It had become easy for Hermione to run. She started running at the age of eighteen and since then, it had become easier and easier with each time she ran. Granted, the first time she ran, she was with Ron and Harry but after that? She was on her own.

With the taste of Noah Puckerman still on her lips, the urge to run was growing higher and higher as each moment passed. Noah had grown to fancy her and it was quite obvious that he was going to do whatever he damn well pleased about it. Which, for Hermione, was very, very dangerous. She couldn't risk developing feelings for Noah in reciprocation, nor could she allow anything to happen when she was in a place of authority over him.

"That can be easily fixed," the voice inside her head mentioned. Her hand swiftly smacked itself against her forehead in annoyance. Why would she say something like that to herself? It sounded mental.

The brunette stood outside of the school, her fingers showing just how nervous she was. Her head flipped up for a moment, and when it fell again, she froze. Did she just see ginger hair? She couldn't have. Hermione dared a peak up again and sighed deeply in relief that there was no red hair in the distance.

"I need to sleep," she whispered softly, only to jump in shock when a hand came onto her shoulder. Turning quickly, her hand darted to her waistband, only to realize that her wand wasn't on her person. Thankfully, it was only Will behind her who seemed just as shocked as she had been.

"Herms, it's just me. Are you okay?" Will asked, his eyes filling to the brim with concern for his younger cousin. The curly-haired woman nodded feverishly.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I ran into Emma and she said that you seemed pretty jumpy and uncomfortable… And after Puck's performance in Glee club today…"

"It's nothing, Will. Nothing."

"You can talk to me you know. About anything."

Hermione scoffed and shook her head.

"No, I can't. I couldn't tell you about the magic and I can't explain anything else. You don't get it and you never will." As soon as the words left her mouth, Hermione immediately regretted saying them. Her hand rested against her mouth, masking her gasp of shock from her own words.

"Will, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm just…"

"Don't," he started, putting his hand up to stop her. His hand dropped to his side and looked away from her.

"Let's just go home."

Hermione's head lowered as she followed Will towards his car, slipping into the proper side, for the first time in about three weeks, and silently buckled herself in.

xxx

If one thing could be said about Noah Puckerman, it was that he was very persistent. He had been persistent when it came to being there for Quinn and his child, (even if it wasn't working too well in his favor at this moment+, he had been persistent when it came to being with Rachel, and he was going to be persistent with Hermione Granger. He knew, simply based on her kiss, that she was interested. She might have not wanted to admit it, but she was.

On his way home that day, Puck just wanted someone to talk to about all of this but whom do you go to when you want to bang your school librarian? Sadly, there was no one. His head lifted itself slowly as Puck walked inside his home only to find his mother in the kitchen, peeling potatoes.

"I might not be able to ask exactly what I want to ask, but I can ask questions that could help in the long run. Ma is slow enough not to notice."

"Hey, Ma. I'm home," he said, dropping his bag onto the couch, swinging his guitar case next to it. Walking into the kitchen, he placed a soft kiss on her cheek and leaned against the counter, his arms crossing over his chest as he watched the woman in front of him.

"How was school?" his mother asked.

"It was fine. Hey, Ma, can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can. What's on your mind, Noah?" Since the fight, three nights earlier, Shira had gone back to her normal-loving-over-bearing-mother routine and at that moment, Puck couldn't have been happier.

"How do you impress a girl? Like, impress her in a way that she won't think you're a total creep?" A clatter of silver wear hit his ears before his mother's squeal and soon her lips on either side of his face.

"Oh, Noah! You've finally found a girl to be with! God has answered my prayers. It's a miracle! A miracle!" she gushed. Puck shifted around in her arms and pushed the woman away from him.

"Ma! Ma! Ma! Stop! I just want some advice! I don't want to get smothered!" he hollered, very happy when his mother finally backed away from him.

"Sorry, Noailah. Tell me about her!" his mother said, putting her elbows on the counter, resting her head in her hands.

"She's really smart, and really hot. And when I say smart I mean ridiculously smart. She's like a walking encyclopedia. I tried singing to her and it worked, for about a second. And I kissed her but she kind of, just, smacked me after." His face scrunched up in annoyance from the faint memory of Hermione's hand flying across his face. Twice.

She definitely had some spunk and he was pretty sure that that was the reason he just kept coming back.

"She's not an easy one is she?"

"Nope. Not in the slightest."

"What happened after you kissed her?" she asked after a long moment of thought.

"Slapped me. Twice."

"Are you sure she even likes you, Noah? I'm all for fighting for love but… You never know. She could have a boyfriend that you don't know about."

"I really like her, Ma," he said, his face contorting in a strange form of sadness. Could it be desperation? No. Puck was never desperate. Ever. Shira sighed and gave her son a sad look.

"You're a smart boy, Noah. Try getting to know her a little better before you try kissing her again. It might work better in your favor." Puck nodded, his head lowering in thought. It was going to be difficult to get to know Hermione when all she was doing was pushing him away, but he was damn sure he'd try.

"Thanks, Ma," he said, popping up and pressing his lips to his mother's cheeks lightly. As he walked back towards his room, he could faintly hear his mother saying something about hoping it would was a Jewish girl.

Puck didn't sleep that night. He just stayed up and thought of different ways he could talk to Hermione and get to know her better. He had never been so determined to get under a skirt before, but he was sure this would be worth it. After all, don't they say that the good ones are worth the wait?

xxx

The silence that filled the car she and Will were occupying was suffocating. Hermione could hardly stand that she had said something so horrible to her cousin that it made the car ride, that normally lasted exactly thirty-seven minutes, seem ten times longer than normal.

She thought she was going to explode, she needed to get out.

According to the letter that had been sent to her according to the Ministry of Magic, she had to keep her magic use to a minimum and to only be used in exclusively her family's presence. At that moment she didn't care if someone in another car noticed her, she had to get out.

"I'm sorry, Will. I can't be in here anymore. I'll meet you at home." Hermione didn't give Will a second glance or a chance to say anything to her before disapparating out of the car and into his apartment.

Finally, even within the confines of the flat she shared with her cousin, she could breathe a little easier. The brunette had been doubled over when she landed, barely paying attention to what she was doing and was thankful that she hadn't splinched at the same time. Her breath was ragged and she quickly stood up, making a move to open the window in the living room to get more air but she never made it there. In fact, she never made it past the spot she had landed in.

"Hermione," a relieved Ron said, a smile pulling onto his lips.

"R-R-Ron. You… You found me," she babbled out.

A/N; DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUN. I told you the rest of the HP cast would be pulled in somehow, and this is the beginning of it. I hope you guys enjoy this update! I know I did. I love all of you who have stayed loyal to this story. I couldn't thank you all enough!