A/N: Well, here's the start of Hermione's POV in my 500 Ways series. It follows 500 Ways to Kill My Sister (Ron's POV) and 500 Ways to Torture My Brother (Ginny's POV). I suggest you read those first if you haven't yet. For those of you that already have, welcome back and I hope you enjoy this next installment. The chapters are going to be a bit shorter in the beginning, but there will be more of them and I'll be able to update more frequently, so take that how you will. And now for the main event....
People say that I'm perfect.
I know that they do. I hear the whispers. About perfect Hermione and her perfect grades and her perfect life. I try to ignore them, but it gets to me. Because those people don't know me and they don't know my life. They don't know about the things I've seen and had to deal with. They might be surprised.
My life isn't perfect.
One of my best friends is in constant danger of being killed by the most evil wizard in history. Another one of my best friends was possessed by that same dark wizard for almost an entire year. And Ron, well...that's a whole other story.
Ron Weasley. The only boy who can completely anger me and then ten minutes later make me smile. He's been making me feel insecure since I first met him. Our relationship started off with him calling me a know-it-all and pointing out my lack of friends. But he can also make me feel wonderful, like when he tells me that my ideas are brilliant or when he goes out of his way and makes me feel included. He also worries about me. That I take on too much, like third year with the Time-Turner, and that I don't take time out for fun. We argue a lot sometimes. About schoolwork, about Harry, about Victor Krum, and about a million stupid things. Sometimes I want to strangle him. And sometimes...well sometimes I just want to grab him and kiss him.
It took me a long time to admit it to myself that I cared for Ron like that. I spent years denying it and trying to rationalize that it was perfectly natural that sometimes his smile made me catch my breath.
Eventually I admitted it out loud, to Ginny Weasley of all people. Ron's sister. And she somehow got it into her head that Ron liked me back and that we should live happily ever after.
She didn't know that it would never work and her constant assurances that it would only made things worse. When she insisted that I ask Ron out it only served to make me think of the hundreds of ways that he could say no and the thousands of reasons why. Because I knew what Ginny didn't. Ron fancied someone else and there was no way he would choose me over Lavender.
Yes, Ron fancies Lavender. The most popular girl in seventh year. She's flirty, she's outgoing, and she's beautiful. In other words, she's everything that I'm not.
I found out about Ron liking Lavender at the beginning of this term. It was ironic really, because before I came back to the common room that fall afternoon I had gone out for a walk on the grounds. And on that walk I decided that I had to do the courageous, Gryffindor thing and tell Ron how I feel about him. An hour later, I walked through the portrait hole and saw Ron and Harry sitting on the couch in the common room speaking in low voices. As I got closer I heard Ron telling Harry about a girl he liked and Harry saying that Ron should tell her how he feels. My heart started beating twice as fast as I approached the couch and heard Ron say that the girl was beautiful. I didn't dare hope...
"Who are you talking about?" I heard myself ask before I could realize that I probably wouldn't want to hear the answer.
Both of the boys had turned around quickly.
"Hermione?" Harry had replied slowly, in shock.
Ron was still sitting there with his mouth and eyes wide open.
"Yes." I replied tartly as I looked over at Harry.
"Lavender," I heard Ron sputter, "We were talking about Lavender."
"Lavender?" I replied slowly as I stared at Ron with wide eyes and my chest started to constrict. "Lavender Brown?"
"Erm, yeah," Ron replied looking a bit panicked, "Right Harry?"
Harry looked at Ron questionably and then slowly nodded.
"Well," I said as my head started to spin, "I have to go study. Goodbye." And I practically ran up to the girl's dormitory, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.
Ginny may not believe me, but I know the truth. Ron told me himself.
A/N: Okay everyone! Here's the part where you click that button down at the bottom and let me know what you think. I can't wait to hear from you. :)
Lion's Roar - Yeah I agree. Things would be so much easier if you could just admit your feelings and things could work out. Of course, then we wouldn't have all the complications that keep us reading stories like this, right? ;) I always love to read your reviews and I can't wait to see you. It'll be a blast.
sea-my-eyes - Here's the more that you were asking for. Hope I didn't keep you hanging too long! It makes me feel so special that my writing can fill that empty hole. Hopefully this update filled the hole up a bit. I can't wait to get your next review.
Altair1 - Well, here's the start of Hermione's POV. Hope it lives up to your expectations. The story will eventually go past where we left off with that whole scene in the library and we'll get to see Ron and Hermione's detention. Unfortunately I won't be writing the scene when Hermione told Ginny about her feelings for Ron. It would be good, but I feel that focusing on the future will be far more exciting. ;)
Sad Strange Little Girl - Here's the start of the next story. I hope you like it!
Michelle - Glad you like the story. Thanks for the compliments. I really hope you continue reading now that we've moved on to Hermione's POV and I can't wait to hear what you think of it.
eedoe - As always I was ecstatic to get your review. It's great hearing you're thoughts line by line. You totally pick up on the subtleties of the story and I love that. To comment on a few things- Yes, Harry definitely was thinking about something else. It certainly took a while for Ginny to admit her feelings huh? Silly girl. Glad you liked the last section with Hermione. Perfect interpretation of Harry before he left. Poor boy was feeling cornered. We'll get to see a bit more when we get to his POV. Glad you liked Madam Pince. You'll get a bit of her again in Hermione's POV. Thanks for your compliments on how I ended the story. I was also sad to end Ginny's section as she is my favorite female character in HP. We haven't heard the last of her yet though and I'm sure you'll enjoy the upcoming RHr and HG. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this short chapter and all those to follow. Until lata.
FreckledIrishMaiden - Yeah, poor kids are too scared and confused to admit how they feel. Then again, as Ron and Hermione know, having feelings out in the open doesn't solve everything. ;) Hope you're linking this next part of the story!
werewolf-0194 - Thanks, and yes this is post OotP. It takes place the trio's seventh year.
J.Rhaye - Yes, Ron and Hermione as well. I couldn't leave them out of the "misunderstandings, the second-guesses, the lost opportunities" now could I? I'm glad you're picking up the parallels between the two relationships. In fact, sometimes I read your reviews, and it just makes my story sound so cool! So thanks. Glad you loved the last installment and I hope you enjoy this next one as well. Thanks again for your great compliments and insights. It makes my day to have a reviewer like you.