Hermione Granger was sick of been just one of the guys as Ron often referred to her. She was sick of the Slytherins like Draco Malfoy referring to her as a frumpy Mudblood and a frizzy haired beaver. Hermione was sick of the school populous seeing her as Harry Potters brainy sidekick. She was sick of her teachers seeing her as a goody two shoes who only ever got into trouble when helping Harry to save the world. Hermione was sick of her roommates who always assumed she wouldn't want to join in when they giggled over girly things like magazines, makeup, and boys. She was sick of Umbridge and all her Educational Decrees that were ruining Hogwarts. Above all, the thing she was sick of most was Fred Weasley who ruffled her hair like he did with Ginny, treating her like a kid sister when to Hermione, Fred was the furthest thing from a brother that she could think of.
Fred Weasley, one half of Fred and George, Weasley Twin, prankster, and secret genius had no idea he was what she desired most, no idea that he had invaded her dreams for months ever since he had wiped away her tears at the Yule Ball when his younger brother had left her crying on the Grand Staircase. Fred had used his fingers to wipe away her tears, he had cracked jokes making her laugh and pulled her back into the Great Hall where he had danced with her for the remainder of the ball. Fred had then walked her back to the common room where they had been caught under enchanted mistletoe that had hung over the entrance to their tower. Fred had tucked a stray curl behind her ear and gently lent down kissing her sweetly on the lips. Hermione had felt her heart flutter as his lips had touched hers, her eyes had shut, and her hands had clutched at the front of his robe as she timidly returned his kiss. As far as first kisses went, she thought hers had been perfect. Fred had been gentle and respectful; one hand holding her cheek the other resting on her waist; when he had pulled away from her, he had smiled down at her kindly, his blue eyes sparkling like sapphires. Fred had kissed her on the forehead, whispered goodnight and the two had entered the common room together, heading their separate ways, him to the boy's dorms and her to the girls.
Fred and she had never discussed the kiss they had shared after the Yue Ball and Hermione was never quite sure where she stood with him. Sometimes she thought he might be flirting with her but then he'd ruffle her hair and her heart would break. Of course, Fred wouldn't see her as anything more than his younger brother's best friend or as a sister. Fred was handsome and charming enough to have his pickings of any witch; witches like Angelina, Katie and Alicia who were beautiful and athletic. Why would he ever want someone like her. Hermione wished she had the confidence to be more like the other girls. Maybe if she dressed prettily and made more of an effort in her appearance Fred would notice her. Hermione didn't have the confidence though; she was terrified of stepping out of her comfort zone even though she craved to do just that.
Hermione had felt this way for many weeks now and she had finally found a solution to her problem. Over the Christmas Break while the Weasley's had spent lots of their time at the Hospital with Mr Weasley who had been bitten by Voldemort's snake, Hermione had spent her free time within Sirius's library. Sirius had many books that Hogwarts and the bookshops of the wizarding world didn't have, all the truly dark books had been removed by the Order of The Phoenix and Sirius had told her that she was welcome to read and borrow any of the texts that were left. Many of the texts were incredibly rare and old and Hermione had held them gently in her hands afraid they would fall to pieces. On book that had drawn her attention had been a book titled; 'Alchemy: A portioners guide to the heart and soul'. Hermione had at first been enraged that a book that no doubt contained love potions had escaped the Orders search of the library. Hermione had then opened the book to its contents page to confirm such a potion was in the book, when a different potion had caught her eye: 'Locus Liquido Remotionem Fortuna,'.
The book had said that the potion was a variation of liquid luck that provided its users with the courage to act on their desires. Hermione had spent two day's researching the potion to ensure it was safe to use. Upon her return to Hogwarts, she had spent three weeks brewing the potion in the Room of Requirement that had created a small lab for her. Compared to the Polyjuice Potion, it was an easy brew and now on the last Friday of January, Hermione found herself sat cross legged on her bed, her curtains drawn around her, the only light source the glowing blue and gold potion's phal clutched tightly in her right hand; "Locus Liquido Remotionem Fortuna," she whispered to herself before downing the potion in one large gulp, it tasted like happiness Hermione thought to herself briefly before her eyes rolled backwards, her body slumping back against her headboard.