It's truly amazing how sometimes one specific moment in your past can have such enormous repercussions that last throughout the rest of your life. You don't realize it then. You don't realize that you've just potentially altered your own future. But let me tell you...it's absolutely maddening having to contemplate the 'what would have occurred if that didn't happen' moments in your life. Believe me, I know. I've done it often.

Following Dumbledore's departure, things at Hogwarts seemed to be falling into utter disarray. They had all been greeted the very next morning with Educational Decree Number Twenty-Eight which declared Umbridge the new headmistress of Hogwarts. Following this, was the creation of Inquisitorial Squad which added much unneeded strut to Malfoy's step. And to top everything off, Filch was now going around muttering excitedly about corporal punishment.

However, despite all of this, there did seem to be a few upsides to the situation. Fred and George had brilliantly set off fireworks in just about every inch of the school, causing Umbridge to spend her first afternoon as headmistress running all over, answering the summonses of the other teachers, none of whom seemed able to rid their rooms of the fireworks without her.

The twins had shown quite clearly that they were making it their mission to give Umbridge absolute hell, not giving a rat's behind if they were expelled in the process. And for the first time, Hermione wholeheartedly supported their decision. Frankly, nothing was quite as satisfying as seeing a dishevelled, soot-blackened, sweaty-faced Umbridge running around the school.

Pretty soon, the Friday before Easter holidays had fallen upon them, and Hermione couldn't be more thrilled. After today they would be free to enjoy a much needed break from all the stress of homework and studying.

Hermione snorted to herself. Who was she kidding? OWLs were in six weeks. There was no time for breaks!

As Hermione briskly made her way up to the library after dinner, she stopped abruptly when she heard someone sniffling up ahead, and saw none other than Cho sitting on a ledge and looking miserably out the window.

Hermione sighed. It seemed as if this girl would be in perpetual sadness. And despite the fact that she was supposed to hate Cho and that it was Cho's best friend who had ratted out the DA, Hermione couldn't help but still feel a bit bad for the girl as she watched her wiping tears from her eyes.

But really, what could she be so sad about? Hermione thought. She had Harry, didn't she?

Did she...?

Hermione couldn't even keep up anymore and guiltily found herself wishing that Harry and Cho could just end this futile relationship. It was quite apparent to her that they just were not meant to be.

So...who is he meant to be with then?

Hermione's mind seemed to have formulated this question of its own accord.

Me.

And then seemed to answer it.

Continuing her brisk walk to the library, Hermione felt her cheeks grow warm at the idea of her and Harry in a relationship. Very, very warm.

And as she sat at a table with her Ancient Runes book lying open before her, Hermione could not for the life of her take in a word she was reading. All her mind wanted to do at the moment was think about Harry.

She groaned loudly after rereading the same sentence for about the fifth time because she was too busy contemplating what Harry's hair felt like.

Probably really soft. Maybe even silky. It's always shiny, after all. But not in the disgusting oily kind of way. No, it definitely looks clean—

The runic symbol 'ehwaz' (pictured on the left), meaning 'partnership', symbolizes all the various bodies as vehicles for travel and movement—

Maybe I could just 'accidentally' brush my fingers against it...Would he notice? Probably...

"Right, ehwaz," Hermione muttered, pushing her mind back into focus. "Ehwaz..."

After about two and a half hours of inner conflict, Hermione decided to call it a night and head back to the common room. Harry would probably still be at his Occlumency lesson, but Ron would be done with Quidditch practice by now.

Sure enough, when she entered the common room she found Ron and Ginny sitting near the fire with identical looks of glum on their faces.

Hermione took a seat on the couch next to Ginny. "How was practice?" she asked, already anticipating the answer.

"Rubbish, as usual," Ginny replied. "Ron had to take Sloper up to the hospital wing."

"Why, what happened?" Hermione asked surprised.

"The moron hit himself with his own bat," Ron stated.

"Well, we're not positive that's what happened..." Ginny offered fairly.

"Ah well, doesn't really matter, does it?" Ron said. "There's no way we're winning the cup this year."

"Don't let Angelina hear you say that," Ginny said wearily, getting up. "I'm off. The spring holidays start tomorrow and I, for one, am very much looking forward to doing absolutely nothing."

"Lucky you," Ron grumbled dejectedly.

"See you later, Ginny," Hermione said.

The portrait hole swung open moments later as Harry entered the common room. Hermione was surprised to find his face looking especially white and bearing a somewhat troubled expression.

"You're back early," she said as he approached them.

