A/N: Although I am not getting as much reviews as I hoped for. In fact, I feel like my reviews are getting a lot less. I am still not disheartened to write my story because I am looking forward to the latter chapters! It getting so exciting! I just want to warn all who are reading that there are a few curse words in this chapter. Nothing big though since these words are probably already part of your vocabulary. I am not encouraging you to use it because it is not cool to curse. (Getting all motherly for the kiddies) But seriously. Enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Just the dumb ideas that seem to keep popping into my head.

Summary: She loves him, he doesn't know but he loves someone else, and she loves this guy—you just can't win. What if love doesn't have to be written in the stars but in your eyes and the only people that can see it are the people around you? Let the third war begin

How many special people change?
How many lives are living strange?
Where were you while we were getting high?
Slowly walking down the hall
Faster than a cannonball
Where were you while we were getting high?
Someday you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova in the sky
Someday you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova
A champagne supernova in the sky
Wake up the dawn and ask her why
A dreamer dreams, she never dies
Wipe that tear away now from your eye
Slowly walking down the hall
Faster than a cannonball
Where were you while we were getting high?

(Champagne Supernova, Morning Glory, Oasis)

As November was ending Hermione was now where she had been the year before, way ahead. She rubbed her fingers across her forehead in frustration. She could not understand why Trigonometry was so much more complicated compared to Arithmancy.

It was a beautiful day to go outside, everyone was expecting snow soon but Hermione remained locked up in the four corners of the library. And the real reason as to why this was the first place she went to whenever she had free time was because she had to finish her other schoolwork. What no one knew was that Hermione was also a home study student back in the muggle world.

"What are you doing, Hermione?" Justin Finch-Fletchley took a seat beside her. Harry and Ron knew better than to sit down on the chair that was reserved for other books when there was no more room on the her table. But she didn't want to be rude.

"Studying." She shut the book immediately. Dumbledore had allowed her to take her muggle studies just as long as it was kept a secret. She knew that if the purebloods heard about it they'd throw an absolute fit over Dumbledore encouraging muggle studies in such a way. "What can I do for you?"

Hermione looked up at him. He had grown into his looks, dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a rather knee-weakening smile. He was one of the 'guys to be with' at Hogwarts right after Harry and Malfoy, of course.

"Why the frown?" He looked at little worried. She hadn't realized that her brows creased when she thought of Malfoy.

"Sorry." Hermione ran the palm of her hand over her forehead. She hadn't realized she looked like such a mess. Her hair was falling over her face; her ponytail hadn't kept it at all neat. And her robe was already on the floor. "But like I said what do you want?"

Justin smiled, Hermione had to admit that he was a tad bit good looking but she really didn't see what all the girls fussed over. "I wanted to ask you something."

Hermione nodded. She was getting uncomfortable with the way he was staring at her. She knew she looked like a mess but he really didn't have to rub it in. "Look, I don't mean to be rude but I'd prefer it if you'd just beat around the bush." Hermione sighed.

He smiled again, "Would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"

Hermione felt her face redden. Had a boy just asked her out, a boy from Hogwarts? The only boy who ever really bothered to look at her had been Adam. "I," she really didn't know what to say. "I thought you were with that girl from Ravenclaw, Mandy Brocklehurst." She had the tendency to ramble and didn't really know when to stop.

"I will completely understand if someone else asked you already." He took her comment as a sign that she was going to say no.

"I'm sorry." Hermione said her voice suddenly deeper than usual. "It's just I have the tendency to ramble when I'm in shock or when I'm confused. I ramble when I don't know what to do." She shook her head, "It's stupid I know." She mumbled mostly to herself.

"I think it's adorable." He smiled. "I think you're adorable." He placed his hand on top of the hand that was resting on the table, her hand! Hermione instinctively pulled her hand away and stared at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so forward. I just wanted to ask you to the Yule Ball. I'd be honored to have you holding onto my arm for the night."

"Justin," Hermione smiled. "You're full of lines." She laughed.

His expression changed. He obviously wasn't expecting her to react that way. "I'm sorry. But I just came here in hopes of being your date at the ball. My friends told me that it was going to be hard to get you but I didn't really think that…"

"You're rambling." Hermione smiled. She was enjoying the fact that she was somehow intimidating him.

"I do that," He coughed out. "When I'm nervous."

"Please," Hermione shook her head. "I just used that excuse."

"But I do," He looked at her sternly, "Do-that-when-I'm-nervous. Yeah."

