Just Another Victim of Love

Disclaimer: Just for the heck of it, I have a disclaimer. I don't own anything. I wish I do but I don't.

Chapter One: Love? Bah, Humbug.

It was 2 a.m. in the morning. Hermione was forced to leave the office after her boss had declared that she had too much work and gave her an entire week off. Normally she would have argued, but lately she wasn't feeling too well so she didn't protest. She also had a particularly tough week at work and was extremely stressed.

'I need some rest,' thought Hermione. As soon as she got home to her lovely little muggle apartment, Hermione threw herself on the couch. Her back was aching, her head was pounding – if she had to read another legal document again, she would explode. She had been doing that for years non-stop, it seemed that she finally got sick of it. She turned on her TV, hoping to find something that would interest her. She ended up watching some cartoon or anime, whatever you call them. She just wanted to watch something where she didn't have to think.

Seven years ago, when she was still at Hogwarts, she probably never would have thought it possible to overuse the brain. Now, after she became a successful lawyer at a muggle law firm, she just never stopped working. Certainly she put a lot of that on herself, as she took case after case, indulging herself into all the work so she could forget her troubles, her loneliness, and especially that moment seven years ago.

In fact, Hermione never even went on one date with anyone since she graduated top of her class from Hogwarts. It wasn't because Hermione wasn't attractive; she just made sure that she was too busy at the firm with all the hearings, meetings, appointments, dinners with clients, business parties etc. Even if Hermione was a witch, she still had to do a lot of the things herself. Sure she could apparate home and use magic at home, but at the office, she couldn't do magic since it was a muggle law firm. The other reason that Hermione didn't bother to make time out from her schedule to go on a date was because she vowed never to fall in love with anyone ever again. The last time she fell in love, which was seven years ago, she was hurt so bad, she cried for days over. Hermione has never made the same mistake twice, so she decided that if she never fell in love, she would never get hurt emotionally again. Until now, she never doubted her decision.

One by one, Hermione acknowledged that a few of her closest friends had found their soul mates and surely, she was happy for them. There was always a pang of jealousy, every time she met up with them, which wasn't often due to her schedule. She wasn't even able to attend Ginny's wedding, though she was there for a bit of the bachelorette party Ginny had at a club. She hadn't even met Ryan, or Bryan, whatever his name was. In fact, the only other person who seemed to still be single was Harry, who has become a HUGE quidditch star and was always mobbed by the paparazzi. She couldn't say the same for Ron who apparently was engaged to some supermodel. Hermione didn't care too much about Ron anyway. She hadn't spoken to him for a long time, years even. She usually heard any news about Ron from Harry or Ginny, and even then they never really talked about him.

Hermione woke up at 5 a.m. the next morning. She only had 3 hours of sleep but she was used to this. It was the first time in the three years that she didn't have to get ready for work so she decided to take a nice long bubble bath. She didn't care that she was a bit hungry since she didn't really eat dinner the night before, or the fact that it was only 5 in the morning. She only wanted to feel clean. Hermione grabbed a novel that she had owned for a few years, yet she had only read the title.

After three hours, Hermione emerged from her bath feeling refreshed and happier than she has ever been for a very long time. She finished the novel and really enjoyed it too. It was about a girl who found her place in the world, while remaining as an individual too. The girl also found her true love. Hermione normally would have frowned at the story, but the way it was written, Hermione couldn't help but wish the girl success in her life and cheered for her along the way in the story. This was largely due to the fact that Hermione secretly wished she were like the girl in the story. Sure she was successful in her work but she wanted more. She wanted to find her place in the world, or at least in the arms of someone that she loved, and loved her back too. Sometimes she just wished that things turned out differently seven years ago, but she knew it probably wouldn't have made a difference. The idiot would probably mess things up anyway. The only thing was that she couldn't be sure of that, and if it did come out differently, she would have been happier a long time ago.

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Hermione walked into Diagon Alley. She hadn't been there for so long. Even so, she recognized the shops, as they never change. As she was walking to a restaurant for lunch, she bumped into Ginny and her husband.

"Hermione! Is that you? Today's Monday! A workday! Are you feeling all right? Are you sick?" asked Ginny.

Ginny's husband chuckled at this.

"Of course I'm all right! Don't I look healthy enough to you Ginny?" responded Hermione.

"Well, it's just that you're always so busy! Don't you forget, you missed my wedding because of work and here you are in Diagon alley, bumping into people, on a workday!" cried Ginny, in mocked horror.

"I object! I apologized a thousand times before and I do recall you saying something about forgiving and forgetting. Besides, I didn't choose to have a break from work at this time, it was my boss's idea. In fact she threatened to fire me if I didn't take this break." Said Hermione. She was getting really fired up for some strange reason. It was probably due to her experience in the courts.

"Whoa, there! Chill! I was only joking Hermione. It's nice to see you, I mean I think the last time I saw you was at the bachelorette party. Come on, let's go get some lunch," said Ginny.

"Excuse me Ginny but whose bachelorette party were you talking about?" exclaimed Ginny's husband. He finally decided to speak up.

Ginny blushed. "Mine. I mean you had one so I thought it would be fine for us girls to have one too." Ginny looked at Hermione. "This is my husband Ryan. I don't think you guys really met before eh?"

"No we haven't. And don't worry Ryan, no one was naked or anything. At least not completely" said Hermione slyly.

At this remark, Ginny blushed into a deeper shade of red and Ryan looked like a fish, moving his mouth and making weird gurgling noises yet no real words came out. Hermione smiled and led the group into the restaurant. By the time they sat down however, Ginny's husband recovered and started telling them of the things that happened at his bachelor party. Ginny was slightly amused by this, and so was Hermione. She could tell that Ginny and her husband were very much in love and she began to feel a little jealous. She couldn't help the fact that the one she loved seven years ago didn't love her back and ruined her life of love and happiness.

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A/N: Wow. Did that make sense? Writing was never one of my things but here is my attempt. Please review… I'll love to hear from you all!