up, she struggled to pull up her yoga pants, as her legs were still damp. Adding the sweater, Hermione took her hair down again, then attempted to wrestle it into a plait. Hermione checked herself out briefly in the mirror.

Well, slightly better is still better.

Apparating back to her bedroom, she plopped dejectedly onto her bed. What was she to do? Maybe she would ask Ginny over. Running to her living room, hardly noticing all the renovations she'd been doing, Hermione thrust open the door to her owl's cage. She affectionately called him Ron, (in private), and Sparks in public. Obviously she wouldn't call him Ron in public, everyone would think… things. He had lovely, vivid red plumage, with delicate black flecks dotted from his belly to his tail. She lovingly stroked under his chin, and he nipped her finger lovingly.

In her finest handwriting, Hermione wrote:

Dearest Ginevra Molly Weasley,

You have been cordially invited to a very exclusive party at the house of a Hermione Jean Granger. It is so exclusive, you are the only person invited. Yeah Ginny, it's Hermione. If possible, could you come over about one 'o' clock if possible? If you can't, that's allright , I understand.

Love:

Hermione G.

'Hey sweetie, are you up to sending a letter this morning? That's a good boy. This needs to get to Ginny, okay?'

"Ron" hooted softly, stretched his wings to full span, then was off through the open window. As soon as he left, Hermione slammed the window. When it was down, it sort of forced her to look at her watch. And that, was not a good thing. 7:04 it read. Her eyes grew to the size of golf balls.

Half an hour later, Hermione was lying on the library couch, hands over head, trying to forget that this day was supposed to be her birthday. All she could hope for was that Ginny would reply soon.

Crack. Whatwasthat? Panicking, Hermione snatched her wand and crept silently to the room she heard it. Careful to skip the steps that creaked, Hermione closed her eyes and opened the bathroom door. A mild curse, followed by a low whisper was heard in the darkness;

'Shhhhhhh! Keep it down or I swear I'll…'

Hermione flicked the light on.

'Happy birthday Hermione!'

'Ginny?'

'Well who did you really expect? Father Christmas?'

'W-'what are you doing here?' Hermione's voice squeaked to accommodate bats hearing needs. Of course she was exited, but, she was still over coming her shock. I mean, If you thought your house was being broken into by a serial killer, you'd be hysterical too.

'I read your little note, and as your only party guest I decided to come, oh, say six hours early. But before you interrogate me any further, I have a big…'

The door under the bathroom sprung open, and two figures were entangled in a massive ball that rolled across the floor. They sprawled on top of each other, desperately gasping for air. One was a tall red head, the other, shorter and with a glossy head of black hair.

Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes.

'…surprise. Thanks guys. Perfect. You did NOT just screw this up for me.'

'Ron? Harry?" Her voice cracked into a million pieces. Tears of joy and gratefulness streamed down her cheeks, her nose and cheeks as pink as grapefruit. Rushing forward, Hermione helped the boys to their feet. Holding back, she stared at them, unsure of what to do next.

Looking from Ginny, to Harry, to Ron, to Harry, to Ron, to Ron, to Ron, Hermione could hardly speak for lack of air.

No words in this world could describe how she felt at this moment.

'Well, I was going to tell Ginny if she ever made us apparate into a cupboard again, I'd transfigure her into a cockroach, but with all this attention, I could get used to it!' Ron whispered to Harry.

'D'you think she missed us?'

'Well, I think she's been spending a little too much time round your mum.'

Hermione had taken it upon herself to tend to the minor wounds they received in Auror training, talk, and all the while make an enormous breakfast that would have indeed made Mrs. Weasley proud. After that, Ron, Harry, and Ginny decided to teach Hermione how to play Quidditch. Correctly. She was actually rather good. After several hours, four tired and sweaty individuals walked in through the back door. Harry absent mindedly looked down at his watch. Oh Great.

'Hermione, this has been really great, but Ron and I have to go. We start work in the morning.'

'Well, thank you for being here.' she hugged Harry, then Ron. Then, she decided to do something most would consider crazy. Taking a deep breath, she gained a small amount of confidence. Resembling the small girl she had once been, she began to speak.

'Ron ,I-' but by then, he had already disapparated.

Ginny, still over by the back door, came over to her.

'Hermione, honestly, if it were any more obvious, you might as well put up a billboard.'

Long into the night, they talked. And yes, mainly about Ron. Ginny had some great advice actually, the best being: "If he says something dumb, feel free to hex him." Ginny also told her about things he hated, liked, and many of his secret fears.

'I'm actually pretty sure he likes you. But, he's not the best at expressing feelings. Yes, he's literally got the emotional range of a teaspoon.'

As nice as their conversation was, Ginny was human, and eventually needed to go home to sleep. But Hermione wasn't disappointed. This had, of course, been the best day of her life.