The Girl With Everything... Except That...

Here is the story of a girl who has practically everything.

She's beautiful, intelligent, witty, brave, loyal, and honest.

"What doesn't she have?" you ask?

Love.

Hermione Granger was seated at her usual post in the library. She looked out of the window, onto the lake, and watched the giant squid doing the backstroke. She sighed. Then she pulled out a thin, leather-bound book.

September 16, 2003

Mum and Dad wrote to say that they had a marvelous time in Hawaii. I understand that they wanted to extend their holiday and that I should be glad that I got to stay at the Burrow until term started, but I wish I could've gone with them, just this once. I never see them anymore. The last thing we really did together was in France before third year, when we all went to the Eiffel Tower. The rest of the time, they left me in museums and went to eat at those horrid little cafés. I heard Parvati and Lavender talking about me in the Common Room last night. It distresses me too much to copy down what they said. I hardly need add that it wasn't very complimentary. They were the only ones lft there this afternoon, and I CANNOT concentrate on anything when they giggle. Especially not this difficult Arithmancy. I don't think anyone gets how hard it is to be me sometimes. They all just assume I know everything, and that I don't have to work hard. You don't think I'd rather be down there, laughing my head off, than studying for all this! I'd KILL to be like them, one of them. It's especially aggravating when Harry and Ron go about talking about "guy things" and leave me out of it. Don't they know how much I depend on them? How could they be so ignorant? Ugh, Ron looked so adorable today, even though I can't stand that charming smile half the time, especially when its not directed at me! What other girls could he be smiling at right now? And how many of them will love him instantly, just like I did, and try, by any means possible, to get him interested, just like I am...

"Hermione?"

She jumped in her seat and turned around to see Harry standing there with his hand on her shoulder.

"Oh HI Harry!" she said nervously, quickly shutting her book.

"Reading again? Come on, its time for dinner."

"Oh, I'll be along in a minute...I just have a few facts I need to verify on my Potions essay..."

"Yeah, could you help me with that later? I'm afraid Snape will pickle ME if I don't do better on this one..."

"Of course, I'll meet you at dinner in about five minutes ok?"

"Ok!" he shouted jovially from the library door. Madam Pince gave him a scathing look as he retreated out into the corridor.

Anyway, she continued in her little book, I can't go on like this. I need someone to love me. Well, there's Harry I suppose...but he's got enough to worry about, let alone my need for sympathy. I guess I'll just go on as I am, all alone, here in the library, amongst my true friends, the books.

She shut the book a second time, and went down to the Great Hall, anticipating Ron's greeting smile.

She found Harry and Ron deep in conversation, so she sat next to Neville and Ginny who were talking about Herbology, about the only thing Neville could discuss. Ginny had a glazed, tired look in her eyes, and Hermione tried to change the subject to prevent her head falling right into her mashed potatoes. Hermione asked about their Quidditch practice, and how the team was doing.

"Oh, we're doing all right I guess, if Ron would stop losing focus and missing the save," she added in a whisper to Hermione.

"Yeah, every time I come and watch he starts dropping things...Maybe you should just hit him with one of your bludgers every time he looks like he's being inattentive."

(Now, we all know Hermione's not stupid enough to misinterpret this sign, but since she's generally blind when it comes to Ron, we'll forgive her this once for not being her usual, observative, self.)

Ron finally noticed Hermione had come down to dinner and immediately began berating her.

"So, been reading have you? There's something different...At least you could've come to our practice, Hermione. I saved every single one! Including that particularly difficult one of Katie's...did you see that one Harry?"

"Yeah, I saw it Ron, you almost hit me with it when you tried to knock it away..." Harry grinned at Hermione who grinned slightly back.

"So what were you working on anyway? That Care of Magical Creatures thing? I still can't recognize a Knarl from a hedgehog..."

"No, I was doing something of my own actually."

"You weren't either! You told me you were doing your Potions essay!" said Harry indignantly.

"You weren't writing to ol' Duck-Foot Krum, were you...?" said Ron suspiciously, with a note of annoyance.

"What if I was? You don't care!"

"I do too care Hermione! You shouldn't be hanging around with someone like that! Imagine, writing secret letters to a guy who's probably next in line to be a Death Eater, who's madly in love with you, and who you don't feel a thing about! That's dangerous Hermione!"

"I'll decide what's dangerous to me, and what's not, Ron. And since when have you known the inner workings of my heart Ronald Weasley, hmm? NEVER. And you never will!" and with that she stormed out of the Great Hall, her hair flying out behind her in her attempt to flee as quickly as possible.

"Ron, I-"

"DON'T even start Harry, I know I screwed up this time." And Ron went off after Hermione.