"Snape had to go fetch Montague from the fourth floor toilets," Harry replied vaguely.

Ron snorted. "Finally found him, then, did they?" he said. "Merlin, Fred and George really outdid themselves with that vanishing cabinet..."

Harry simply nodded.

"Are you feeling okay, Harry?" Hermione asked, her tone filled with concern.

He looked up at her as if surprised she were there. "Yeah, I'm fine," he answered. "I'm just...tired. I think I'm going to turn in for the night."

And with that, Harry stood up and left for his dormitory.

"What d'you reckon is wrong with him?" Ron asked.

Hermione shrugged. "Maybe Snape was extra hard on him today," she suggested.

"Let's just hope he doesn't keep tossing around and talking in his sleep again," Ron said more to himself than to Hermione.

"He talks in his sleep?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Sometimes," Ron said. "Only when he's having those dreams of his."

"So he's still having dreams, then?" Hermione prodded.

Ron's eyes widened as he realized what he'd just told her.

"N-no...no, it's been a while," he stammered slightly, averting her eyes.

"Ron," Hermione said warningly.

"I can't even really remember the last time..." he added, still not looking at her.

"Ron."

"Honestly, he practically sleeps like a baby most nights."

"Ronald Weasley."

"Okay, okay fine!" Ron exclaimed, throwing his hands up in defeat. "They haven't stopped. And to be honest...I don't think he even wants them to stop. But when you think about it, they have come in useful haven't they? I mean he did save my dad, didn't he?"

"Ron, no! This is dangerous!" Hermione retorted. "Harry and Voldemort have some kind of connection, and if Harry doesn't learn how to block his mind from outside penetration, then who knows what Voldemort could do!"

Ron looked guiltily to the ground.

"Oh, I am going to kill Harry," Hermione said aggressively, causing Ron to wince.

"Please don't tell him I told you, Hermione..." he said apprehensively. "He made me promise not to tell you."

"Oh, did he, now?" Hermione exclaimed.

"He just didn't want you to worry!" Ron said, attempting to dig himself out of his own hole.

"He didn't want me to keep nagging him, more like," Hermione amended, crossing her arms over her chest in annoyance.

"Well...yeah...that, too," Ron admitted.

"I'll just have to have a word with him then, won't I?"

"But why haven't you got Occlumency lessons anymore?" said Hermione, frowning.

"I've told you," Harry muttered. "Snape reckons I can carry on by myself now I've got the basics..."

"So you've stopped having funny dreams?" said Hermione sceptically, shooting Ron a look.

"Pretty much," said Harry, not looking at her.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. She knew full well that Harry was lying through his teeth at the moment, but what she didn't understand was why Snape was stopping his lessons.

"Well, I don't think Snape should stop until you're absolutely sure you can control them!" said Hermione indignantly. "Harry, I think you should go back to him and ask—"

"No," said Harry forcefully. "Just drop it, Hermione, okay?"

She sighed heavily. "Fine."

She would talk to him about it later. Hermione could see that something was clearly bothering him right now as he kept staring off blankly for large periods of time.

"What's wrong, Harry?" she finally asked him.

"What?" he said quickly. "Nothing..."

Hermione watched as he seized his copy of Defensive Magical Theory and pretended to be looking something up in the index.

She could usually figure out what was bothering him fairly quickly and that fact that she now couldn't was especially frustrating..

He looked almost as depressed as...

"I saw Cho earlier," said Hermione tentatively, "and she looked really miserable too...Have you two had a row again?"

"Wha—oh yeah, we have," said Harry, a little too eagerly, Hermione noted.

"What about?"

"That sneak friend of hers, Marietta," said Harry.

"Yeah, well, I don't blame you!" said Ron angrily, "If it hadn't been for her..."

Ron then went into a very lengthy rant about Marietta Edgecombe which Harry only barely took part in.

Hermione concluded that the situation with Cho wasn't what was bothering him. Yet, she was still no closer to understanding what was.

However, one thing was very clear. It didn't seem as though Harry and Cho would continue any longer, and this simple fact caused Hermione to inwardly whoop with joy.

Hermione felt bad about being happy while Harry was still in this state of unknown depression, but she could worry about that later. Right now, she just wanted to revel in the fact that Cho was no longer in the picture.

"...yeah she was going on about how Marietta's mum works at the ministry, or some rubbish like that. I told her your dad works at the ministry too, but you haven't got 'sneak' written across your face."

Ron guffawed loudly. "And how did she take that?"

