YES! I MANAGED ANOTHER CHAPTER!

Anyways, this chapter was originally Katy and Josh only. Well, this story was originally non-Harry Potter to start out with, so that's why. But, I added some stuff on Hermione's and Ron's relationship so enjoy.

Oh, and I only own the plot, tho a lot of stuff might have been influenced by some pretty random stuff. Oh, the whole Katy/Josh thing in this story is based on a Myspace bulletin i read once. Yes, that's pretty sad. I know. But i thought it was good, so i editted it and stuck it in here.

Finally, Draco is Jake... still...wait 3 more months of story time (when Hermy realizes that Jake is Draco)... i don't know how much writing time that is yet...

Past and Present Intertwine: aka Agony and Bliss

July 8th, 2005, at Hermione's house

Hermione Granger was angry. She was angry at Ronald Weasley. She wanted to jinx that weasel with every spell she could come up with. There were a lot of spells she could come up with.

Hermione Granger had just had a fight with her stubborn, fire-headed boyfriend.

It was a pointless fight that got carried away. Ron was only joking, and Hermione took it too personally. Ron had made a cruel joke about Hermione's hair, which used to be brown but was now turning lighter and more blonde like as she matured physically. He said she was turning into one of those American "dumb blondes". He was only joking; Hermione was too smart to be a dumb blonde. But Hermione took it offensively, and the joke turned into a fight, ahazardous nuclear warfare. It ended with Hermione walking out, crying, and not looking back. It ended with Ron just standing there, too much of a wuss to do anything about it.

Well, I'm over it now. I over-reacted anyway. Now I just have to make up with him. Hmm... what to do... should I surprise him with sexy lingerie? Or maybe a nice bubble bath...

Yes, they were doing it, lovingly. And surprisingly, Ron kept it even from Harry, whom he told everything to. Ron thought it was between Hermione and him. Hermione liked it that way.

As she apparated into her living room, she realized that no one was home.

Mum and dad are probably out shopping...

She climbed the stairs, heading toward the second floor, toward her room. She wondered whether it was safe to be alone in the house these days. She was a registered witch. And she was what those bloody buggers called "mud blood". But she wasn't really scared anymore. She had grown numb to the situation. She had faced too many dangers with Harry and Ron. And being the academic that she was, she was much more able to show a certain degree of calm in life threatening or tragic situations compared to the boys. She did survive two whole months in Hogwarts after all without crying, without any friends.

Hermione got to the second floor. And she noticed something strange and wonderful.

Roses on the floor... leading into my room?

Hermione followed the trail of roses into her bedroom, picking each of them up and smelling them as she went.

I wonder what's inside...

Hermione opened the door.

Seven and a half years ago, Spring of 1998, Sugar Land, Texas

Josh McFarley, the nine-year old Scottish soccer freak, and his parents, Benjamin and Martha McFarley, had just moved into their new house in Sugar Land, Texas, after living most of their lives in Austin, Texas. Benjamin McFarley was a doctor who had just accepted his new position in Houston Memorial Hospital Sugar Land Branch. Martha McFarley was a house-wife and a soccer mom.

Josh was an exceptional soccer player. On the field as the right mid-fielder, everyone expected him to be the leader; he was. The problem was that off the field, he was the exact opposite. Josh was always friendly, but he was not a great conversationalist. He didn't have the talent like the other children to break the ice. It took him a while to make friends when he lived in Austin; Josh's parents feared Josh would not make any friends in Sugar Land.

Josh was a thinker, and he found walking a good time to think. Finished with packing, he decided to take a walk around his new neighborhood; to also get a feel for it.

It was a lot better than his old neighborhood. Other than teenagers who drove their cars too fast, it was quite safe. The grass was greener, the houses were newer, and trees were taller.

I wonder if I'd make any friends here...

Josh walked for around for 20 minutes.

Serenity Blvd...

Passing the street, Josh saw a little girl about his age riding a bike toward his direction. She was a short, red-haired girl wearing a pink tank-top and white shorts. She stopped in front of his path. The sun gleamed toward her face; she had enchanting blue eyes.

She's beautiful.

"Hi," the beautiful little girl said as she opened her lips.

Josh was silent.

