CHAPTER ONE: At The Beginning

At The Beginning

Performed by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis

We were strangers

Starting out on a journey

Never dreaming what we'd have to go through

Now here we are

And I'm suddenly standing

At the beginning with you

No one told me

I was going to find you

Unexpected, what you did to my heart

When I lost hope

You were there to remind me

This is the start

Life is a road, and I want to keep going

Love is a river I want to keep flowing

Life is a road, now and forever

Wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning

I'll be there when the storm is through

At the end I want to be standing at the beginning

With you

We were strangers

On a crazy adventure

Never dreaming how are dreams could come true

Now here we stand

Unafraid of the future

At the beginning with you

And life is a road, and I want to keep going

Love is a river I want to keep flowing

Life is a road, now and forever

Wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning

I'll be there when the storm is through

At the end I want to be standing at the beginning

With you

I knew there was somebody somewhere

Like me alone in the dark

Now I know my dream will live on

I've been waiting so long

Nothing's going to tear us apart

And life is a road and I want to going

Love is a river I want to keep flowing

Life is a road, now and forever

Wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning

I'll be there when the storm is through

In the end I want to be standing at the beginning

With you

And life is a road, and I want to keep going

Love is a river I want to keep going on

Starting out on a journey

Life is a road and I want to keep going

Love is a river I want to keep flowing

In the end I want to be standing at the beginning

With you

            Hermione Granger would always remember the first time she set eyes on Ronald Weasley, a.k.a. Ron. He was skinny and tall, with flaming red hair and a spot of dirt on his nose. Both had been eleven years old, and had been on the Hogwarts Express on their way to their very first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

            Hermione's first impression of Ron was not a good one. He was foolish and annoying, and sometimes she honestly felt like smacking him. Hermione learned to tolerate Ron's immaturity after he and the famous Harry Potter had saved her from a troll during their first year at Hogwarts. From that day on, the three had been inseparable, aside from a few minor fights. With Harry's courage, Hermione's vast knowledge of just about everything, and Ron's… Well, Ron's Ronness, the three were unstoppable. During their first four years at Hogwarts, they had helped keep He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, a dark wizard who had once tortured many in the wizarding world, from returning to power; they had saved Ginny Weasley, Ron's sister, from the Chamber of Secrets; they had been to a Death Day party for a ghost who's self-esteem was low because he was nearly headless, but not quite; they had saved Sirius Black, Harry's Godfather, from the dementors; and Ron and Harry had arrived at school in a flying car one year, which Hermione scolded them for, although inwardly, she had been impressed.

            Now, as she boarded the Hogwarts Express to begin her fifth year, Hermione was suddenly nervous. Much had changed during the previous year. Somehow, Hermione knew that things were going to be different between her and her friends this year.

            Draco Malfoy boarded the train, immediately followed by his goons Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy looked at Hermione. "Well, if it isn't the brainiac mudblood," he said.

            "Heh, yeah… Mudblood…" Crabbe and Goyle said in unison.

            "Don't Beavis and Butthead ever think for themselves?" Hermione asked in a patronizing tone.

            "Who?" Malfoy asked.

            "Never mind. Beavis and Butthead clearly have a higher IQ than Crabbe and Goyle."

            "'Oy, Hermione!" A familiar voice called. Hermione felt a rush of emotions she could not identify as Ron Weasley came running toward her, Harry Potter right behind him.

            Hermione hugged Ron and Harry, thrilled to see her best friends. She had missed them more than she had realized, particularly Ron.

            "Oh, how cute. The mudblood, the decendant of mudbloods, and the kid who is so poor he might as well be a mudblood are hugging," Malfoy said dryly.

            "Shut up, Malfoy!" Ron shouted, running toward him.

            Hermione held Ron back. "It's not worth getting in trouble for, Ron," she said gently but firmly.

            "Let's go," Harry said. He was in no mood to fight today.

            Hermione and Ron followed Harry into an empty car and sat down. "How was your summer?" Hermione asked them both.

            "Lousy. I had to de-gnome the garden about fifty times!" Ron complained.

            "I had fun. I managed to spend only two days with the Dursleys. The rest of the summer, I stayed with Ron. It was great," Harry said.

            "Yeah, and Ginny was thrilled," Ron said with a laugh. "She's still crazy about brave, strong Harry Potter who saved her from her diary."

            "How was your summer, Hermione?" Harry asked, eager to change the subject.

            "Not bad," Hermione said vaguely.

            "How's Krum?" Ron asked, an edge of dislike in his voice at the mention of the Quidditch hero Hermione had dated the previous year.

            "I don't know. We broke up, for good."

            "Really?" Ron asked, a little too quickly.

            "Yes. He was getting to be a pain."

            "If he did anything to you, Hermione, I'll kill him!"

            "Relax, Ron. Viktor didn't do anything to me. I just realized that he is not the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. He's too serious. He was sweet and all, but it didn't work out." Because I wanted someone else, Hermione added in her mind.

