Complicated
by Squin

Prologue: Looking Back

Hermione sat on the grassy bank, staring out over the lake. It was a warm June afternoon and a gentle breeze blew through her hair. She ran her fingers through it to push it out of her face, catching a few of the knots in her unruly curls. On her second-last night as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she could proudly say that she had a lot to show from the last seven years.

She was Head Girl and the next day would be graduating with 15 OWLs and 10 NEWTs as top of the year. She was one of the best students to have ever attended Hogwarts, and certainly the best in my lifetime, a beaming Professor McGonagall had told her earlier that morning. With a summer internship as the Ministry already lined up and excellent references from her teachers on her CV, she wouldn't have problems getting a job. And besides, she would be working with Professor Dumbledore and the Order to try and put an end to Voldemort once and for all.

However, there was something missing from her life. Or someone, to be exact. Ron Weasley had been one of her two best friends since the night they had saved each other from a mountain troll and the fury of Professor McGonagall.

But over the last year and a half, Hermione had pushed him away. And he had pushed her away.

It was hard to pinpoint on whom to lay the blame. In truth, no one was at fault. No one had done anything wrong.

For the better part of six years she had two incredible friends. They had been inseparable. Potter, Weasley, Granger. Hogwarts' answer to the Three Musketeers.

But things changed. Choices were made. Excuses were ignored. Friends drifted apart.

Ron and Hermione had been too proud to forgive each other, both believing that the other's behaviour did not warrant an apology. Harry had tried to mend fences, but there was a hole in this particular wall that only two people could fix. And they refused to do anything about it.

While what happened had been nobody's fault, Hermione started to feel as if she was the one to blame for the fact that things would never be the same again. She hadn't done anything wrong, and yet

Hermione lay down on the soft grass and let it support her, and gazed up at the brilliant blue sky.

A single tear escaped out of the corner of her eye and trickled towards her ear. She wiped it away as another took it's place.

Why is everything so complicated? Oh God, why did I do it? Why did I let this happen?

She closed her eyes and tried to figure it out.

After Viktor Krum had dumped her early in Fifth Year, (by owl, no less, the insensitive git) Hermione decided that she would stop worrying about boys', as they always seemed to complicate everything. Like what happened with Ron during Fourth Year. They were great as friends; they were always honest, never bitched like girls do and could be very supportive when they wanted to be. Although he had never really meant as much to her as she had to him, Viktor's final letter had added to pressure of everything that had been happening with Voldemort's return and Hermione found herself unable to cope. Harry and Ron had been wonderful as she sat there bawling in the empty common room that lunchtime. Although Ron seemed to be quite unconcerned at first, he became very sympathetic after receiving a kick in he shins from Harry, and sat holding her while she cried on Hagrid's back porch. Hermione had run there to be alone, but was soon very grateful for Ron's presence.

Yes, boys made brilliant friends, but in terms of relationships,' guys were more effort than they were worth.

She should have listened to her own advice.

If I could turn back time
I never would've thought that I
Could lose you boy but now I know
I should've never let you go
If I could have one wish
I'll be the first to tell you this
Is never what I wanted, no
I should've never let you go

*

Continued in Part One

Credits – Songs/Poems/Quotes (in order of appearance)
-- I Should Have Never Let You Go – Bardot//Bardot (2000)

Disclaimer – All characters and events you recognise from Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling (aka The Goddess)
I own nothing except the plot. Cheers :o)