"I see you're new around here." The Girl was not discouraged by The Boy's silence. "I'm Katy, what's your name?"

"Uh..." Josh finally snapped out of his trance. "I'm...I'm..."

Katy giggled.

"I'm Josh." Josh blushed.

"Hi, Josh, it's nice to meet you." Katy smiled.

Time passed...

Josh and Katywere best friends for the next four years. Josh became an excellent talker, but he never told her what he really thought of her.

Katy's diary, four years later

March 24th, 2002

Dear diary

I can't seem to stop thinking about Josh these days. It's strange, he's my best friend, but when I see him, talk to him, think about him, I feel all weird inside. It's like he's invading my head. Why can't I stop thinking about him? Is this what falling in love feels like? Am I falling in love with Josh?

NO! He doesn't see me that way, I don't see him that way either! He's my BEST FRIEND!

Or is he?

I see girls in school getting boyfriends and I'm a bit jealous. My mom says I'm too young to think about stuff like that. I suppose she's right. But I can't stop thinking about it. Am I wanting too much?

I wonder if I hang out with other boys more, my feelings would change. I don't like this hopeless, sad feeling. I wonder what would happen if I see other boys. I wonder what would happen if Josh wasn't my best friend.

I wonder...

Present Day (Saturday), October 8th, 2005: Josh and Katy are now juniors

"I'm sorry, Katy, I... I just can't," Jake said.

"Is it Hermione?" I asked.

"Yes..." Jake quietly replied. "It's Hermione."

A pause

"I'm sorry, Katy," Jake continued. "I can't continue dating you while liking someone else. It's not fair for either of us."

Those were Jake's words as he declined Katy to be her homecoming date.

He'd rather sit at home than to go dancing with me...

Katy felt alone and miserable, sitting in her cold, lonely house. Her parents were out of town, so she had no one in the house to talk to.

She could have hung out with her best friends. Katy had a close-nit group of friends, but each one of them had a date.

Each one of them would have cancelled their date to comfort Katy in a heartbeat; each of them offered, but Katy told them to go have fun instead. She would be fine at home, alone.

Damn, I should have asked for them to stay...

Katy broke into tears. Sitting on her comfortable couch, she looked around the living room. She saw a picture of her with Josh; they were at Josh's soccer game few years ago.

I wonder...

Josh heard his cell phone ring.

"Hello?" Josh answered.

He heard a sniffle. It sounded like a girl, a girl who had just been crying. It sounded familiar.

"Katy?" Josh asked.

"Hi, Josh," Katy sniffled.

"What's up?" Josh continued the questioning. "Are you alright?"

"I feel miserable." Katy sobbed.

"I'll be right over." Josh hung up.

Wow, I didn't even have to ask. Have I been taking him for granted?

Katy let out a tiny smile.

Josh and Katy ended up watching The Notebook, and Mr. Deeds to soothe Josh's lack of enthusiasm for it.

Well, I did like it; but, I can't let her know, can I? Josh smiled.

Josh actually picked Mr. Deeds for Katy. Though it was quite vulger, Adam Sandler movies always had those chick-flicky, heart warming endings.

Damn, she's beautiful, even when she looks miserable with make up drenched in tears.

"How are you feeling now?" Josh looked at Katy.

Katy was in his arms now, her head resting on his chest as they lay comfortably on Katy's couch. It had been a night filled with overused "aww's". Josh wished it would last forever.

"I'm a little better." Katy replied. "I'm still bummed I won't have a date for homecoming though."

"Well, at least the Astros won today." Josh referred to the Houston Astros' 7-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on the third game of the National League Division Series.

What the hell am I doing? Talking about the Astros in a situation like this...

"Haha" Katy replied sarcastically.

It's now or never...

"Katy," Josh began uncomfortably, "why don't you go to homecoming with me?"

"Huh?" Katy looked at Josh with shock.

Oh, crap...

Oh, my God! I can't believe he just asked me!

"I mean, as friends, you know?" Josh blushed. "We can have fun, and you can tell me how terrible Jake is."

Oh...

"I'd love to go to the homecoming dance with you," Katy smiled, "but you're buying the tickets and you better come see me perform during homecoming game, even if our football team sucks."

