"Unforgettable"

She smiled across the table at him. He looked up from passing the boiled potatoes to Dean Thomas and smiled back. She quickly looked away hoping it wasn't obvious. She couldn't be obvious. No, that would ruin everything.

She slowly turned back from pretending to be interested in something Neville Longbottom was saying and was relieved when he wasn't looking at her. Infact, he seemed rather pleased at what Ron Weasley had to say, he wasn't even looking remotely in her direction.

Hermione Granger lifted up her fork, loaded with a large chunk of roast lamb, and twirled it at eye level, fascinated by the way the gravy seemed to stay on and not drip anywhere. Sitting opposite her, Harry Potter watched her in fascination. The lamb became out of focus.

"Nice dinner?" he mouthed. The Gryffindor table were by far one of the noisiest, nothing could be heard over the top of them.

"Yes," she replied. "You?"

He nodded and grinned before being swept up in another conversation with Ron who was at the same time, swapping Chocolate Frog cards with Seamus Finnigan.

"Aww I don't want any more Morganas!" Ron was wailing, slamming a fistful of cards down on the table cloth, causing an unfortunate Morgana to be covered in apple sauce.

Hermione's attention was distracted momentarily by this and she watched with great interest as Morgana crossed her arms in a sulk and stormed off out of the picture to find some clean robes.

The meal was suddenly interrupted by their headmaster, Albus Dumbledore who tapped on his silver goblet and stood from the table, opening his arms grandly to the entire population of Hogwarts.

"Students," he began formally. "And teachers," he acknowledged, nodding in the direction of the teachers' table.

Everyone began to stop talking and turned to face him.

"After dinner a notice will be put up in each of the respective common rooms bearing the names of this year's Quidditch captains and match draws for the season. Please do not hurry and rush to view the list, everyone will see it in good time. Thank you," he sat down again and immediately, the noise level rose again.

Hermione glanced around at the other students. There were mixed conversations going on all to do with Quidditch and the house teams. Harry was being pestered by Ginny who she couldn't help but overhear saying how easily Harry was going to get Captain.

"You're going to make the best captain ever," Ginny was saying, gazing love struck into his green eyes.

All he ever talks about is Quidditch, thought Hermione, sighing loudly and dramatically. If only he would see me for once. I wish he would just look at me one day and go, 'Wow, Hermione is so special- I wish I'd noticed her earlier.' Maybe one day. Maybe not.

The dinner dishes were removed a few moments later and as they were dismissed back to the common rooms, a stampede formed as the students ignored Dumbledore's pleads and raced back to see what was on these lists.

* * * * *

Gryffindor Quidditch Team

Captain: Harry Potter, 7th Year

Matches...

Hermione didn't get around to seeing anymore of the list before being shoved hard in the stomach and pushed towards the back of the crowd. She'd seen the most important part though, the bit that beared Harry's name. She couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed at his name even though at the same time she was ecstatic for him. She knew he'd be the most excited person in Hogwarts right about now. It wasn't like he hadn't worked for this role. He'd practically been the Captain of the team since Oliver Wood left a few years ago. Angelina Johnson had officially had the position but everyone had known it was Harry who had really done the hard work. Finally he'd be getting the recognition he deserved.

The one thing that saddened Hermione about all of this was however the fact that now Harry would be spending even more time devoted to his sport, if that was possible. He already lived, breathed and ate the thing and now it would become his full time job too. She frowned thinking about the limited time they'd ever see each other any more. What with trying to fit in study for their exams, his Quidditch, her student newspaper, plus all the other pointless things that seemed to take up all their time, it would be a wonder if Harry and Hermione would ever see each other out of class.

At that particular moment, Hermione spotted Harry out of the corner of her eye. He was standing by the fireplace, surrounded by younger girls each congratulating him, hugging him, gazing at him, beaming at him and giving him kisses on the cheek. The frown didn't leave Hermione's face and she decided rather than join the masses of fans, she'd just head off to bed now and congratulate him in the morning.

* * * * *

"Make way for His Royal Highness Harry!" Ron announced the next morning, in his pyjamas, to the Gryffindors in the common room. Harry sleepily stumbled down the stairs and was greeted by a chorus of 'Morning Captain Potter!'

Blushing but too tired to be that embarrassed, Harry slipped on the last few steps, laughed it off and joined Hermione who was sitting on one of the big red couches, curled up with a book.

"Hey Herms," he said, pulling the book down for a moment.

"Oh hey Harry," she replied. "Congratulations by the way," she added.

"Why thank you," Harry said. "Where were you last night?"

"Oh," Hermione looked at her hands. "It was late. You were already being mobbed by your fan club so I didn't want to add to the numbers and I didn't want to add to the annoying... ness."