"Not well," Harry replied, grinning slightly. "She said it was a horrible trick of Hermione's to jinx the parchment."

Hermione looked up from the study schedule she had been drawing and saw Harry's green eyes staring straight into her own.

"I told her I thought it was brilliant," he said simply.

Hermione couldn't be certain, but she thought her heart might have just melted inside her chest. "Thanks, Harry," she said quietly. "You didn't have to say that..."

"But it's true!" Harry said earnestly.

"Yeah, Hermione, that sneak deserved what she got," added Ron fervently.

"Even so...I doubt Cho was very pleased with you defending me," Hermione stated. In reality, she couldn't care less what Cho was or was not pleased with. What she did care about, however, was Harry's reaction.

"I don't even care anymore, to be completely honest," Harry said, shrugging his shoulders. "Besides I'm pretty sure she hates me now, anyway."

"How come?" Ron asked.

Harry suddenly looked slightly guilty. "Well...I think I was a bit harsh with her. I told her not to start crying again...Then she sort of shouted at me..."

Ron snorted loudly. "Well, someone had to inform her that she was turning into a human hosepipe," he said, smirking at Harry. "Good on you, mate."

"Ron, don't be an insensitive prat," Hermione said as if speaking to a child. "The same goes for you, Harry. I understand the circumstances, but try to be a little bit more considerate of people's feelings in the future."

"No matter how thick they are?" Harry asked innocently.

Hermione stared at him sternly for a moment before shaking her head and smiling slightly despite herself.

The both of them were just lucky she was in a good mood.

The spring holidays were well under way and Hermione found herself lazing around on the Hogwarts grounds with Ginny one afternoon for a much needed break from the library.

"If feels like I haven't seen the sun in ages," Ginny stated dramatically, lying flat on her back with her eyes closed.

"It looks like you haven't seen the sun in ages," Hermione responded with a smirk.

"Don't be a smart arse, it doesn't suit you."

"My apologies."

After about ten more minutes of silent relaxation, Hermione turned to her side to find Ginny in the same position with her eyes still closed.

Hermione sat up and poked her lightly in the arm.

"Hmm?"

"I'm bored," she stated simply.

Ginny ignored her, so Hermione tried poking her once again.

"What, Hermione?" Ginny asked, annoyance evident in her voice.

"Can't we do something?" Hermione said. "Or at least talk?"

Hermione smiled as Ginny sat up with a groan.

"How is it that you can sit through two hours of History of Magic without one complaint, yet you get bored lying on the grass with the sun's rays upon your face and the sounds of nature serenading you?" Ginny asked dumbfounded.

"That was quite beautiful," Hermione said, impressed. "And I don't know...I guess I just feel strange sitting here doing absolutely nothing."

"It's called relaxing, Hermione," Ginny stated. "You should try it sometime. But hey, if you want to talk, then we can talk."

"Good," Hermione smiled, sitting cross-legged and facing Ginny.

"So, I saw that career thingy on the bulletin board in the common room. Have you thought about what you want to do?" Ginny asked.

"A bit, yeah..." Hermione said slowly.

"And...?"

"Well, you're going to laugh me," Hermione said, pulling blades of grass from the ground.

"Possibly."

Hermione sighed. "I was thinking of going into the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"What's so bad about that?" Ginny asked, confused. "Oh wait! You want to work on sp—I mean S.P.E.W, don't you?"

Hermione nodded. "But it's not just house elves. So many beings are discriminated against in the magical world. Werewolves, for example, and Giants, even Goblins."

Ginny scrunched up her nose at the last one. "Bill says Goblins are insufferable creatures."

"Yes, well, maybe they're so insufferable because of the way Wizards have treated them for the past however many centuries."

"Maybe," Ginny agreed. "But I don't really intend on finding out."

"Anyway, I think it's really good of you to want to do this sort of thing," Ginny added. "Merlin knows nobody else does."

"Oh, thanks," Hermione replied sarcastically as both girls laughed.

"So, why does Harry want to talk to Sirius so badly?" Ginny asked sometime later.

"What?" Hermione said, confused.

"When I went to give him the chocolate eggs Mum sent him for Easter, he looked really depressed about something. At first I thought it was because of Cho. I mean, it's obvious the two have split up what with her crying even harder in the toilets' recently. So, I asked him."

"What did he say?" Hermione asked.

"He said he wanted to talk to someone, and that someone wasn't Cho, it was Sirius," Ginny said, careful not to speak too loudly in case of prying ears.

Hermione merely shrugged. "I honestly have no idea why. Harry's not a very open person, is he?"

