! SUPER IMPROTANT PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU CONTINUE !

This fic is over three and a half years old (wow), and is also the very first fic I ever wrote. It was originally up on my 'bfree90' account on , but unfortunately I lost the password for that account and was never able to complete this. So I thought, fuck it, why not put it up on here?

WORD OF CAUTION. I will be the first one to admit that this fic is riddled with mistakes, and some lolzy OOC moments (especially Draco, I don't know what my 16 yr old mind was thinking), but it gets pretty enjoyable after the first couple of chapters. So all I ask is that you give it a read and let me know if it made you laugh/smile/go 'WTF'.

Hermione Granger had her head buried, once again, in her incredibly worn copy of Hogwarts: A History. She had studied and read it so many times that the binding had started to fall apart two years previously.

"Uh, Herm? Wouldn't you have that thing just about memorized by now?" Hermione glanced up from her book and sighed exasperatedly at the tall, handsome red-headed boy who was sitting across from her in the Great Hall.

"I am Head Girl now, Ron. It's part of my job to know the rules of Hogwarts" she said before burying her face back into the book. After about a five minute period of time she slammed the book closed and put it into her messenger bag, looking rather pleased with herself. She smiled as she picked up a piece of burnt toast and bit into it, crunching loudly.

"Mmhhm." She heard someone clear their voice behind her before gently tapping on her shoulder. "Good morning Hermione!" said a boy Hermione's age who had large front teeth and ears that he hadn't grown into yet. Neville Longbottom, in other words. "Just wanted to thank you for talking me into asking Luna to accompany me on the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow…as a date. And guess what? She actually said yes! To me." He then proceeded to throw his arms around her, giving her one of the tightest hugs that she had ever experienced.

"Y-you're welcome Neville," she gasped, pulling away for air. He grinned down at her apologetically and then turned and skipped away, the poor lovesick puppy.

"Well, he looked quite happy," said a boy sitting next to Ron with messy black hair and startling green eyes behind his glasses. "You never cease to amaze me, Hermione," he continued, "I'm a firm believer that you could get just about anyone in all of Hogwarts to go out with each other. You got Neville to ask Luna out, and Blaise to stop cheating on Pansy. I'd even go and bet that Crabbe would go out with Goyle if you encouraged it."

Ron looked utterly disgusted. "Harry, that's disturbing. If there's something I'd never want to walk in on…it'd be a Crabbe and Goyle snogfest in a nearby broom closet," he shook his head, getting rid of the terrifying thought before adding,"Oh and thanks for setting up Seamus and Lavender. I mean, we broke up a while ago, but she would still come up to me and tell me that I would always be her Won-Won. Let me tell you, I'm getting really tired of that shi-"

"Ronald!" Hermione quickly interrupted, narrowing her eyes at him. "Watch your language! There are first years around." Ron rolled his eyes before deliberately letting a very naughty word escape his mouth. Hermione looked scandalized.

"Are they serving any pancakes this morning? Because I'm in a strong pancake mood." A girl with long red hair slid into the seat next to Hermione, late as usual.

"Good morning to you too, Ginny, and no they are not serving pancakes this morning, they only have them on Tuesdays and Saturdays. I'm afraid your craving is one day early my friend," Hermione said, beginning to gather up her things as the bell was about to ring.

"Oh yeah, tomorrow is Saturday…bother," Ginny muttered as she pulled a plate of bacon towards her.

"Ginny? Are you not going to give me a good morning kiss?" Harry asked, propping himself up on his elbow in an attempt to look adorable. Ron gagged on his pumpkin juice at all the self dignity his best mate had lost since going out with his sister.

"A curse on you, Hermione," he choked. "Ever since you got my sister and Harry to get back together, they won't stop making googly-eyes across the table. Therefore, it has been hard for me to hold down a meal these days." But he smiled at Ginny and Harry; he knew that they were perfect for each other.

