Breaking Boundaries
By: Somewhere Sky

Disclaimer: Of course, as always - the rights to the Harry Potter realm of fiction belongs solely
to J.K Rowling and her brilliant mind. Although I may admit, I shall always be slightly jealous.

Chapter 1:
A Different Perspective

Hermione sat at her desk scribbling her thoughts in ink onto the parchment in front of her, she had been meaning to record her thoughts and feelings for years in a diary and this was the perfect opportunity. A diary was bought for her from her mother upon returning from the exhaustion of what was one of the largest wars in wizarding history, the demise of Tom Riddle himself. Hermione knew of several things she could jot down and yet, she ended up just laying her head in her crossed arms upon the diary and sat there moping, letting her thoughts spiral into waves and jump around. It was something she seemed to be doing often, forgetting about her studies just to think about things that were, have been and will be.

Hermione Granger was many things, she was a daughter foremost - a friend, and a lover of all things beautiful, such as the knowledge of life and of magic, she loved diving into books that taught her of things she hadn't the opportunity to learn being muggle-born. Although her parents displayed absolute pride upon Hermione receiving her Hogwarts letter all of those years ago, she still struggled. Harry had a similar handicap as she, neither of them knew about the Wizarding World coming in the First-Year boats towards a strange and yet wonderful life that would soon take place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Where as Ron knew everything, he was taught immediately the lifestyle in which he was given, he was taught spells, and how to control his magic, on top of everything he had a gorgeous family who loved him.

Sometimes Hermione found herself jealous of this. He was raised with a knowledge that no book could ever give her, a knowledge no book could ever prepare her for, love.

There is a parents love, where they lie about Santa Claus and tell you not eating your vegetables will make you shrink, a love that will always be irreplacable but also a love that won't ever complete the hole that rages inside every person.

There is a friends love, jumping in front of a spell when everything has gone awry and you are found facing the dangers of things, Harry always seemed to be protecting her - Ron too. Everytime someone misplaced their manners and slipped a "Mudblood" here, and "Bookworm" there, she always had a friend there to step in and make a drama out of things, but she loved them with a love that still could not finish filling in the hole of her heart.

Hermione felt dreadfully alone these last couple of months, with everything that happened there was just no stopping the depression that seemed to follow. Ron was so sweet to her, after having that unexpected moment in the halls occur everything seemed to be going well with them, Ron kissed her good-bye when she had to leave to go home and they hadn't spoken since. Well, that was a lie - Ron had sent her countless letters, but when she responded she was brief, it saved a lot of explaining on her part for being absent.

Hermione was preoccupied with her parents who had yet to forgive her for the whole Australia bound adventure she sent them on, it still shook her to tears when she thought of her parents being charmed to believe that they had no daughter. Ron didn't understand, she couldn't seem to make him understand. His parents were there, they fought alongside Harry, Ron and herself when taking down Voldemort. Hermione sighed, it didn't matter anymore. There's never any winning with Ron even when you put up a fight. He was just so ridiculously stubborn.

"Hermione!" her mother called from the stairwell, Hermione was shaken from her stupor, and quickly stood shuffling away any hard or disconcerning thoughts to greet her mother with a smile.

"Hermion-" Her mother tried a second time but was interrupted by the arrival of Hermione racing down the stairs almost tripping near the bottom.

"Sorry 'mum, I was trying to finish up some reading for school" Hermione lied.

"Of course dear, there's someone here to see you. I know it's short notice, but I-" Interrupted again was Mrs. Granger by a blur of red piling into the small foyer.

Hermione found herself bombarded by a certain Weasley, who dressed in her best and smelling like fire had grabbed hold of Hermione in one of the largest, longest and yet most fulfilling hugs Hermione had ever endured. She had needed that hug more than anything, the touch of another human soul who knew a little something of what she was feeling, even more so a girl with such a ravid and incredible smile that it stripped Hermione of any worry she had previously undergone.

"I missed you Gin" Hermione whispered to her friend. She hadn't seen Ginny since Hermione had left the burrow months before, everyone had gathered for a few days to recoop and grieve together, and than Hermione parted to be with her parents, and Harry left to seek out a place of his own even though both Harry and Hermione were invited to stay with the Weasley's. Hermione instead went home to parents who were angry with her, and friends who were far to busy with their own losses to write. Hermione of course understood - but she didn't have to like it.

"I missed you too Hermione! Ugh, it's been forever - I would have come to see you sooner but you know mum, wouldn't let any of us out of her sight since Fred, she's absolutely frightened we may go out and get our heads taken off or something." Ginny laughed, and Hermione felt her heart beginning to melt, the sound of that laugh had paralyzed Hermione completely. Who wouldn't love this beautiful girl? Whose red hair fell down past her shoulders, her curves so much more obvious now that she was becoming a woman.

Hermione tried not to stare so avidly, but she seemed unable to pull her eyes away from the redhead in front of her.

"What have you been up to Hermione? We've been hoping to see you for sometime now, you're usually with us at the burrow by now" Ginny asked in disappointment, she began tucking her hair behind her ear, and shuffling her foot along the hardwood floor.

"I know, I know, I'm so sorry Gin, honest - I've just been so wrapped up in-"

"Don't you dare lie to me Hermione Granger." Ginny tried to refrain from yelling, and so she spoke more sternly.

"I just can't seem to face anyone Gin, I just feel so alone." Ginny laughed at this, which received a bit of a smirk and crooked brow from Hermione who was confused.

"I'm sorry Hermione, It's just - you could have been with us all this time, and you're complaining about being alone, we were all there! Bloody hell, I lost a brother Hermione! And you're whining about being alone, come off your high horse woman!" The redhead belted out.

"I.. I..." Hermione was absolutely speechless and she stuttered to find the right thing to say.

"You're coming to the burrow with me, grab your things - we have got to get you out of this funk, it's ending now. Go on, go get your things - I'll wait here."

Hermione tried to interrupt and say that it wasn't a funk - it was more of a, well a crush gone bad you could put it simply. It was like she knew deep down there was something not right in this world, and despite the fact that she knew exactly what it is, she wasn't ready to admit it yet. Not yet, you don't fall in love with your best friend when you're dating her brother and come out and admit it after everything they've been through, it's just not something you do.

So? How was it? I know it's a lot of description and this chapter was particularly long, but I wanted to get Hermione's emotions out there,
she really is all jumbled and confused. Read & Review!

Somewhere Sky