"Doesn't he tell you and Ron everything?"

"Not always. And most of the time I have to prise whatever it is out of him," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, at least he tells you things," Ginny said, attempting to sound nonchalant but not quite succeeding.

"He told you about Sirius, didn't he?" Hermione pointed out.

"I guess," Ginny said quietly.

"So you'll never believe what Harry told Cho when they had that little squabble of theirs," Hermione said, attempting to change the subject.

"What?" Ginny questioned curiously.

"Well, Cho was trying to defend Marietta, and of course Harry wouldn't have any of it. He said that he thought jinxing the parchment was a good idea, which made Cho absolutely furious. And then, he told her that she had better not start crying in front of him again."

"He didn't!" Ginny exclaimed, her eyes wide and full of mirth.

"He did," Hermione laughed.

"Remind me to pat Harry on the back next time I see him."

"Ginny!" Hermione scolded, albeit half-heartedly. "He shouldn't have said that. It was very insensitive!"

"Who the bloody hell cares? She deserved it," Ginny replied indifferently. "That idiot friend of hers could have gotten us all expelled."

"It's remarkable how alike you and Ron are, you know that?"

"Please don't ever insult me like that again," Ginny stated in mock seriousness.

"Fine, I'll try and do it differently next time," Hermione assured her, lying back down on the grass.

"That's all I'm asking," Ginny said, mimicking Hermione's actions.

The two lay there in silence once more, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

Ginny was right, Hermione decided. Lying down and doing absolutely nothing was quite relaxing. She allowed her mind to empty itself of all its usual stresses and worries and just focused on the sun beating across her face.

Pretty soon however, her mind wandered to its favourite subject, and Hermione smiled to herself slightly as she let it settle there.

Harry would be out with Ron right now on the Quidditch pitch, both taking turns on Ron's broom as Harry's Firebolt was locked away at the moment.

Hermione had always loved watching Harry play Quidditch, even before she had started fancying him. He seemed so happy and carefree when he was in the air, which Hermione couldn't really understand seeing as she hated flying with every fibre of her being. How Quidditch players could remain stable on their brooms for such long periods of time was beyond her. She'd be too afraid of falling off, to be honest.

Oh well, Hermione thought. That's why I don't play Quidditch.

Sitting back up and wrapping her arms around her legs, Hermione looked out over the grounds. Many people were enjoying the lovely spring weather around them, just sitting around talking, laughing, and playing. She even spotted a snogging couple not too far down and immediately turned her head away, embarrassed.

Honestly! Who just snogs out in the open for everyone to see?

Hermione greatly disliked public displays of affection. The world did not need to see couples sucking their faces off, thank you very much.

But what if Harry prefers it that way?

Hermione's eyed widened. She was appalled at herself for even thinking that. Harry's snogging preferences were, after all, none of her business. Yet, Hermione found herself wishing desperately that they were.

And just what is that supposed to mean?

Oh don't play stupid, you know very well what it means!

Wait, why is this such a big deal? We've already established that I fancy Harry...Therefore it's quite natural that I should want to snog him, correct?

Correct.

Hermione brought her hands to her face, attempting to drown out the banter occurring inside her head. It was times like these when she wished she could have someone, anyone, to confide in, and found herself, once again, regretting that her two best friends were both male.

Removing her hands from her face, Hermione glanced at Ginny, who looked as if she could be asleep at the moment.

Ginny was her only real female friend. But could she tell her? Could she tell her that she fancied Harry, the same guy Ginny had fancied for four years? The same guy Hermione had told Ginny to try and get over?

Somehow Hermione didn't think that would bode very well.

Sighing resignedly to herself, Hermione decided to do the only thing that would deem proper in this circumstance: present a hypothetical situation.

"Ginny," Hermione said, poking the girl next to her awake.

She didn't respond.

"Ginny," Hermione repeated, poking her a second time.

Nothing.

"Gin—"

"Hermione, if you bloody poke me one more time, I swear I'll feed you to the Giant Squid," Ginny stated, grabbing Hermione's finger in midair. "What do you want?"

Hermione removed her finger from Ginny's grasp and smiled at her. "I just thought we could talk again."

"And just what would you like to talk about?"

"Oh, I don't know...erm...how are you and Michael?" Hermione asked, hoping this topic would help her broach the subject.

Ginny raised an eyebrow, clearly not anticipating this question. "I dunno," she replied, shrugging. "And I mean that...I really don't know how Michael and I are at the moment."

"Why's that?" Hermione asked, genuinely curious.

