Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, that belongs to J.K and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Chapter Two

Chapter Song: 'When We Were Young' - Adele

Looking back on life was like looking in Alice's Looking Glass. For Hermione it was hardly like she was looking at her own life at all. She could hardly go anywhere without reminders of what they had done in the war. A statue here, a quote there, books, pictures, flashing lights all followed her every move. She had never liked the press and attention she had gotten for being Harry's friend and part of the Golden Trio. In her mind she had done what anyone would have done in her situation. Even though she knew that statement wasn't true she still liked to think of the good in people.

Hermione's life could be played out in a series of films but how would things end? Certainly not how they had turned out now. Would she find a 'happy ever after' or would she become a spinster with a group of Kneazle Cats that followed her around?

She knew she was being dramatic. What could she say? Something Pavarti had said had struck a chord in her. It wasn't about Harry really, it was more about herself and the disappointments she saw in her life. She'd sacrificed relationships for her work, she knew that and everyone around her knew that. Maybe it was time to take a step back from things and look down other avenues.

Sometimes her heart ached so much that she thought she would die from it. She found herself at war sometimes and knew she wasn't the only survivor of the war to feel that way. Sometimes it was hard to rationalise what had happened in the past and look at where they had found themselves now.

War had been terrible; all those lives lost and with what gained? That's what it felt like at the beginning, people had told them they'd won but to Hermione it hadn't seemed that way.

She shouldn't think of it for she knew it just made her unhappy and depressed. It was unavoidable however, as even the most innocent of thoughts could land her back into her memories of a time she'd rather forget. She knew Harry felt the same way, it was one of the burden's that they had both carried for each other since the end of the war.

Still it didn't do to dwell on things of the past when there were more pressing matters at hand, like why Pavarti thought Hermione was into Harry. There was no denying it Harry was very attractive and since the war he'd managed to buff up some and wear clothes that fitted him. Hermione knew she found him pleasing to look at but had never thought of Harry in a romantic sense. He was her friend, her best friend and that was enough for her.

Her floo flared and Hermione recognised the magical signature. She couldn't help but groan in annoyance…Ginny.

Since school had ended the friendship Hermione had shared with Ginny had crumbled before her eyes. It was as if Hermione had fabricated the entire friendship between the two of them, for Ginny was a force to be reckoned with. A woman who didn't take kindly to those who drew Harry's attention away from her. Hermione was a prime example of that, Harry was her best friend and they were often together and frequently featured in pictures in The Daily Prophet.

Ginny's spiteful ways came out very quickly and with it a jealousy that could consume worlds. Recently Hermione had managed to have as little as possible to do with Ginny. It helped that she and Ron had fizzled out years ago and thus Mrs. Weasley's interest in her had waned. Ginny however, still sought out Hermione and blamed her for the problems she faced in life.

"Ginny, what a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?"

"Don't play games with me Granger. I've warned you before to leave my Harry alone but you never listen. When will you learn that he doesn't want you interfering in his life? I bet you throw yourself at him all the time, he loves ME not you."

"I'm fine Ginny, thanks for asking," replied Hermione sarcastically.

"You're pathetic and ugly."

"Your insults haven't got any better I see. Ginny, when will you get over this schoolyard jealousy? Harry and I are just friend's, nothing more."

"You shouldn't even be friend's, you're not worthy of my Harry. You're just lowly scum."

"If you continue to insult me, I'll have to ask you to leave. As it stands I rescind your floo rights to my house."

"Urgh! Why are you being so calm? I'm calling you out Granger. I know you've been staying late at work with my Harry. Trying to get your paws on his gold no doubt."

"No, that gold-digging bitch would be you Ginny, not me."

With Ginny's wand pressed firmly into her neck, Hermione concluded that she'd stepped too far. Ginny was always unpredictable and the glint Hermione could see in her eyes worried her. It was dark and foreboding. It reminded Hermione that Ginny had undergone what no child should at the tender age of eleven and that no one had bothered to get her check out for it. It was these darker moments in Ginny that caused Hermione to worry.