Hermione flung herself onto her bed and wept. She was only there a few minutes when she heard someone in the Common Room yell.

"WHOOOOA! Hermione! AAAGH!"

Hermione imagined Ron trying to get into the girls' dormitories, and slipping down the slide. She smiled slightly to herself at this, but she did not answer him.

"Hermione, COME ON!"

Still she did not come out. After a few minutes of fruitless yelling, Ron left.

The next day brought more tears on Hermione's part. She had never felt so alone. She couldn't talk to Harry, he wouldn't understand, and besides, what would she say to him? 'Hey Harry, I'm in love with our best friend!' Of course, she couldn't tell Harry, and she couldn't tell Ginny either, I mean, after all, Ron was her brother.

A little while later, an owl came that brought no good news for Hermione.

My darling girl,

Your mother and I have decided to try Greece this Christmas! Alas, I can only get tickets for your mother and myself, otherwise, we would of course take you with us. I hope you're doing well in your studies! Keep up the good work Sweetie! And don't forget to floss!

Love, Dad

That was Dad for you, Hermione thought. She broke into a fresh wave of tears, right over her Cornflakes. Harry and Ron gave apprehensive looks at one another, and then Ron said in a very quiet voice, (in case she exploded right there), "Are you okay Hermione?"

"No, not really. Do I seem alright to you Ron?"

"No, that's why I was wondering if I could get you anything. Maybe take you up to Madam Pomfrey...?"

"No, its not that...*sob* ...I just...Ron, take me to the Hospital Wing."

"Oh!" Ron said surprised, "Okay, then..." and he took her arm to the Hospital Wing.

They walked along quietly, (and for Ron, apprehensively). He had NO IDEA what this all meant. Once they were out of earshot, Hermione started to lead HIM, down a series of deserted corridors.

"Hermione..." Ron said slowly, "Where are we going? I'm supposed to take YOU somewhere, remember?"

"I'm not sick Ron, there's nothing Madam Pomfrey can do."

"Oh, and I suppose there's something I can do?"

"Yes," she said firmly.

Ron wondered at this for a moment, but only a moment. He was too preoccupied with the fact that Hermione was clinging to his arm for support, that he was the one she came to when she needed help. They were so close, he could smell the perfume he gave her for Christmas fifth year reach his nose...he didn't even know she actually wore it. Oh gosh, Hermione needs me now, he thought shaking. He suddenly remembered the other day in the Common Room when he forgot about the trick stairs, trying to get to her, to tell her how he really felt. He had thought about yelling it up the staircase to her, but he wanted her right there when he told her, wanted to see the look on her face, see her coming towards him, tear-stained face and all, and kiss him right there. He knew how it was with Harry and Cho. When Cho was going about the school crying every ten minutes...then she kissed Harry...Ron hoped against hope as Hermione stopped him halfway up a corridor.

"Ron, I'm lonely," she said stiffly even though she knew she'd start crying again any minute...

Ron caught his breath; did she mean what he thought she might mean?

"Well, I figured you must be to be writing to Krum..." he said, then mentally kicked himself. Stupid, STUPID Ron!

But to his amazement she laughed.

"What are you laughing about?"

"I only write to Krum because he can discuss things with me, he's like the part of you I could never get, even with all my plotting, and conspiring to make you understand..."

Breathe man, breathe. "Um, so...you don't like him then? I mean, ugh! You don't have to answer that!"

"No, I don't, he's just a sympathetic friend. Of course, he still doesn't feel like that about me, but what can a girl do?"

What can a girl do? Oh, you can come here girl; I'll give you sympathy... "So...where does that leave us?" Ron said hoping, PRAYING, that she'd say something that would give him a hint...

"Where do you want to leave it Ron?" she said, and she kissed him on the cheek, "Here?" she kissed him on the corner of his mouth, "Here?"

Ron stood looking dumbfounded for a moment, Hermione's kissing me, she's kissing ME!, he thought ecstatically.

"HERE!" he shouted through the corridor with great passion and grabbed her, kissing her with more tenderness and love than Hermione had expected Ron to be capable of containing.

They separated, and Hermione grabbed hold of Ron's arms so that she wouldn't faint.

"Uhhm..." was all she was capable of uttering, as Ron took hold of her again, more gently this time, and she practically swooned, Ron's kissing me, he's kissing ME!, she whispered in her head with disbelieving happiness.

Suddenly, she didn't feel alone anymore, as he took her arm again, and walked back down the corridor and down to the lake. She didn't even mind missing Transfiguration to stay there with Ron, his arm around her. She didn't even remember what it felt like to be alone. Now that she had Ron, the whole world was her friend.