Unrequited Love

Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments) Muggle Studies Assignment #5.

Task: Choose one of the Ten Sayings and incorporate them as a central theme to your story. Be as creative as you like with your incorporation in the story.

ยท (10) You must not be envious of your neighbour's goods. You shall not be envious of his house nor his wife, nor anything that belongs to your neighbour.

Written for The Ultimate Hermione Granger Pairings Challenge.

Entry for the Word Prompt Express.

Prompt: (586) Outside.

Euan Abercrombie licked his lips as he watched her from his bedroom window one morning. Hermione Weasley had lived across the road from him for one year now, and his lust for her grew more and more every time he saw her. She lived with her husband, Ronald Weasley, but Euan tried to block him from his mind and pretend that she was single. Euan felt like strangling something whenever he thought of that red haired prat with his hands all over his Hermione. Although Weasley had always been perfectly polite to him the rare times they had exchanged pleasantries, that only made him angrier. It was hard to dislike someone who had never done anything to deserve such hatred.

She finished brushing her hair and moved away from the window. Euan glanced at the clock and saw that it was 7.30, so that meant she would be heading to work in 15 minutes. He'd started watching her 6 months ago, and he knew her routine as well as he knew his own. Weasley had left ten minutes ago so she was alone in the house, and it was so tempting to go round there and knock on the door. Euan sighed as he walked downstairs and into the kitchen, knowing that he would be late for work himself if he didn't get a move on. He finished his cup of coffee and looked out of the window to see if he could catch another glimpse of her before he headed to work. Having no luck, he checked the door was locked and apparated to work.

Everyone was talking about how the Weasley's were going to be moving to this street. After all, it's not every day that two war heroes like them became neighbours. Euan usually despised gossip and kept his nose out of matters he felt didn't concern him, but this bit of news fascinated him as he'd had a soft spot for Hermione Granger back at Hogwarts. She was so different to the other girls. They giggled over silly things, made sure their hair was immaculate at all times and fussed about ruining their make-up. None of this was attractive to him in the slightest. Hermione Granger captured his attention with her desire to learn and her love for the library. Practically every day he spotted her walking there carrying what looked to be a very heavy bag; probably laden down with books, and her hair tied up in a bun. Many nights he had fantasised about unfastening that bun and running his hands through her messy, untamed hair. It had him wondering if beneath her good girl exterior she had a wild, passionate side just waiting to be discovered.

He'd waited for them to get settled in before greeting them, unlike others who'd barely let them get out of the car before accosting them. The couple seemed to appreciate his gesture and greeted him warmly, even inviting him in for a drink. Euan thought that Hermione looked just as delectable as she used to at Hogwarts, if not more so. Her brown hair was just as he'd remembered it, and her chocolate brown eyes twinkled when she laughed, but Euan cursed the fact that she was looking at Ron instead of him. They seemed blissfully happy with each other, and he hated it. He felt like he was outside, instead of in their warm kitchen; sipping a coffee while their love shone so bright that he was almost blinded. 'I want what you have, you bastard.' He thought as he looked at Ron. Deciding he couldn't take any more, he made an excuse to go back home.

He apparated back home from work and made himself a cup of coffee while popping a muggle ready meal in the microwave. Euan couldn't cook to save his life, and the meals weren't too bad. He looked out of the window and saw Hermione and Ron walking towards their house, talking excitedly and holding hands like a pair of love-struck teenagers. Euan wanted to look away but found himself frozen on the spot as he watched them. The cup that he was holding slipped out of his hands and hot coffee spilled onto his socks without him paying a blind bit of notice. He'd just seen Ron Weasley place his hands on his wife's stomach and kneel down in front of her, pulling up her shirt slightly to place a light kiss on her belly. Hermione beamed as Ron jumped up and scooped her into his arms, carrying her into their house and closing the door behind them.

The beeping microwave snapped him out of his trance and he abruptly opened its door, grabbed the ready meal and slammed it down onto a plate. How could this be happening to him? For a year now he'd been having fantasies of her realising that she loved him instead and that she'd leave Weasley and move in with him. Now all of his dreams had been taken from him in one fell swoop. She was pregnant with Weasley's baby, and he'd seen first-hand how delighted they were by this news.

A few mouthfuls were all that he could manage, so he pushed the plate aside as thoughts flowed through his head at lightning speed. Should he stay around and continue to lust for her from afar? Or should he move away and give himself a chance to move on and find someone else? Someone unattached who just might love him back. Images of a little girl with brown eyes and wild, curly red hair attacked him and made him feel sick.

He had to get away from here, as he could no longer live like this. A stalker who spies on the woman he loves from his bedroom window; that's what he'd been reduced to.

He picked up the latest Daily Prophet and looked for available houses. No longer would he wait for her.