"Fine." Josh smiled.

"I'm still can't believe Jake likes Hermione more than he likes me." Katy sighed. "He doesn't even know her that well."

Damn it, Katy, forget about Jake!

"You know what? Why don't you convince Hermione to bring Jake to homecoming dance?" Josh suggested.

"Huh?" Katy was once again filled with utter shock.

"Then," Josh continued, "You can show him how quickly you've gotten over him and how much better I am in satisfying your emotional needs."

"You're his best friend." Katy giggled.

"He'll get over it." Josh ended with a smile.

Their night together was over; it was getting late and they had Church the next morning. Katy opened the door for him as Josh walked out of her house.

"Josh?" Katy stopped him.

"Yeah?" Josh turned around.

Katy gave Josh a hug and kissed him on his cheek. She was on her tip-toes. She was short like Hermione; like Jake, Josh was a bit tall compared to her.

"Thank you so much, Josh." Katy said as she held Josh in her arms; as Josh held her in his arms. "You're the best friend a girl could ask for."

After a long hug, they parted ways. Katy closed her door as Josh walked back to his car.

She only thinks of you as her friend.

He only thinks of you as his friend.

They sighed simultaneously.

Of course, they didn't know.

Same night, at Hermione's apartment

Hermione finally drove into her parking lot after another night of clue searching.

Another night of unproductive clue searching...

Hermione was tired. Hermione was still angry toward Jake Alexander, her cocky and rude land lord.

He had no right to say those things to me, even if he was my land lord and gave me a month of free rent...

She was in front of her doorstep now. She thought she heard a faint popping sound. She thought she was just hearing things.

Unlocking her door, she entered her apartment. She noticed something strange and wonderful.

Roses on the floor... leading into my bedroom?

Hermione followed the trail of roses into her bedroom, picking each of them up and smelling them as she went.

I wonder what's inside...

Hermione opened her bedroom door.

A teddy bear was on her bed.

Wow… all the roses just for a teddy bear...

Then, she noticed that the teddy bear had something with him. It was a "him" she thought; brown was more of a male color.

A pretty red string ran around the teddy bear's neck. The two ends were tied up into two holes on a white envelope.

The envelope stated: "To Hermione Granger, from Jake Alexander".

Jake did this?

Hermione unattached the envelope from the string and opened it. Inside there was a letter.

Dear Hermione Granger,

I'm sure you're wondering why I did this. Well, to tell you the truth, I feel tremendously guilty about what I did to you. And I feel guilty about bothering you with stupid childish questions also.

I know we've gotten off at the wrong end. I never really meant for that to happen. It's just that you're so different from the other girls. I simply don't know what to do.

I'm sorry I'm not apologizing to you in person. I'm quite stubborn and I'm not sure if I'm ready to do that just yet. Besides, I'm a terrible talker when it comes to a situation like this. I thought a meaningful letter would save a lot of awkward silences I hate so much.

I hope we can be friends. I really do. It's completely fine that you don't feel the same way about me like the way I feel about you.

With that in mind, I present to you this teddy bear. As long as you keep this teddy bear, I promise I will never pursue you and always treat you like the lady that you are. I promise I will be as harmless as this teddy bear.

I'm sorry for everything,

Jacob M. Alexander

Reading the letter, Hermione took the teddy bear and embraced it in her arms.

Then, she walked toward her bedroom drawer and put the teddy bear on top of it, next to another teddy bear, a teddy bear she had gotten exactly three month ago from Ron as an apology gift.

He's just like Ron... He isn't as Malfoy-like as I thought he was, was he?

Hermione smiled, and undressed herself, preparing to take a shower.

She thought of Jake as she showered, singing to the Weird Sisters. Somehow, Jacob M. Alexander seemed so familiar, yet not at all. She couldn't help but to think Jake was Draco Malfoy. But, they were nothing alike, physically.

She was sure of one thing anyways. Jake, though capable of acting like Malfoy as she supposed, thought and acted quite like Ronald Weasley.

He's just a blonde Ronnie.

After the shower, Hermione went straight to bed.

She decided that shower was officially the place for her to think. To think about Jake.

YAY! DONE!

Leave some suggestions and reviews if you have time.