"So why exactly are you asking me to the Yule Ball?" She crossed her arms. It was in her nature to interrogate people like this especially when they wanted something from her.

"Because there is no one else I'd rather go with, especially since it's my last year." This time he didn't smile when he said that. And her gut told her the answer to his question.

"Okay," Hermione nodded. Her gut also told her that there was only going to be one opportunity and that she might as well take it since her best friends were obviously going with other people.

Justin looked like he had just witnessed a miracle. "Really?"

"Really." She sighed heavily.

"I mean, you don't mind, because I've liked you since like second year but you were always caught up with some other boy." He began to ramble again and then suddenly stopped. "I've said to much haven't I?"

Hermione smiled. "It's okay. Second year, huh?" Justin nodded.

"When your hair hit me during the duel of Draco and Harry." He confessed.

Hermione felt herself blush furiously. "I never thought anyone could see me that way."

"Huh?" He looked at her confused.

"Nothing." Hermione shook her head and smiled and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Justin asked.

"You want to join me for pumpkin juice?" Hermione smiled.

"You wouldn't mind?" He asked nervously.

"I wouldn't have invited you if I did, right?" Hermione smiled. "But,"

"I hate the word but." Justin said grimly.

"This is simply platonic."

"Platonic." He nodded then looked at her confused, "What is platonic?"

"Just as friends." She smiled as she got the rest of her books.

"Platonic." Justin nodded. "Hermione, friends can carry each others books right?"

Hermione smiled. "I think I can manage." Before she finished the sentence he took all her books from her. "Mr. Finch-Fletchley, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were hitting on me." She wrinkled her nose. "Come on, I'm parched."

Harry was seated with Cho, Luna and Ron. They were in the corridor that led to the Great Hall.

"Where's Hermione?" Luna asked.

"Library." Ron and Harry said at the same time.

"She's always there." Cho shook her head.

"No one can get her out of that place." Ron informed them. "Not even me or Harry."

"I'm not joking." A familiar voice was nearing the corner. "Hello lot." Hermione stood in front of the four with Justin by her side.

"Speaking of the devil." Cho smiled. "Hello Hermione."

The two had been a lot more civil to each other; in fact you could consider them friends since Hermione would be the one-way Cho could know everything about Harry, well almost everything.

"You all know Justin." Hermione raised an eyebrow questioning Ron and Harry's glances at Justin. "We were on our way to get some pumpkin juice. Would you like to come along?"

"We'll stay." Cho smiled and put her hand on Harry's lap. "But thank you for the offer."

"I'll see you at dinner." She smiled once more and walked again. "So where were we?"

"I believe you." Justin resumed their conversation. And as they got farther they're voices disappeared.

"What was that all about?" Ron looked at Harry.

"I think they'll make a cute couple." Luna smiled.

"Adorable." Cho agreed.

"But what about -" Harry began.

"What about?" Cho looked at him sweetly.

"Hermione never struck me as a playgirl." Luna scratched behind her ear.

"Hey!" The boys (Ron and Harry) spoke up in unison.

"Okay, Hermione protectors." Cho rolled her eyes.

"Really, Cho." Harry looked at her. "You can't possibly see Hermione in that light."

"Do you Luna?" Ron looked at his girlfriend as well.

"It was an uncalled for comment." Luna apologized. "I was teasing. It would've been more appropriate if she were here that way there would be no malice in what I just said." She put her hand on his face. "I'm sorry."

"Cho?" Harry looked at her expecting her to apologize as well.

"What?" Cho looked at Harry. He just looked at her. "I didn't do or say anything."

"Really," Harry just stared at her.

"I am not apologizing for something I didn't do." Cho crossed her arms and moved away. Harry didn't say anything. "Harry, do you really think that I did anything? I didn't say a bloody thing!" He still didn't budge. "Really, you've got to get over it." Cho stood up quickly and walked away.

"All I wanted you to do was apologize." Harry stood up and took her arm when he had caught up with her.

"Fuck you, Harry Potter." She pulled away. "Just, fuck you." She pushed him before she turned around.

"I think all of us want to feel something that we have forgotten or turned our backs on, because maybe we didn't realize how much we were leaving behind. We need to remember what used to be good. If we don't, we wont recognize it even if it hits you between the eyes."

- Jenna Rink, 13 Going on 30

A/N: Oh the drama! Things to look up for in the next chapter - Cho's real feelings, the Yule Ball from the point of view of the four main characters in the story. Well they are the main characters for now!

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