"I think we're going to call it quits soon," she said. "All we've really been doing lately is arguing, and it's really just not worth it."

"Do you think he feels the same way?" said Hermione.

"I'm not sure. We haven't really talked about it yet, but I know we're going to have to," Ginny answered.

"I'm sorry, Ginny," Hermione said, her voice filling with concern.

"Don't be. I'm not," Ginny stated. "We had a lot of fun, but some things can't last forever. Eventually they'll have to make room for the things that do."

"And...do you have any idea which things those might be?" Hermione asked, attempting to sound casual.

Hermione noticed the slightest blush appear on Ginny's face. It was so slight, in fact, that Hermione may very well have imagined it. But somehow, she didn't think she had.

"I haven't the faintest..." Ginny replied.

Hermione accepted that answer without argument.

"Ginny, can I ask you a question?"

"Er...sure," she said hesitantly.

"Well...If you fancy a guy...do you tell him?"

Ginny looked at her oddly for a moment, taken aback by the question. "It depends..."

"On what?"

"A lot of things," Ginny answered. "For example, whether or not he has a girlfriend already. Whether or not he's an ex of one of your best mates. Whether or not it could ruin your already existing, but sadly platonic relationship..."

Hermione looked up quickly. Ginny was staring at the ground as she said this and thankfully did not see Hermione's eyes go as wide as saucers.

"What do you mean by that last one?" Hermione asked carefully.

"Like if two people were friends and one of them fancied the other. That person might not want to tell the other, unless they were fairly certain the feelings were reciprocated. Otherwise, it would just make their friendship brutally awkward."

Ginny said all this without looking into Hermione's eyes. She even looked slightly saddened by something.

"Why do you ask, anyway?" Ginny said, finally looking up at Hermione.

"Uh...well...I—

Ginny's eyes suddenly grew wide. "You fancy someone, don't you!"

"What? N-no—"

"Yes, yes you do! Hermione you're a terrible liar," Ginny said, grinning madly. "Who is it, then?"

"Ginny, it's nobody," she said through gritted teeth, regretting ever bringing up the subject.

"OH MY GOD!"Ginny suddenly shouted.

Hermione jumped back in surprise.

"It's Ron, isn't it?" Ginny whispered excitedly.

"WHAT?" Hermione nearly screamed. "No, no absolutely not."

But Ginny merely continued grinning madly at her.

"Ginny it really isn't," Hermione nearly pleaded, hating herself even more for bringing the subject up.

"Don't worry," Ginny said in a sickeningly soothing manner. "I won't tell a soul."

Hermione threw her head in her hands, groaning loudly. "I don't like him, Ginny," she said in a muffled voice.

I LIKE HIS BEST FRIEND.

"Hermione," Ginny said, attempting to pry Hermione's hands of her face. "Hermione, look at me."

"I don't want to," she said stubbornly into her hands.

"Hermione," Ginny said again, this time successfully freeing her face. "You know what I was saying before, about when and when not to tell a person you fancy them?"

Hermione remained silent.

"Well," Ginny continued excitedly, not fazed in the slightest, "You don't have to worry about that third example...because...well...I'm fairly certain Ron fancies you back."

"WHAT?" Hermione screamed again.

"I know, I know," Ginny placated. "This is probably coming as quite a shock to you. But trust me, Hermione, he fancies you."

"No," Hermione said fiercely. She had finally had enough. "Listen to me, Ginny. I do not have any romantic feelings for your brother, whatsoever. And if you so much as think about telling him that I do, I will ask Hagrid very politely to provide me with a blast-ended skrewt so that I may personally feed you to him."

Ginny stared at her for a moment.

Then broke out into an even wider smile, which caused Hermione to cry out with frustration.

"Hermione, I already told you. Your secret is safe with me."

"Right," Hermione said, standing up and brushing herself off. "I've had enough. I'm off to the library."

"Bye!" Ginny called after her, but Hermione refused to turn around and see that stupid smile plastered on her face.

She was absolutely seething. This was not what she had in mind when creating her hypothetical situation.

A/N: Hi there! I'm sorry that this chapter took so long to get out, but here it is finally! I hope you enjoy! And just a side note, if, perhaps, you haven't read the books in a while, the thing that is causing Harry so much depression and the reason he wants to talk to Sirius is that he just saw his dad being a total jerk to Snape in the pensieve which has altered his entire perception of his father. Harry never actually tells Ron or Hermione this, and I'm thinking Hermione will eventually just let it go. For Harry's sake at least...