Laughter and Loneliness

Thank you to those who inspired me to write this story: Lori, Elen (who signed her own guest book), Darva, Pinkpotato, and ALL those in our class. Also ND and Nikolai (represented as all evil in my story) he he he just kidding! THANX SO MUCH!!!!

THOUGHTS ARE IN ITALICS!

Read, enjoy, and review if u want. But if you don't enjoy my mentally stimulating, humorous, mysterious, adventurous, bold, and exciting work of genius tell me WHY not. Thanx!

– Note from Author (strawberry-heavens)

Disclaimer: I ain't own nothing (all JK Rowling's) except plot, and a few added mysterious, suspensful, conflicting characters. HA HA HA!

Chapter One "The Night in Hogsmeade"

Hermione sat in the Three Broomsticks sipping her butterbeer. She had been abandoned by her two best friends who had gone off to some place "full of hot chicks." So much for their quality time together. She sighed.

The "three" of them had gone to celebrate the beginning of 6th year by chilling (illegaly) at Hogsmeade. Most of the 6th years had done that. Suddenly she heard a guy's voice behind her.

"Excuse me, can I sit here?" he asked.Without looking at him, she nodded. She felt so lonely.

"So what are you drinking?" he asked.

Hermione was beginning to get a bit nervous.

Who is this weirdo? What does he want? I don't know him! she thought. She was too scared to look at him.Ok, its best if I ignore him she said to herself.

He had a really sweet voice, but Hermione didn't recognize it. She had never heard this voice before. Well, Hermione was innately confident (not so much ever since she tried to brew a Veritaserum that exploded in her face) but she didn't know if he was some creepy stranger. Who knew what he could do to her. Too many Urban Legends for you she thought to herself.

"Ahem, what are you drinking?" he asked a bit louder.

This ended Hermione's thoughts abruptly. She realized she'd have to look at this guy sooner or later. What to do, what to do? she asked herself worriedly.

Ok. She got it. The shoes. The only way to truly find out what type of guy he was.

She looked at them, and her curly (but newly not frizzy) hair slid onto her face.

Oooh, they're nice.

The guy was obviously flustered at her bending down and inspecting them. She got up.

So, a guy with shoes like that is no threat to me. But he is so annoying and really weird!

"Umm, do I know you?" she asked with a queer grin as her dark blonde hair slid out of her face.

Suddenly she stopped when she looked at his face. He was the cutest guy she had ever seen in her entire life. He had dark brown, almost black hair, and clear, sky blue eyes. Also, Hermione noted, he had a perfect body.

Oh my god, he is so so so cute!!!!! He's so perfect- everything about him is just perfect. Especially those perfect eyes! Such a cutie!!!!! And and intellectual genius! So my type! But of course she had no proof that he was as smart as she thought he was.

"I'm Andy Lenstrane. I go to Hogwarts. I'm in 6th year. Nice to meet you," he said.

"Really, really nice to meet you. I had no idea you went to Hogwarts. I never ever see you around. I'm Hermione Granger. By the way, I'm in 6th year too," she said breathlessly.

"Well that's great! I'm in Gryffindor. What a fortune that we met, Hermione. You probably don't see me much because I enjoy studying in quiet seclusion. (at this part Hermione's eyes began to glow) I should really get more out in the open! I mean, if today I wouldn't have told myself to do something, I wouldn't have met you!" he said.

Hermione smiled. She was loving this guy more and more by the second. She just stared at him for a long time, lost in his "perfect" eyes.

"What?" he asked with a really cute, in Herm's eyes, lop-sided grin in response to her staring. She was so deep in thought about him she didn't even realize what she was saying.

"Nothing, it's just that you remind me of a puppy."

The guy looked at her with wide eyes and a confused expression. His confused face brought her back to reality.

Stupid me! Stupid, stupid, stupid! I said that out loud! She blushed deeply.

"Ahhh, well, errrr, I have to go, see you later in Hogwarts. Bye!" she said, snatching her red, sea shell decorated shoulder bag from the chair.

"Right" he replied warmly.

She was hurrying so much in snatching the bag that she knocked down the whole chair with a large clamour. Shakily, she picked it up and began to run out.

Before she was out of ear shot he yelled back "I like your shoes too!"

That did it! She was on the verge of mental collapse.

He so likes me! she thought. Why would you think he likes you? a voice inside her head asked. Well, duh! she told herself he said so! He said he likes me. Well, no, technically, he said he likes my shoes, but same thing!

Still pink-cheeked from embarassment, she ran to the door, unable to think clearly. Just then someone from outside opened the door, knocking her to the ground. She looked up and gasped at who it was...

Hope you liked it! Ch 2, "in the Dark Alley," will be even better.

Please Review! Thank you to those who already did!