"Let me make myself quite clear Granger and you would do well to remember my words. You may have won the spotlight from standing in Harry's shadow but no one cares for you now! The Wizarding World may have improved in leaps and bounds but you are still a lowly mudblood without prospect or connections. Harry is the last of an Ancient house, Lord Potter and as such deserves a pureblood bride on his arm. That bride WILL. Be. Me. Do I make myself clear? You will desist in meeting with my Harry, you will end your friendship with him and you will remove yourself from the Wizarding World or I will make sure you suffer."

With a ragged breath, Hermione sank to the floor of her flat as Ginny disappeared in a cloud of green light. Part of her felt foolish for letting her guard down, for all her faults, Ginny was her friend and not someone she expected to be harmed by. She supposed it would be foolish to ignore Ginny's words but Hermione wasn't going to let her control her life either.

Hermione would not give up her career at the Ministry, nor would she give up her friendship with Harry but she suspected Ginny had ways of controlling Harry also if Hermione didn't follow through with what she'd demanded.

What happened to when we were young? Everything was hard but it was so simple.

Hermione's heart ached from the hurt of her friendship with Ginny. She had never been good with female friends during her school days. That Ginny had been her first friend made everything hurt more. Should she tell someone? Who? Not Harry, Luna maybe? No. It was better not to say anything.

Perhaps Ginny had been right; she did spend a lot of time with Harry. Perhaps for the sake of her best friend's love life, she should ease off?

[x]

Her anger and annoyance at the Ginny situation continued into the next day. Hermione knew she was carrying the weight of something that was much bigger than her on her own shoulders but she couldn't understand how to get rid of it. It was weighing her down in ways she hadn't anticipated.

Hermione was a perfectionist and someone who tried hard to please others. Since her confrontation with Ginny, those niggling negative thoughts had flooded her brain and beaten her down to the point that her shoulders slumped in defeat as she walked into her office.

There were flowers on her desk. Bright pinks, purples and blues. They smelled divine but Hermione was wary. No one had ever sent her flowers before, in fact she didn't know anyone who WOULD send her flowers. The thought that this was just another prank dealt by an angry Ginny sent Hermione ducking for cover and using a nearby ruler to poke the flowers gingerly.

When nothing happened, she took a chance to walk closer and sniff them. They smelled even better close-up and Hermione smiled. With a quick wave of her wand she cast a few spells to determine if the flowers were dangerous or not and was relieved when the spells assured her they were harmless.

The flowers came with a card, she noticed a moment later. With delicate hands, she cradled the small card and opened it with equal amounts of curiosity and suspicion.

'From your Secret Admirer.'

A Secret admirer? The girly part of Hermione squealed in joy like a teenager with their first crush. Hermione knew she wasn't beautiful and wasn't sought after by the opposite sex but she must have some redeeming qualities for someone to have sent her these*.

The anger that Hermione felt from seeing Ginny slowly melted in light of this delivery of flowers. Funny how some things can cheer people up so completely, when they've been feeling so down in the dumps.

Hermione wondered who had sent the flowers, for her brain never did stop trying to work things out. She felt however, that here she'd be disappointed for she couldn't think of anyone who would want to send her flowers.

It didn't help that she could hear a voice that sounded very much like Pavarti whisper in her head, Harry Potter.

That was a childish stupid thought. Why would Harry send her flowers? Well he wouldn't.

Hermione blamed Pavarti for the continuing thoughts of Harry that she had in her head. They weren't doing anything for her other than confuse her and make her sound crazy as she sat in her office and argued with her brain.

*If you think it cliché that Hermione doesn't view herself as beautiful and feels neglected by the opposite sex, rest assure I'm not setting Hermione up for a magical makeover. The Hermione in this story hasn't a lot of relationship experience and mostly it has ended in heartbreak. She doesn't view herself as others see her because she hasn't had enough experiences to back it up. Thus, in terms of relationships and being desirable, she views herself negatively.