Harry frowned and took the book off her completely. "You okay?"

"Yes," smiled Hermione. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You just don't seem yourself. You sure everything's cool?"

"Yes of course it is," Hermione answered.

"You'd tell me if something was wrong wouldn't you?" Harry asked.

"Yes," lied Hermione. Can't you see Harry? I'm in love with you, she felt like screaming. "Everything's fine." She looked at his unconvinced face. "Really."

"Okay," he said uncertainly. "But I'm here to talk to remember?"

"I remember," Hermione forced a big smile.

"All right," Harry finally gave in and handed her back the book before standing up and walking over to Lavender Brown who was signalling him over.

Hermione opened up to the page she'd been at and continued to read though she wasn't sure what she was even reading. It was thoughtful that Harry was showing concern but was she being that obvious? Were her sad feelings that simple to read? She turned over so her back was to Harry and Lavender who were flirting with each other and tried to focus on the book. In the back of her head though all she could hear were the two.

"Oh Harry, those pyjamas look so cute on you..."

"Thanks... I bet you'd look cute on me too..."

Giggle, giggle, giggle.

"You think my pyjamas are cute?"

"I think you're cute. Give or take the pyjamas."

Giggle, giggle, giggle.

Finally, Hermione couldn't stand it any longer. She raced up the stairs to the dormitory, got changed into casual clothes quickly and snuck out of the Gryffindor Tower hoping nobody had seen her. It was about time Harry Potter noticed her. This was sure to get his attention!

"I'm going to be the best damn flyer you've ever seen."

* * * * *

The Quidditch pitch was cold and dewy. Hermione looked down at the broomstick in her hand and clutched at it uneasily. She hesitantly sat on the uncomfortable thing and lifted off into the sky. It was too early for anyone else to be out here and she thanked the Great Wizards above for making it a non-practise morning. She slowly rose higher and higher until she was as far as she dared going and told herself not to look down.

She did.

"Gosh," she cried, gripping on tighter to the broomstick. "I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered, picking up the speed a bit.

Things were going all right until she began to hear voices. They were coming towards the pitch and they were coming quickly.

Hermione didn't have time to dismount the broomstick before she found herself hovering over the top of the Slytherin Quidditch Team, captained by none other than Draco Malfoy.

"Oi check this out guys," said Draco, laughing. "It's a Mudblood on a Broom. Personality change?" he taunted, he and his friends all staring at her and laughing.

Trying to think of a good comeback but finding she had none, Hermione tried to lower herself to the ground. But the darned broom just wouldn't do as she told it. She fumbled around up in the sky, losing control of the broomstick and turned red with embarrassment as the Slytherins enjoyed the show.

"What are you doing here Malfoy?" Hermione asked eventually. "The pitch wasn't scheduled for use today."

"Do you think we actually schedule a time to use it? I don't think so Mudblood. We just use it whenever we feel like it," was Draco's reply.

"Urgh... arrghhh...damn... urgh... uhhhhhhh," Hermione muttered, being thrown around quite a bit by the old broomstick she'd found in the Flying Supplies Cupboard.

This went on for a number of minutes before even Draco began to get sick of it. "You going to come down any time soon Granger?" he called. "Cos I'm not letting my team up there until you've gone. I don't want them to have to fly in the air polluted by you."

"Afraid to say this Malfoy," retorted Hermione. "But you've been closer than this to me before and it hasn't -"

She was about to continue when a sudden jerk given by the broomstick sent her flying off.

"ARRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed, trying to grab onto the handle. But it was too late.

"Hermione?!?!" gasped Draco, genuinely concerned. "Hermione!" The Slytherins didn't know what to do as they watched Hermione's body go falling to the ground.

The last thing she saw was the blue sky as Hermione's mind blacked out completely.

* * * * *

"Is she dead?" she heard someone say as her eyes fluttered open and she stared up at the ceiling. Ceiling? Where was she?

"Shhhh," said someone else. "Ooh, she's awake!"

"Hermione?"

She stared up at the two boys looking down at her. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Urgh..." her throat made a gurgling noise.

"Accio Water!" said one of the boys and helped her drink a glass of water.

The liquid tasted so good and refreshing as she let him trickle it down her dry, parched throat.

"How are you feeling Ms. Granger?" said a female voice appearing in the ward.

"Ms. Granger?" Hermione repeated, confused.

"Yes, how are you feeling?" replied the woman, assumedly the nurse.

"I'm not Ms. Granger," replied Hermione, sitting up.

"Well who are you?" asked the nurse, looking worried. Harry and Ron glanced at each other nervously.

"Well..." Hermione thought hard. "I don't know."

Author's Note: So whatcha think? This is the first installment of a 3-part story. Hope you like!