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Hermione stared all around as she watched the people who she had grownup with chat with each other. Here she was, at her and Neville's going away party, and she was miserable.

Usually she would just leave on mission without any fanfare, but Mrs. Weasley wouldn't be discouraged so easily.

"No, no Hermione. This was the longest you've stayed with us and we want you to know that we'll be thinking of you. And besides, both you and Neville need to relax! Life isn't all work, you know?"

Work, ha! What she had been doing lately was practically sadistic slave labor. Ever since her emotional outburst and then randomly making out with Neville, she had stayed away from their room for as long as she could. She would work on her reports to the Order at libraries, the papers strewed about her making her seem like one of many students that chose to do their graduate work there. She never got home before midnight, and when she woke up, Neville was usually gone, off to report to the council or to study some hybrid plant at the arboretum. It was better this way.

"Oy! What are you doing hiding in here, Hermione? Shouldn't you be out there dancing with any one of those lads?" Mr. Weasley questioned. He had been quite surprised to find her hiding in the closet, because he had been about to hide in there too. He wanted to test out a wonderful new gift from Percy, some new muggle heat-sensing goggles that could "see" through walls and such.

"I-uh. Well, I was waiting for someone, and he hasn't gotten here–"she stuttered out, startled at being found. Damn, she should have hidden in the other closet!

"Oh, Neville?" Mr. Weasley interrupted. "Well don't you worry about that; he'll be round in a bit. Until then, may I have this dance?" he asked as a jaunty old rock-and-roll song came on.

"Uh- yes, why not," Hermione answered and prayed that the dance gods would be merciful. Arthur Weasley was not known for his graceful dancing and anyone wishing to dance with him was just asking to be trod upon. Good thing most old songs were usually only a couple of minutes long.

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Neville walked along the street contemplating his next mission. He was supposed to be together with Hermione for as long as it took to get the information the Ministry needed. But he didn't know if he could last that long without breaking down and telling Hermione everything he had ever felt about her. The night he had gone to the pub with The Weasley Twins and Harry, they had given him the Spanish Inquisition.

He had told them that nothing was going on because Hermione wasn't interested in him in that way. Besides, it's not like there was any way that Hermione liked him back. She had said so herself. But still, the way she had responded to him when they had been on the floor...

But if she was that interested, why would she have apparated away from him?

He was so confused.

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Who knew a couple of minutes could seem like hours?!

Hermione was limping along, after being stepped on for the umpteenth time, when she excused herself from Mr. Weasley's presence. Enough was enough and she had had it. She excused herself from the festivities, which were winding down anyways. Back in her room, Hermione took off her shoes and massaged her sore feet.

"I guess I'm not cut out for parties," she murmured to herself.

Too busy mooning over Neville, huh? Yeah, if I hadn't gotten any from him for awhile, I'd be a depressive bore too. Linda nonchalantly said as she floated down through the ceiling.

Hermione was used to her annoying presence now and she wasn't at all surprised to see her. Linda usually came whenever Hermione was feeling especially crappy.

"What do you want now? Can't you see that I'm a little busy, Linda?" Hermione winced as she put her feet back on the floor. She was trying to find some bath salts that could soothe her poor feet. Not even magic could fix this level of pain! Maybe some morphine could help...

Aw, what's the matter? I was just having a little fun. Linda pouted as she floated onto the dresser. Man what's up her butt today?

"Yeah, well I'm not in the mood right now, okay? I'm going on my mission and I don't know how I can take being so close to Neville for such a long time." Hermione sighed in defeat. All the stress of work was starting to get to her and if she didn't do something about it she'd surely mess up on the field somehow. And that was dangerous considering how it wasn't just her life at stake, it was also Neville's.

Ohhhh! I know, you're wondering how to deal with all the sexual tension between you and Neville! Why didn't you just say so? I can help you with that.

"No thanks Linda, I can just imagine what you're kind of 'helping' is like. And besides, there is NO sexual tension between Neville and I."

OH really? Then how come you avoid him at all costs?

"I haven't bee–"

Why are you always at the library doing work when you can just as easily do it here?

"My research is none of your bus–"

Why is it that you've been having XXX-rated dreams starring a certain roommate whose name rhymes with 'Shmeville'? Huh? Huh!? Answer that Ms. Smarty-pants scaredy-cat of love!

"I–uh, I..." Hermione fell silent as she thought it over. Yes, most of the things Linda had said were true (except for the XXX-rated dreams. They were more like R.) She had been avoiding Neville but it wasn't because she was scared. She was just confused. Even though she felt something for Neville, she had also been recently dumped. Her emotions were in tatters.

Not only that but it was also her first and only relationship to boot. She had thought that Kevin was the One, and that they would get married because she loved him. But then he dumped her and her heart had broken. Now everything was all topsy-turvy and she didn't know what she really felt.

Linda sighed. Man, Hermione must really be a mess! She's been thinking about that for a while now. Time for her to snap out of it!

Well, think of it this way, did this Kevin guy ever say that he loved you?

"Um, not really to me, but he wasn't into mushy expressions of emotion anyways," Hermione said. She lapsed into thought.

At first when he had asked her out she had been flattered. Kevin was very good-looking and she naturally assumed that he wanted to be friends. But then he started asking her out regularly. She was floored the day he had told her that he liked her more than a friend. But that was a close as he came to "I love you."

So it was Hermione herself that took the plunge and she told him the she loved him. But the only thing Kevin had wanted from her was sex. She found out one night after drinks when he got a little too pushy and he let it slip about the little wager between his friends.

All he wanted was to sleep with you and you thought that he loved you!

"He never said love! He said he cared about me deeply! But it was all bullshit!! I can't believe I was that stupid! Well not anymore!" Hermione exclaimed, drunk on her newfound power. From now on she was not to be messed with or else there would be dire consequences!!

Preach it, sister-girlfriend!

"And what about what I want? I want Neville! There, I said it! I want him and I want him now!" Hermione exclaimed, fists clenched, arms raised to the sky.

From behind Hermione, there came loud guffaws. Startled, she turned around and saw Ron and Harry standing in her doorway. She blushed and scowled at them.

"What do you guys want?" she snapped. She was in no mood to be messed with.

"Not Neville, he's all yours Hermione!" Ron quipped as Harry slapped his knee in glee.

"If you're going to be stupid why don't you go join Fred and George, although I'm sure that they don't need you're help." Hermione sniffed as she picked up her bathrobe and bath salts and walked towards the bathroom.

"We just came to tell you that we're off and that we hope you're mission goes well," Ron said.

Hermione turned and was engulfed in a hug by her childhood friends. She sighed and sank into their embrace. No matter how stupid they acted or how mad they made her, they were still her best friends.

"Thanks you guys, it really means a lot to me."

"Yes, well I'm sure Neville will take good care of you and you likewise. Otherwise.." Harry scowled menacingly at an invisible Neville, punching his fist in his hand.

Hermione laughed. She couldn't wait till Neville got home!

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