Lavender and Hermione's history was long and twisted. They had, indeed, befriended one another during their first year at Hogwarts, but it was not as sunshine and daisies as Lavender had made it out to be.

Through a series of events that was really all Ron's fault, she found herself on the wrong side of a troll. Harry and Ron had saved her, of course, but she had been shaken that things in this magical world could get so disastrous so easily.

The beginning of that school year had been equally upsetting. She had hoped that this school would be different, that she would be appreciated for her intellect, instead of mocked. But it was all the same. She was, once again, a 'know-it-all'. And then stupid Ron Weasley had to go and make her cry. Sure, it was a catalyst that had changed the course of her life, but she could still blame him for his insensitivity.

So they had beaten the troll. It wasn't the only thing that had taken a beating. Her hair, matted with toilet water and troll boogies and sweat, was… well, 'worse for wear' was putting it lightly. She had walked back to the Gryffindor tower with Ron and Harry, but had ascended the steps to the girls' dormitories alone.

"Oh my God what HAPPENED to you?"

Lavender, sitting alone in the first years' dorm, had eyes only for the mass on top of Hermione's head.

Hermione, who had spoken maybe a handful of sentences to the girl, just muttered "It's a long story" and attempted to brush her hair.

Hermione, with all her studies, was never Lavender's cup of tea, but hair, hair she could understand.

"Here, let me help. You're just making it worse."

To this day, Hermione never understood why Lavender took such an interest in her. They were complete and total opposites. Lavender was outgoing and pretty and popular, while Hermione just hid behind her books. But they became best friends. Hermione explained the troll situation, even quietly admitting Ron's part in the whole thing. To her surprise, Lavender defended her.

"But that's complete rubbish!"

"Sorry?"

"You are not a 'nightmare', Hermione, don't think anything of it. I've been living with you since September, I should know. You just keep to yourself! And that's fine. You are a great roommate, and a lovely person, and Ron's a toad."

So they became best friends. Lavender took Hermione under her wing and helped her relax and become more open. Yes, she was a little selfish sometimes, but with all the history they had, Hermione could overlook it. They had even been separated for a year while she, Harry, and Ron went searching for Horcruxes, and when they had reunited, it was like they had never been apart. They cried, and comforted one another, and tried to move on.

Six years later, they were still best friends, and then Lavender and Ron started dating. Hermione made herself okay with it. She had to be happy for her best friend. Sure, she had had a crush on Ron in school, and yes, they had kissed during the Battle of Hogwarts, but nothing had ever come of it. Ron was grieving for his brother and Hermione had left to find her parents. Time had slowly passed and neither had made a move, so they just went on with life pretending it didn't happen. So she couldn't blame Lavender jumping at the chance to date him when they had reconnected. Hermione had missed her chance.

So what kind of horrible, horrible friend was she! She was having sex with Ron!

It had started innocently enough. Lavender had gotten completely sloshed so Ron took her home early. Hermione had enjoyed the party, but soon enough, everyone was paying their tabs and hailing Muggle cabs, too drunk to Apparate home. Hermione was heading out the door herself when Ron came rushing back in.

"Oh good, you're still here. Lavender thinks she forgot her purse and sent me back to get it."

Hermione looked up at him. "No, I'm actually positive she had it with her when she left. It banged me in the head when you were carrying her out."

Ron looked relieved. "Thank God. You'll vouch for me then when I return home without it?"

"Of course. If she really thinks she's lost it, have her Floo me tomorrow."

Ron studied her. "Most birthday girls wouldn't want Floo calls the morning after their birthday."

Hermione smiled. "Technically they won't birthday girls the morning after, will they?" Then she shrugged. "I had a good time, but I'm really not that drunk. Just enough to make getting home inconvenient."

"From the way you downed my Firewhiskey earlier, I would have thought otherwise."

She shrugged again. "Nope."

Ron smiled. "Come on, then. Let me buy you one more drink. I haven't even had a chance to get you a birthday gift and I'm a horrible friend and need to make up for it."

"Just one?"

"Promise."

Three Firewhiskeys later, the edge of her vision was getting fuzzy.

"…sorry?"

Hermione looked up. They had been discussing his upcoming nuptials and she had trailed off while speaking. "…I forgot what I was saying."

"You were reassuring me that I wouldn't need to empty my Gringotts vault to pay for this wedding."

"Was I? I was lying."

Ron guffawed. "And the truth comes out. I've got to get you drunk more often. How many lies have you successfully told me over the course of the past – what? – eighteen years?"

"Good lord, Ron, I've known you for over half my life."

"Quite the history we've had."

Slowly, they began to reminisce about their Hogwarts days, leading into a discussion of the war, and finally to what happened right after it.

"This is going to sound crazy, but do you remember that kiss? Outside the Room of Requirement? I know it was a long time ago…"

"No, I know." Hermione smiled and shook her head.

"What was that look for?"

"If someone had told me then that more than ten years later you would be engaged to Lavender, I wouldn't believe it."

"Really? Why?"

"Well, I don't know, I just thought things between us would be different after that kiss."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh please, you knew that I had always had a huge crush on you." It seemed the alcohol wasn't just affecting her vision, but her filter as well. Things were coming out of her mouth that definitely should not be.

"What?" Ron looked slightly stricken.

"Oh no, I shouldn't have said that. Forget it. Look it was a long time ago, and you're with Lavender now."

Ron remained silent and studied his hands as Hermione valiantly searched for a different topic.

"So how have the Cannons been doing lately?"

Hermione felt the tension slowly dissipate as they moved onto safer conversation. An hour later, Tom, the wizened bartend of the Leaky Cauldron, was waving them out of the establishment. Together they staggered onto the pavement.

"What to share a cab? Your flat is on the way to mine." Ron put his hands in his coat pockets and looked down at her.

"Sure, that sounds perfect, thanks."

They flagged one down and piled into the backseat.

"What did you mean 'it was a long time ago'?" Ron's voice broke the quiet and Hermione looked toward him in the dark.

"I'm not sure I understand the question."

"You said that 'it was a long time ago'. Did you mean your feelings were a long time ago, or the situation itself was?"

Hermione didn't know what to say. "Ron…you're engaged. To my best friend." Ron remained silent, so Hermione turned her head toward the window in an effort to end the conversation. When the silence became too much for her though, she turned toward him once again and opened her mouth to change the subject.

She never had the chance.

She'd been kissed before. But none of those kissers had been red-haired, blue-eyed men whom she'd had a crush on for almost half her life, and so this kiss blew all those other kisses out of the water. They told the cab driver that sorry, they only needed the one stop, and they stumbled into her apartment building, touching, and tasting, and fumbling with the key.

And when she woke up the next morning warm and snuggled into the very naked chest of that same red-haired, blue-eyed man, she could only begin to realize what she'd done.

Author's Note: Oh, Hermione, you've gotten yourself in quite the pickle. I tried to stay as canon as possible, what with Ron calling her a 'nightmare' (I even dug up the book to double check), and the troll, and the events in Deathly Hallows. I am going to take creative license on one thing, though. I think being attacked by Fenrir Greyback during the Battle of Hogwarts would have changed Lavender a lot- her looks always played a large part in her attitude and personality, I think - and for the purpose of this story, I need her to stay pretty and perfect and a little bit shallow. So just pretend it never happened (I know, I know, that's practically sacrilege). Thanks for reading! McEs.