This chapter is dedicated to friendsrox12. Thank you for reviewing!

Disclaimer: Believe it or not, my name is not J.K. Rowling. If you don't, look up to the left where it says Cremello.

Chapter Two

The start of a new day is the start of a new challenge. Sometimes fun, sometimes okay, sometimes horrible. That's just the way it is. I'm used to it by now, I think. Well, I pretend I am. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be able to face it smiling, not letting it knock me down. I can't let it knock me down, 'cause that's just the way things are. If they beat you once, they'll try harder next time and beat you again, but if they don't beat you, they'll give up, as long as you don't let them see how much it hurt you.

I had a test at school today. I knew all the answers, like always, and the teacher wrote a bonus question for me. Apparently they did so for Hermione, too. I got the bonus question right, too. At least I think so; it was easy, just like the other questions.

My classmates call me a know-it-all. My teachers smile softly when they hear it, because it was Hermione's nickname, too. She got to escape to another world and start over, something I'll never get. No, I have to live with her reputation the rest of my life, and only because she escaped to a world of magic! How unfair is that?

Very, I know, but I can't do anything about it. It's not like I could overreact and run away because my parents want me to be perfect. They're so happy for me, so pleased, that they can't see the truth. Oh well. Aren't parents alway blinded by their children? It's not really a surprise at all, all things considering. When they look at me, they see a miniature copy of themselves, with the best traits from both of them, and even more perfect. It's their weakness and I'm going to figure out how to use it.

By now you're probably wondering just how I tie into Hermione's story. It's not like I'm special, it's not like I have magic. I'm just Kimberly Granger, the sister who got the better name. If you asked Hermione, she'd say I wasn't a part of it at all. I'm just her little sister. She doesn't know how resourceful little sisters can be!

I know way more than Hermione knows I know. I know how worried she is about Harry, who has to live with horrible relatives. Doesn't she see that no parents or aunts and uncles are perfect? Can't she see what her own parents are doing to her own sister because of her? No, she can't, because she's so worried about Harry.

Sometimes I wish Harry never existed. Maybe then Hermione wouldn't fit in in her new world, and come home crying. Then we'd be more alike. Wouldn't that be great?

I'm lying to myself again. It's not true at all; I want Hermione to be happy, because I love her like only a little sister can. I really, really want to see her happy, but sometimes it's just so hard! Is life supposed to be this challenging and depressing? If it isn't, I must be doing something wrong.

There's something I have to admit: I lied to you. I don't do karate. Though I do have a free day, and on that day I sit in a tree in the woods by the park, and imagine. I imagine being a black belt in karate, a top volleyball player, and a national soccer star. So please don't take it personally; I lie to myself, too.

I asked Hermione to take me along to Diagon Alley this summer, but she wouldn't. She seemed surprised to see me, and I think it took that marvelous brain of her plenty of precious seconds to work out who I was. And when she realized, she also realized it was too late. "Sorry," she said, but she had plans to go with Harry and some guy named Ron.

My parents promised to let me come with them to buy Hermione a Christmas present. I think they'll forget to bring me, but I still appreciate the thought. It's one of the nicest things they've done for me, since that day.

"Liz? Have I ever told you what a wonderful friend you are?"

"Yup," she replied smugly. "But you know I don't mind hearing it again…" Liz let the end of her sentence trail off suggestively. She looked over at me and raised an eyebrow.

I broke down laughing, paying no mind to the people staring at me. "Sure," I began, rolling my eyes. "Liz is the bestest, most amazingest, bravest, wonderfullest, awesomest, magnificentest–"

"Oh, do go on," Liz replied, waving a hand regally. "This is what every young princess needs to hear to gain self-confidence … and ego!"

We both laughed at that, until tears rolled down our faces and our bellies hurt from laughing too hard. I was instantly in a good mood, having almost completely forgotten about my depressive state earlier. Liz could always cheer me up. It was one of her best talents.

Of course, my good cheers only lasted till I got home. If I acted happy around my parents, and they noticed, they'd probably take me to the doctor. Or at least a therapist.

Oh, man, I'm thinking depressing thoughts again. I really need to stop doing that, or so Liz says. In this case she's definitely right. At least I hope so, 'cause if she wasn't then I'm supposed to be thinking depressing thoughts. That's depressing …

Argh, I'm so bad at this!

I burst out laughing again, after staring into space for a minute. Yeah, here we have Kim Granger, and her special talent is confusing herself! Applause! I couldn't not laugh at that, especially considering how not-funny it actually was. Argh!

"Kim, are you all right? Do you need to see the nurse?" Liz asked, mock concerned. She winked at me to show she was just joking.

"The nurse? What are you talking about?" I leaned closer, pretending I was going to share a big secret. "My psychologist is surely the only one who can help," I confided in a mock whisper. "But even she has problems figuring out all the problems in my mind!"

"I wonder why …" Liz looked over at me, smiling. I think the easy banter helps her, too. "Well, I have to get to soccer practice. I don't want to be late. See ya!"

I remember that conversation clearly. I really wanted to go with her. However, I can never convince my parents. Even if I think of a convincing argument, they don't pay enough attention to me to notice at all. They probably wouldn't even notice I wanted to play.

I've been standing here, staring after Liz's back for a full minute. It's time to go back home and die of boredom. Maybe my parents will say hello? Oh, who am I fooling? Not myself, that's for sure.

I make my way home, walking slowly and mentally reviewing one of my textbooks. It's better than brooding on my wonderful life, right? It must be, even though I can't stand it. Why did Hermione have to be so smart?

It's nearly Christmas. I reminded my parents, and we went to Diagon yesterday. It was amazing! There were so many new things I'd never seen or even heard about before. We went to a place called Gringotts, a "wizarding" bank, and exchanged normal money for bronze, silver and gold coins. After that we went to a bookstore where I stayed for the rest of the day, until my parents came back and dragged me out.

I bought as many books as my parents allowed, though my favorite ones are law books. I'm going to memorize them, because then I'll be able to help Hermione when she needs it. She will need my help eventually, and I'd rather study something I want to read, rather than memorizing all my textbooks. It's another small rebellion, but this one I'm sure they won't notice. After all, I'll still be studying.

Christmas came and went, and it's now February. It snowed a little, but not much. I sent Hermione all the books I'd finished memorizing, and the ones I never planned to. I hope she appreciates them. All the law books are still at home, though; I can't give away what I'm planning.

Soon it'll be spring, and the school year will be over. Hermione will be coming home. Maybe I'll try talking to her, for once. Maybe we can become real sisters.

Probably not.

I'm not usually wrong, all my teachers say so. However, in this case I really hope I am. Hermione is my big sister, my role model, in more ways than one. I just wish she could be more. I wish she could be a confidant, a close friend.

My best friend.

Sometimes I hate being right.

So tell me what you think, write a review, and I'll write the next chapter where we'll see some Hermione-Kim interaction.