The Road Trip

~* The Road Trip *~

Chapter One - Perspective on a Suggestion

I have no idea what I was thinking. I mean, it was all spur of the moment. The suggestion just flew out of my mouth before I had a chance to realize what I was asking. I'm still shocked that my parents actually said yes.

It all started one weekend in May. We were allowed to go home to celebrate with our families - after the defeat of You-Know-Who, who wouldn't have reason to celebrate? - And my parents chose that weekend to get the summer house ready for our annual August visit.

Late that Saturday while planting flowers (well, they were planting - I was watching. My back was kind of injured, but no complaints here - no one was as beat up as Harry after...well...you know...) when my Mum and I started talking about my plans for the Summer...

"I don't know. Harry, Ron and I were thinking about taking a road trip."

"A road trip?" Anne Granger asked her daughter, "Where?"

Hermione shrugged. "We're not sure. We were thinking - hey, wait a minute - didn't you say that you and Dad might not be able to come up here this year?"

"Yes - we might not be able to get off work since Jemma's on maternity leave." Jemma Brown is my Mum and Dad's co-worker. They all co-run a fairly large dental office so when one of them is out sick, things get pretty crazy.

Anne looked at her daughter suspiciously. "Why?"

Hermione smiled. "What if we don't take a road trip and come here instead?" I wasn't really thinking when I spoke the words. Had I been, I would have considered the implications of having this sort of trip and how disastrous it could turn out to be.

"Hermione - not that I don't trust you all, but - convincing all of their parents to let them go...and all of your friends..."

"It would just be five of us, I promise! Ron could talk his Mum into it - she seems to like you a lot. And it's not like Sirius doesn't know me, so Harry should be allowed to go. That just leaves Neville and Lavender, and they'd be able to work it all out with some begging. Oh Mum, please? We'll pay for everything, even transportation here. We'll be good I promise."

Anne Granger looked at her daughter, a look in her eye that clearly stated well you're not a little girl anymore, so...Anne sighed. "Go ask your father. I have no problem with you all coming here."

Hermione squealed and gave her mother a hug. "Ooh - thank you thank you thank you thank you! Let me go ask Dad - yes!" Hermione practically ran into the house, her mother yelling behind her, "And no funny business Hermione Elizabeth Granger, do you hear me?"

...And that was the beginning of what has officially been deemed the After-Hogwarts Dream Team Road Trip. Ron had an easy time convincing his mother (my Mum sent her an owl explaining the situation. I love my mommy) and Sirius, though a little hesitant at first (he's still so protective of Harry. I think it's sweet. Harry swears he's going to kill Sirius before he starts Auror training in September...) finally caved and allowed Harry to join in on the fun. Hell, even Neville and Lavender were able to convince their guardians to let them be free for the day. I was shocked, but here I am packing up for a weekend full of fun and care-free friendship. No parents. No professors. ("No homework," as Ron was gleeful enough to remind me.) Should be the time of our lives, yes?

Sure! Unless you're me.

Why do you ask? Well it's not every day that you're stuck in a house with two of your crushes alone for an entire weekend. No I'm not talking about Neville. Or Lavender.

That's right, I admit it - I've fallen head over heels in like with my two best friends. And the worst part of it is they're both taken. Ron and a...well, she's a Sixth Year now named Kerry Ann Morison have been together for over a year. They met at a Quidditch game last May. After two weeks, he asked her out. She said yes. I was heartbroken, but the summer was good for me because I thought I got over him - thought being the operative word in that sentence. Oh how wrong I was. I saw him again in September and it all came flooding back. But he was so happy with Kerry...I couldn't ruin it for him. So, I kept my feelings to myself (and Ginny who, thankfully, has kept her mouth shut) and went on with my life. I even got a boyfriend, but that didn't last very long. After about a month, he broke up with me saying that he suddenly realized he didn't want a serious relationship. I was really upset and really mad all at the same time. I've never fully forgiven Justin for that.

And Ron...well....as much as I like him, I know things would never work out between us. He's like my brother, and I'm like his sister and we're just not compatible as a couple. But I still like him. Why I will never know...

And then there was the Harry escapade...oh yes, yes, there was an escapade, and what an escapade it was. Let's just put it this way - he knew I liked him, he only liked me as a friend and it turns out, the only reason he didn't go out with me was because he "doesn't want to ruin our friendship." We got into a fight over a bunch of things that would have blown completely out of proportion had it not been for Ron making us talk out our problems. Everything's okay now. I even helped him muster up the courage to ask out one of Ginny's friends (Ginny and he went out for a week in Fifth Year - it was a total disaster that ended mutually. They were- are much better as friends), Annie Caraway. She said yes, of course. It's been four months now, and he knows I'm not over him, but he keeps quiet about it, and I'm grateful for that.

I have to keep reminding myself not to flirt with Harry, especially considering he constantly flirts back when Annie's not around, which throws me because I still like him so much and I'm not quite sure he realizes how much anymore. What kills me is that I know that things could work out so well between us. We just...fit. It's not like Ron and me. Harry and I...we compliment each other, and...the odds just weren't in my favor I guess.

But three days with them...I'm going to go insane. Truly. Without a doubt.

Because they're going to be alone for the weekend. No girlfriends (or boyfriends) allowed - mum's orders.

This leaves me, Hermione Elizabeth Granger, in a rut as the only person in the house without a partner. Lavender is going out with Dean Thomas, and Neville is going out with Diana Rosenberg, a Ravenclaw. Neither of them are going to be there, but so what? I'm the only single one, and it kills when we're all out together because I constantly feel like the fifth (or ninth, depending on the occasion) wheel. They all talk about their "significant others" and the fact that I can never join in on the conversation...it kills me. I want to have a boyfriend, but the problem is...I want it to be one of them, my two best friends - and I can't have them.

A weekend alone with Harry, Ron, Neville, and Lavender. This should prove to be quite an interesting trip...