Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the song Say Something. Those rights go to (1) J.K. Rowling and (2) A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera respectively.
A/N: I have three notes:
(1) I wanted to get the first chapter out before I leave for awhile, so this isn't edited. If you have any edits or recommendations, please review to tell me.
(2) This is the first chapter of three.
(3) This is my first slash story, so please no flames! I will accept constructive criticism, however.
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the story!
CHAPTER ONE
SAY SOMETHING, I'M GIVING UP ON YOU
Hermione Granger was known to be successful at everything. She defeated Voldemort with her two best friends, one of which who was her current boyfriend, graduated with all Outstandings on her N.E.W.T.s, made huge improvements for House-Elf rights, and, most recently, became the Head of the DCML after Madam Bones' retirement.
But the one thing Hermione Granger wasn't successful at was love.
She thought she loved Ron Weasley, the boy who she had been friends with for over seven years. But when they spent time together, Hermione could feel something missing. A hole in her heart she didn't know how to fill. Hermione attempted to do so by ignoring it - she still loved Ron, of course - and diving into her work. She spent all of the time she could with her boyfriend, making dinners despite her hate for cooking and creating date nights. She still wasn't around Ron all that much, however, because of her work. She was the Head of the DCML and an active activist for House Elf rights, both of which took up a lot of work. Not to mention, the Minister of Magic, Percy Weasley, always called upon her for help. She was like the Vice President - except for a Minister, so she would be the (unofficial) Vice Minister. She didn't mind at all, though. Truth be told, she liked her work better than spending time with Ron. She still tried, though. Hermione Granger wasn't known to give up, and she wasn't planning on changing that any time soon.
One day, Hermione came home to find Ron standing at the door with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. They were all oddly picked - there were white roses, lilies, dandelions, and a whole number of odd things, but the sentiment was still there. Hermione was surprised, for Ron hadn't gotten something for her since… well, a very long time ago.
"Hi, 'Mione." Ron said, "These are for you. They're charmed to last for awhile."
Hermione smiled, finding herself filling up with hope.
For all the things she knew, Hermione Granger didn't know a thing about love.
"Here - I can take your stuff." Ron offered as he spotted Hermione's stack of books, "Here, trade me."
Hermione smiled even wider as she handed over her books to her boyfriend. He grunted at the weight, nearly toppling over, but managed to stay on his feet. Hermione giggled, happier than she'd been in a while.
Ron led her to the candle-lit table, where a dinner had been prepared. Hermione nearly gaped - she didn't even know Ron knew how to set a table, let alone cook! Ron pulled her chair out and Hermione sat down, ever feeling like a princess. Ron took a seat across from her. Hermione took the first bite of her food, shocked that Ron hadn't already started and instead had waited for her.
Hermione gasped at the juices that flowed into her mouth. That was… the most delicious steak she'd ever tasted in her life! She eagerly took a bite of the vegetables, and was equally pleased.
"Ronald Weasley, did your mother cook this food?" Hermione accused after she swallowed, teasing. Ron's face colored.
"Y-yes?" He said, but quickly followed up with, "I just wanted to make everything perfect, though."
Hermione felt like she was falling in love all over again.
"Thank you." Hermione replied, "I love it. I love you."
Ron smiled. They took a few more bites.
"Listen, Hermione." Ron said, "I just remembered - Ginny and I are going on a trip to America in a couple of days. I just want to make sure that's alright with you."
"Of course!" Hermione replied, even more stunned that he asked her.
Ron smiled wider.
"Thanks, 'Mione." He said, "I love you too."
Hermione was glowing.
Later that night, when she went to bed, she could still feel her heart expanding, filling like a balloon. Everything had just been so perfect. So amazingly awesome - she'd never felt any emotion like the one she was feeling at the moment. She was floating on a cloud, she was soaring through the sky, she was glowing like a firefly.
Maybe Ron had just gone through a tough spot, Hermione thought dreamily, and now they'd be perfect for each other.
Hermione awoke in the morning to find a note next to her flowers, which she had put into a vase. Ron had to leave early for his trip to America.
ONE MONTH LATER
Hermione's pen flicked across the paper as she wrote her eleventh letter to Ron. For the first two weeks he was gone, she only wrote to him a few times a week, but now she was starting to get worried. Ron hadn't written her back. Now, Hermione knew that it took awhile to get to America, but the owls had a magical way of getting there relatively fast. Hermione also knew that Ron wasn't very good with sending reply letters, but a month was a very long time. She was writing letters every other day, now. She figured that, if Ron didn't write her back soon, then she'd ask Harry if he'd gotten any letters from Ginny, since she also went on the trip with Ron.
Hermione tied her letter up to the owl's leg and watched it fly away until it disappeared into the night sky.
Say something
TWO MONTHS LATER
Hermione finally asked Harry if he'd heard from Ginny. He informed her he had three times - twice in the first month, and one in the second. That was more than Hermione could say - she hadn't heard from Ron since the night before he left. At some point in her conversation, Hermione figured out that Ginny and Ron would be gone for nine months more - to bring the total to a year. Feeling alone and helpless, she holed herself up in her office, wondering why on Earth Ron didn't tell her that he'd leave her alone for an entirety of a year.
Hermione wondered feebly if Ron would ever come back.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
She would be the one to welcome him back, though. If he wanted to come back, that is.
I'll be the one, if you want me to
She would have gone with him.
Anywhere, I would have followed you
She would have.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
THREE MONTHS LATER
Hermione stared at the newspapers she'd been ordering from America. She'd been trying to find Ron in one of them, if only to see his face again. She'd missed him a lot. The hole in her heart had gotten a lot bigger, so she'd simply thrown herself into her work. She worked from seven in the morning to one in the morning the following day on a regular basis. Harry sometimes came up to her and asked her if she was alright, but she simply waved him away.
And then came Christmas Eve. Hermione spent it alone, curled up on her couch, crying.
Harry wouldn't understand her pain, she thought, he won't understand the hole in her heart. He wouldn't understand how alone she was.
And I… am feeling so small...
No one could understand.
It was over my head
She felt so alone.
I know nothing at all
Six hours of sleep had turned into five and a half, and then five.
And I… will stumble and fall...
She, deep down, wondered if Ron ever loved her.
I'm still learning how to love
She wondered if anyone could love her.
Just starting to crawl
It was January first then she saw the picture. The 100th annual New Years Ball, hosted by MACUSA. The front page of America's Wizarding World Newspaper.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
And there was Ron.
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
And there was another girl in his arms.
Anywhere, I would have followed you
And there was them kissing.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
ONE DAY LATER
Hermione had screamed herself hoarse. The house was a mess, every picture frame of Hermione and Ron together, every possession of Ron's, everything that she'd gave to him, everything he'd gave to her, destroyed. It looked as if a tornado had come through - and it had. Its name was Hermoine.
Her gaze fell on the last thing that looked untouched - the flowers that Ron had given her before he left. She'd been so proud for him to be her boyfriend that night - so proud of those flowers - so proud.
And I will swallow my pride
She grabbed the vase, the flowers inside.
You're the one that I love
Hermione threw the flowers at the door as hard as she could.
And I'm saying goodbye
TWO DAYS LATER
She stared at the broken glass, the broken flowers by the door.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
She was drained - she hadn't stopped crying for days.
And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
But she was done with it.
And anywhere I would have followed you, oh-oh
She wiped away her last tear.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
THREE DAYS LATER
Hermione picked up a pen.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
She wrote her last letter to Ron Weasley.
Say something...