            "Oh. Well. Um. That's a shame for Krum, but I'm glad. He was a jerk. You deserve better."

            "Thank you."

            Conversations returned to normal after that. When they reached Hogwarts, they sat down at the Gryffindor table and watched the first years being sorted. Neville Longbottom smiled when he saw them and sat down next to Harry. "Hi guys," he said eagerly. He seemed more excited than usual.

            "What's got you so happy, Neville?" Ron asked.

            "Um…er…Nothing," Neville said quickly. Ron raised an eyebrow suspiciously, but let it go.

            For the next few days, Neville's unusual behavior continued. Finally, they found out why. As Hermione and Ron were entering the Gryffindor common room, they spotted Neville and Ginny already seated there. Something made them pause and hide. They watched as Neville handed Ginny a single red rose.

"Oh, Neville, you're so sweet!" She kissed him.

"So much for her brave, strong Harry Potter," Hermione mumbled, holding back a giggle.

            "I'll kill 'im!" Ron threatened, about to charge into view, but Hermione grabbed his arm.

            "Ron, Ginny is fourteen. You have to let her make her own decisions. Besides, Neville is a nice boy. He'd never hurt her," she pointed out calmly.

            "You're right," Ron said, "but she's my kid sister. I can't stand the idea of a guy kissing her."

            "You should have seen this coming. After all, they were absolutely adorable at the Yule Ball."

            "So were you." Ron paused. Had he said that aloud? "I mean-"

            "What did you say?" Hermione asked, shocked at what she had heard.

            "I said…Um… So says you."

            "No, Ron, that's not what you said." She looked into his eyes.

            "Alright, fine. I said so were you. I thought you looked cute."

            "Thank you." Hermione looked at Neville and Ginny, who were blissfully cuddling in front of the fireplace. "Let's give them some privacy." She guided Ron away. A compliment, Hermione thought. It was just a compliment from one friend to another. It didn't mean anything. It's just wishful thinking.

            Minor, awkward flirtations between Hermione and Ron continued for several weeks. Hermione chalked it up to wishful thinking. Ron decided that he was imagining things.

            One day, Hermione and Ron were standing in the empty Gryffindor common room arguing. Their arguments were always heated, but that day's was more passionate than ever. Viktor Krum was coming to see Hermione the next day.

            "You can't do this, Hermione!" Ron was shouting, waving his arms around like a madman.

            "Why not, Ron? Because you say so?" Hermione demanded.

            "There is no telling what will happen if you're alone with him! He's such a creep!"

            "I'm a big girl, Ron. I can take care of myself."

            "I don't want you to go. He might hurt you."

            "He's just coming to visit his cousin, and he wanted to say hello. He won't hurt me."

            "He might. I don't want you to risk it."

            "You can't tell me what to do!"

            "He's a big guy, Hermione! He could crush you with one blow!"

            "He never hit me before. Why would he start now?"

            "Because he's a jerk, and I'm scared for you!"

            "Ron, he won't hurt me. I know him."

            "Please, don't meet up with him. I don't trust him!"

            "I trust him, Ron. I know Viktor. He won't hurt me."

            "Please, 'Mione. Please don't."

            "Why do you care so much, anyway, Ron? It's not like he's your ex-boyfriend!"

            "Because I love you!" Ron had shouted it out before he could stop himself.

            Hermione brushed it off. Wishful thinking. "I love you, too. We're friends."

            Ron wasn't going to turn back now. The truth needed to be out. "No," Ron said, softer now. "I mean… 'Mione, I'm in love with you."

            Hermione froze. She was dreaming. That was it. It had to be a dream.

            "I've been in love with you since forever," Ron said lamely, unable to stop now that he had started. He'd rehearsed this moment in his mind about one million times before. "I love the way you irritate me. I love the way you can get under my skin, and you always know what I'm thinking, even before I do. I love your hair, and your teeth, and eyes. I love the way you consider a seven-hundred-paged book 'light reading.' I love the way you laugh. I love the way you get excited about homework. I love the way you don't ever back down from your beliefs, and how you never let Harry or me copy your homework, even though you're our friend. I… I love everything about you. There, I said it. I have just told you everything. And if you don't feel the same way, which you probably don't, then I want you to forget it." Ron stopped speaking and waited for Hermione to respond.

            Hermione began crying. "I'm sorry," Ron said. "I didn't mean to upset you! Forget it. Forget I said anything, okay?" To his shock, Hermione pulled him into a passionate kiss.

            When they both finally caught their breath, Hermione said softly, "I don't ever want to wake up."

            "What?" Ron asked.

            "I know I must be dreaming. You'd never say this to me if I were awake. This is a dream, and I don't want to wake up, because I'm too happy."

            "It's not a dream."

            "It's not?" Hermione asked, sniffling.

            "I love you, 'Mione. I just wish I'd told you sooner."

            "You told me now, and that's what matters. I love you, too, Ron. I broke up with Viktor because I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, and then I thought I must be insane, because you'd never want me."

            "I want you," Ron said, kissing her again. Bliss.

            And so, it began.