AN1: Due to lack of apparent appreciation, I'm considering stopping this story after all my dedicated chapters are posted...

NOTE: Um this is definitely AU from canon. But I think that the Hermione here (And in basically this whole story, ties into the one in my other story: The Deepest Desire.) 'Tis the same universe as that Deepest Desire is...as far as friends and playing the cello goes. But then the whole 'soul mates' think doesn't exist here!

Dedicated to: missycary12. Thank you for being reviewer 361!!

Disclaimer: (stares blankly at reader.) You're joking right? Me own Harry Potter?

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Hermione was all nerves. She did get nervous before a concert or performance, but at this particular time...nervous was a major understatement. She wasn't just nervous, she was absolutely terrified! Why did I agree to do this? What did she agree to do you might ask. Well she was prodded by her mother to go to this muggle leadership conference and on top of Hermione not really wanting to go, she was coaxed, or rather blackmailed, to play her cello for the Las Vegas themed talent show.

Not to brag or anything, but Hermione was a pretty damn good cellist, when she was focused that is. When she wasn't, she would make tons of stupid and random mistakes. So here she was, the night of the show, and she was so nervous that she could almost feel her dinner coming back up. The worst part of it all was that none of her friends were there. That was the thing that Hermione abhorred the most. If only Draco were here.

Draco? Why him? Why not Ginny? Well she and Draco had become really close recently, and after digging inside herself—past all the denial—Hermione admitted to herself that she was deeply smitten with Draco. He was so sweet and was completely different than she expected. But, much to Hermione's chagrin, they were just friends. She felt strongly for him, but she didn't know how he felt. At that point, she didn't care about that. She just wanted him to be with her and give her a comforting hug. Whether or not they had a strictly platonic relationship, she longed for his presence.

"Next we have Hermione Granger playing her cello. Give it up for her!" The emcee announced, jolting Hermione back into the real world and out of her thoughts. She took the stage and set up as quickly as she could; feeling very awkward about taking what was in her opinion, too much time to set up. When she had the cello board around the chair legs, endpin out, and bow tightened, she took a deep breath and began to play.

Her first notes were shaky and she mentally cursed. "C'mon, get it together! You've played this so many times!" While continuing her mental stream of words, she kept on playing as if nothing was wrong. But her hand was shaking, the hand that wasn't controlling the bow. That was not good; she was sure everyone could tell. Think of Draco. Think of how if he were here, I'd be picking him out of the crowd. He'd smile encouragingly at me and then when I finished, he'd be backstage waiting for me and he'd give me a hug and tell me that I did great. With these thoughts in her head, the shaking stopped and her bow slid smoothly across the strings and the sounds echoed beautifully. Oddly enough, Hermione couldn't keep Draco in her mind, she was losing her focus. Between the notes, rhythms and bow patterns, she had no way to keep him in her mind. Again her right hand started to shake. Imperceptibly at first, but then it became more pronounced.

In her mind, Hermione began to force her thoughts back onto Draco. She thought of all the reasons she liked him. And that's when she realized she might possibly love him. As that final thought crossed her mind, she had unknowingly played her last note and the applause was thunderous. Hermione smiled, still in a daze and quickly grabbed her music, cello and cello board before exiting, stage right. She carefully placed her instrument in its case and stored it safely away from clumsy feet. She then leaned against the wall and slid down while sadly looking around for Draco; still wishing and half-expecting him to come out of nowhere and wrap his arms around her finally allowing the weary cellist to rest her head on his chest as she'd been longing to do. Reality sunk in and she sighed.

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AN2: Please? Spare a minute and review?

NOTE: This was written awhile ago, but I changed it up completely. And this actually happened to someone that I know very, very well... But that's over now. She thinks.

lovelove, Amanda