The bell rang, making everyone jump. "Well," Hermione said quickly, as she herself had been staring at Ron's blue eyes. "It's time for Potions. I think we get our essays back on the Toenail-Growing Drought. I hope I did okay, since I found the subject quite revolting…"

Ron snorted. "Oh please. You know that you got an Outstanding. Why do you even bother questioning yourself?"

They continued to make their way to Slughorn's classroom when Ginny poked Hermione in the ribs, causing her to let out a squeak. "After dinner. Me. You. Discussion."

"About what?" Hermione enquired, raising an eyebrow.

"About your situation."

"My situation…"

"Yes, with my brother."

Hermione felt herself go crimson. "That isn't a situation that needs discussing. Now S.P.E.W, see that is a completely different story that needs-"

"Don't you dare try to change the subject!" Ginny hissed. "You've fancied Ron for ages, and Lord knows he fancies you back." She gave a frustrated sigh. "I'm just tired of you always fixing other people's love lives, but you won't do a darn thing about your own. So, yes, you are going to meet me after dinner tonight and we are going to have a discussion!"

By this point they had reached potion's class and Hermione was trying to think of a way out of this. "Ginny I really don't think-" but she stopped short when she saw the threatening look that Ginny was throwing at her.

"Fine, I guess I'll just see you after dinner then," Hermione said hotly. Ginny grinned as she grabbed Harry and gave him a quick peck on the cheek and then hurried off to her own first period class.

"That concludes my theory that girls are, in fact, weird," Ron said shaking his head as he led them into Slughorn's classroom.

Like Hermione could actually concentrate at all during Potions. The only thing on her mind was the 'discussion' that she and Ginny would be having after dinner. Talking about Ron in that way had always scared her to death. She hated admitting that the cared for him as much as she did. But the reason why, and she knew it too, was that she was so scared of being hurt. Of course, Ron had hurt her feelings before, plenty of times, but this was a different kind of hurt. Not the hurt that stung for a few days and then they were back to bickering, but the kind of hurt where you went for weeks, months, perhaps years just aching, and not knowing who will come to make it stop. If anyone would ever come to make it stop…

"Um, Hermione?" Harry whispered. He looked concerned. "Are you alright? You look really depressed." Hermione quickly shook her head out of her thoughts and went back to making her Anti-Acne potion.

Professor Slughorn was walking around the classroom, nodding his head, or looking disgusted as he studied student's potions. When he got to Hermione's he peered into her cauldron with an expectant smile, which swiftly was replaced by a look of surprise. "Not your best Miss Granger," he said, disappointed. He looked into Harry's and beamed, as usual, but he totally skipped Ron's, whose potion was basically blue tar.

When the bell rang Hermione let out a loud sigh of relief, and quickly gathered her things and headed to her Ancient Ruins class, which, thankfully, did not include Ron.

Needless to say, Hermione was in a horrid mood when lunchtime rolled around. She slammed her messenger bag on the table, seething. "I just got a detention! All because I didn't know one stupid answer to a question that no one could have possibly known the answer too, and now I have DETENTION for it!" She forked a pork chop onto her plate and glared down at it.

She picked up a knife and fork and began to ruthlessly cut up her pork chop. Ron looked at Harry, who looked at Ron. Both boys were confused, as usual.

"That pork chop didn't do anything to you Hermione, so maybe you should treat it with a little more respect." Harry was looking at Hermione in complete seriousness, and Ron was trying his hardest, but failing miserably, to cover his laugher with his hand.

Hermione looked down at her plate, where a bunch of little tiny pieces of pork chop were now residing, and then looked back up at the boys, ready to let them have it.

"You two just don't understand. I was unfairly given a detention because I didn't know the answer to one question! Not only is this completely ridiculous, but it's just downright a load of rubbish! But you two just can't understand that, because you guys actually do thickheaded things which actually deserve detentions! But I'm the sensible one AND I JUST DON'T GET DETENTIONS!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh will you quit shouting already? Honestly its just one stinkin' detention, I think that you can handle it. Harry and I have been through plenty of just downright mean detentions, and all you're going to have to do is write some lines. Give me a break and quit being so overdramatic!" Ron shook his head and narrowed his eyes in annoyance at Hermione.

