A/N: This story is about Hermione in her 7th year, and it's about her love life. I don't want to give any away, so I won't say much else. Oh yeah, the story is in Hermione's point of view.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and all his friends (or enemies). They belong to JK Rowling. And the title of this story is a song by Billy Gilman.

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As I look back on what happened, I realize many things I would have done differently. Of course, there's no point in trying to change the past, we can only continue with the present and the future.

Anyway, it all began in my seventh year. I had planned my whole life out before me. I would get all the highest grades, I would become successful, and eventually start a family of my own. And life would be perfect. Just like a fairy tale. Once upon a time...

I was, of course, still best friends with Harry and Ron. But both seemed to be drifting from me lately. We still hung out and all, but we were never as close as we were. Perhaps it was because I always had my nose in a book, while those two were socializing. Harry and Ginny had finally discovered each other, and spent lots of time together, much to Ron's dismay.

Ron, on the other hand, didn't have a girlfriend. I suspected, he had liked me, and when I talked to Harry about it, he confirmed my thoughts. I had always figured that since Ron's reaction to Viktor Krum in our fourth year. But as much as I love Ron, it's only the way I would love a brother. I could never be anything more than a sister to him, but I had no idea how to tell him that.

So I drowned away my worries and my fears in books, whether I was learning something new or getting lost in a world that wasn't my own. I just wasn't ready for a romance right now. I had to get out of school first. Besides, there was no one in Hogwarts that I could see myself in a relationship with.

Maybe I had lost all faith in romance after Viktor. We broke up after the summer after fourth year. I was young, naive, and I thought I was in love. He had even told me he loved me, and I had come and spent part of my summer with him in Bulgaria. Well, on my last day there, I had already been halfway home on a wizard bus when I had to turn around because I'd forgotten one of my trunks. Incredibly stupid, I know, but there was nothing I could do then.

So I turned around and went back. I opened to door to Viktor's room, only to find him snogging some 18-year-old blonde. I just grabbed my stuff and ran out of there, crying. Viktor barely even turned around.

Ever since then, I have buried my nose in books and steered clear of love and romance. To me, it just didn't seem worth it.

I guess Draco Malfoy had other ideas.

It was the first week in October, I believe, of our last year at Hogwarts. Ron, Harry, Ginny, and I were all sitting in the Great Hall, eating breakfast one Saturday morning. Suddenly I noticed a tall, six foot two, blonde haired, blue eyed Slytherin get up from his table and start to approach ours.

He gave us his infamous Malfoy sneer, and said, "Well, well, well. It seems Weasley's finally got her man. Famous as you are, Potter, I'm surprised you never noticed her sooner. I guess fame doesn't equal brains."

Ginny had turned a bright shade of crimson, and Harry looked flustered. I could tell Ron was ready to punch Malfoy. So I spoke up quickly. "Just leave them alone, Malfoy. They didn't do anything to you."

He turned and eyed me. Looked me up and down from head to toe. No one had ever looked at me like that before, or "checked me out." As uncomfortable and awkward as it made me feel, I was also a little excited for someone to be looking at me that way. I've never got much attention before.

Then he scoffed at me. "So, the mudblood's sticking up for her little friends," he sneered, "how sweet. The next time I'm in trouble, do you think you could help me get out of it?"

Now Ron was really going to punch him. Harry had to grab his arms and hold him back. It's a good thing that Harry's gotten really muscular from playing Quidditch all these years; he was able to restrain Ron by himself.

I turned back to Draco. "Why don't you just go back to your little cronies, your Slytherin friends?" I don't know why I kept talking, but there was something exciting about arguing with him.

"Oh, sure," he replied. I couldn't believe he was just going to leave! But then he reached across the table and pushed Ginny's goblet of juice right over in her lap. "Oops," he said, with a sly smile on his face.

Ginny looked like she was going to cry. Harry, Ron, and some of the other Gryffindors rushed to help her and clean it up. I started to turn to help her, too, but Malfoy poked me on the shoulder.

I turned around, wondering what he wanted now. Wordlessly, he shoved a piece of folded up paper into my hand. Without saying anything, he swaggered away.

I immeadiately shoved the paper in my pocket. I didn't want Harry or Ron to see it. Or anyone else, for that matter.

But, I was dying to know what it said. So I finished my meal rather quickly and left the Great Hall. Ron started to call after me, but I just told him I needed to study. "On a Saturday?" he complained, but didn't stop me.

I hurried to the library. I knew no one would be there on a Saturday, and it would be a much better spot then the common room or even my bedroom, which I have to share with Parvati and Lavender. Even though I'm Head Girl, I don't get my own room or anything. I wish I did.

I sat down at my usual table in the corner and slowly unfolded the note. It read as follows:

Granger-

Meet me in the empty Charms classroom tomorrow night at nine o'clock. Don't be late.

-D.M.

I read it again. Why did Draco Malfoy want to meet me? I was clueless. But curiousity would get the best of me, and I would end up going to meet him. Maybe that's how it all began.

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A/N: This first chapter just had to get all the details and stuff down first. More action in the next chapter! Please review!