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not overdramatic! I am Head Girl Ronald! This detention might just cost me my badge. McGonagall told me that if I got any detentions that she would very well strip me of my title! But you would never understand anything like that Ronald because you don't know the meaning of responsibility! And Pigwidgeon DOES NOT count!" She said as Ron had opened his mouth to talk.

"Whatever." Ron crossed his arms and glared furiously up at the ceiling. Harry looked from one to the other, once again caught in the middle of another pointless argument. "Ron has a point Hermione, its just one deten-"

"Of course, take his side, as you always do. Even though I know that I am right on this one. But go ahead; at this point I really could care less." Her bushy hair was now growing bushier as she was becoming angrier. She shot daggers at them before gathering her things and storming out of the Great Hall, giving an excellent dramatic exit.

"Good job Ron. Now she's pissed at the both of us." Harry sighed as he too began to get his things together.

"I'm sorry alright? But I was sick of her getting so worked up over one silly detention." Ron was staring at Hermione's plate of mutilated food.

"But, Ron, she's Hermione. You're never going to get her if you talk to her like that." Harry smiled knowingly at Ron who was opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish. "Oh don't even bother denying it," Harry said sharply as he left the table.

The rest of the day's classes were, well, awkward. Especially in Transfiguration, when Hermione sat across the room from Harry and Ron as not to 'distract' herself. And of course all Ron wanted to do was angst about it, leaving Harry wishing he had less hormonal friends. When dinner finally came around Harry separated himself away from his two best friends and sat with Ginny, who had a very smug look on her face.

"Calm down, I know exactly why Hermione is all bent out of shape." Ginny was trying her hardest to explain to her boyfriend what was going on behind the scenes, but he kept getting distracted by all the huffing and furious scribbling coming from a little ways down the table where Ron was trying to write a Defense Against the Dark Arts essay. The essay was pretty much spanking him, because the poor guy couldn't get past his forth sentence.

"Harry! Please try to listen," Ginny said, obviously flustered.

"Right, sorry," Harry said, turning his attention away from Ron and his beast of an essay and back on Ginny.

"The reason why Hermione is so upset is because she knows that she's going to have to talk about her feelings for Ron with me tonight, and that always messes her up."

Harry thought for a moment before answering. "I don't know about that Ginny, maybe we should let them work it out. They were really close to going out last year. I think that a little bit of time and a trip to Hogsmeade will do them just fine." Harry leaned back and stretched his arms forward; he actually looked pleased with himself.

Ginny looked distraught. "They've had the past six years to do something, and absolutely nothing has happened except nasty arguments and pointless acts of jealousy! Just let me talk to her, it's not like we've never discussed it before."

Harry shook his head. "It's not a good idea Ginny."

"Oh well, I'm doing it anyways." Ginny grabbed a roll from a basket and promptly stuffed it in Harry's mouth. "Don't worry, I'm a girl, I know what I'm doing. I'll see you in the Common Room." And with that Ginny got up and left the table, leaving Harry to chew his large mouthful of roll.

Hermione was sitting on a bench in the courtyard, wising death upon herself. Why did I agree to this? I hate talking about my feelings with Ron, even if it is Ginny. Oh drat! She's coming.

Sure enough Hermione could see Ginny jogging toward her, her long read hair swinging behind her. She reached the bench and sat down next to Hermione, looking cheerful.

"So..," Hermione started off awkwardly. "Why exactly do you wish to talk to me right now..here…after dinner."

Ginny took a deep breath, getting ready to give the speech she had prepared. "Look Hermione, the past few months I have watched people come up to you from all the Houses and ask you to help them out with their love lives and you almost always do. And here's the thing, you're actually successful at it, even in the most hopeless situations. You've made so many people happy with their relationships that for once, I would like to see you have someone too. Like maybe, let's say, my brother."

Hermione sighed; she knew this one was coming. "Ginny, I appreciate your willingness to help, but I don't think that there's anything you can do. I think that if your brother liked me, he would have sucked up his pride and asked me out by now."

"But Hermione! You know Ron; he's a bloody coward when it comes to girls. He likes you; he just doesn't have the guts to ask you out! Just tell him how you feel," Ginny pleaded.

"Well he sure had the guts to ask Lavender out and snog her all over the school, so I don't think you can use that as his excuse!" Hermione fired back. This was exactly why she hadn't wanted to have this conversation, they always ended up yelling.

"But you're different to him Hermione! He LOVES you! So he's more scared to ask you out! Just tell him how you feel, and he'll take the initiative!" Ginny was now standing up, her hands on her hips, glaring down at Hermione.

Hermione stood up so she was face to face with Ginny. "Love? Oh please. Ron can't love me. I'm me for heaven's sakes!" Hermione turned away, ready to leave.

"Hermione Granger, all you need to do is talk to him! Don't keep walking away! IF YOU DON'T TALK TO HIM YOU'RE MAKING ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES OF YOUR LIFE!" Hermione could hear the urgency in Ginny's voice, but she continued to walk away, feeling angry at everyone and everything.

Hermione stormed through the grounds until she found herself by the Black Lake. She plunked herself down by a big oak tree by the shores feeling very low. She hated everyone right now, but she hated herself the most. Mostly because she knew Ginny was right. But I can't talk to him, she tried to reason with herself, because if he doesn't like me, then our friendship would be ruined. She bent her head down, feeling miserable. This had been a horrible day.

"Someone looks low," said a soft voice out of nowhere. A boy with white blonde hair and a body of steel sat down next to Hermione.

"Hey Draco," Hermione muttered sadly. "I hope your day has been better then mine."

He shrugged. "Same old." Draco Malfoy had changed severely over the past six months. After trying to kill Dumbledore he had fled. As he no longer wanted to do Lord Voldemort's work, he had gone into hiding, only to be found by the Order of the Phoenix. McGonagall had been able to convince him to come back to Hogwarts, as it was still the safest place for wizards and witches. Draco had agreed, although not too happily, and Voldemort quickly lost interest. And even though Harry defeated Voldemort with in their first month back, Draco was still different. Witnessing the Dark Lord's evil work had left its mark on him. The young man had lost his never ending cruelty, and his arrogance was long gone. He was now as quiet and soft spoken as Neville Longbottom, but with a much more horrifying past. But one good thing had come out of it all, Hermione and Draco had become friends.

He looked over at her. "It's Ron again, isn't it?" Surprisingly, Draco was the only person that Hermione felt the most comfortable talking about Ron with. Who knew there had been a teddy bear under those spiteful external features?

"Yes, it is." Hermione then proceeded to fill him in about her day, and at the end he was giving her a small smile. He picked up a rock and tossed it into the lake, watching the ripples coming from its splash.

"Sounds like your day was a true suckfest. Now, don't kill me, but Ginny has a point. You need to tell Ron how you feel. It's just as hard for a guy to come out with his feelings then it is for a girl. In fact, I'd even say it's harder for us males."

Hermione glared at him and opened her mouth to retort. But before she said anything she groaned loudly and leaned her head back against the tree. "You're right. But,I…I mean..its…Ron! The guy I've liked forever!"

Draco looked at her in sympathy. "Just talk to him. I think you'll be surprised at what'll happen." Hermione sighed. "Oh all right." She stood up and began brushing the leaves off her robes.

Draco grinned up at her. "Trust me; you'll be happy you did. Now get your tush up there! This instant!" Hermione waved before dashing off toward the castle. She felt great and confident until she was inside the castle and by the staircase. Then her enlightened mood came crashing down when she felt the panic sweep over her. She then made a mad dash for the library.