Hi everyone! Finally, here's the very first chapter of my brand-new story, called Fall Into Me. It's my second story, but you don't have to have read the first one to understand what's going on in this one. Please please please r&r, but also, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. JK Rowling does.

~*~

"Honey, I'm home!" Harry Potter shouted mockingly as he entered his flat. He tossed his keys onto a nearby table before heading for the kitchen.

Roommate and best friend Hermione Granger was sitting at the round kitchen table, surrounded by books. She looked up, though, as Harry came into the room. "Hi, Harry," she greeted pleasantly. She flashed him a smile before turning back to her studies.

Harry couldn't help but grin as he went to his room to get dressed in more comfortable clothes. Though they had graduated from Hogwarts a few years ago, some things hadn't changed. Hermione was still the same girl with brown hair, brown eyes and an obsession for studying. And Harry was still passionate for Quidditch.

Yet, as Harry searched his room for fresh clothes, he couldn't help but think of a few of the things that had changed. For instance, instead of studying for a Transfiguration or Potions test, Hermione was studying to become a Healer at St. Mungo's. She was beginning to take some pride in her appearance (finally having purchased a shampoo that was also a hair sleeker), and was beginning to loosen up a little. She even had a boyfriend.

Harry's life had certainly changed for the better. He was getting paid to play Quidditch as Puddlemere United's Seeker; he lived with his two best friends and he had a girlfriend.

He finished changing, then went back to the kitchen, where Hermione was packing up her books.

"Taking a study break?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, I've been at it for hours. How was practice?"

"The usual. It's so odd to have Wood as a captain again," he commented, opening up the fridge and pulling out two butterbeers. "But I don't mind."

He sat down across from her and they drank in a companionable silence. Harry was grateful for it. Sometimes, his life got too hectic, and these were the moments that kept him sane.

"Have you heard from Ron at all today?" he asked finally, brushing a lock of jet-black hair out of his bright green eyes.

Hermione nodded. "He'll be home around six, he said."

Ron Weasley was their other roommate and best friend. He was currently working at the Ministry of Magic, in the Department of Magical Games and Sports.

"It's your turn to make dinner tonight," Hermione went on.

Harry groaned. He'd totally forgotten about that. "I told Lav I'd take her out to dinner tonight."

He and Lavender Brown were the on-again, off-again type, though at the moment, they were "on." She designed robes, cloaks and other sorts of wizard clothing, and worked in a shop down in Hogsmeade. As a result, she lived in a flat in the all-wizarding village, which was located a few hours' distance from the trio's flat. They rarely saw each other, but he cared for her a lot and was determined to make it work.

"Harry! You promised!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Please, Hermione? Just for this once?" Harry asked, trying his best to look innocent.

"Harry, no, I'm not cooking dinner on your night!"

"Come on, Hermione!" Now he flashed her a winning smile that she returned.

"Oh, all right. Just this once."

"Thanks. You're the best." Harry drained his bottle of butterbeer, and stood up to put it by the sink. As he passed Hermione, he paused to kiss her head. "I owe you."

*

Ron and Hermione balanced their plates in their laps as they tried to agree on a television show to watch.

"So where exactly is Harry?" Ron asked as they skimmed through the channels for the third time.

"Out with Lavender. They're eating somewhere between here and Hogsmeade."

"Oh."

Hermione sighed. She hated Harry and Lavender as a couple. They just didn't seem right together; they constantly broke-up and got back together. Hermione knew what Harry wanted was an actual, solid relationship.

Oh, come off it. That's what you want. With him.

But, no. It wasn't meant to be. Harry loved Lavender and Hermione had a boyfriend, Derrick Winters, with whom she went to school with.

"Aha! Think I've got it!" Ron crowed suddenly. "How about this?" he asked, pointing the remote control at the television set. Ron had grown up without watching television, but after Harry and Hermione bought one, he'd been glued to the set each night.

Images of a monster truck rally flashed rapidly across the set. Hermione rolled her eyes as she noticed that Ron was already transfixed.

She put her plate on the coffee table and stood to leave.

"Where you going?" Ron asked, not taking his eyes off the t.v.

"I'm not hungry anymore. You…you just enjoy your monster truck rally," she mumbled. She hurried away to her bedroom, where she stared at the ceiling until she fell asleep.

*

When Hermione awoke the next morning, she didn't feel much happier about the way things were going. But after half an hour of lying there, she finally crawled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. She swung the door open, and—

"Oh, my god!" she shrieked.

"Oh, my god!" Lavender echoed.

Hermione slammed the door shut, separating them. She'd just walked in on Lavender. Wearing nothing but a towel.

At least it's something, Hermione thought gratefully.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione said through the closed door. It opened again, and Lavender was looking at her with a pleasantly calm expression on her face.

"It's no big deal. I just wasn't expecting it, that's all. Come in! Do you need anything?" Lavender stepped back invitingly.

"Oh, um, thanks," Hermione said awkwardly. She squished into the tiny bathroom, realizing how weird this was.

"Harry and I came back here last night," Lavender explained unnecessarily. She began to dry her hair with her wand.

"Ah." Hermione looked for her toothbrush.

"Hey, Lav, I didn't find your—oh, uh, Hi, Hermione," Harry said, appearing in the doorway. He, too, was wearing only a towel.

"Hi, Harry."

There was an awkward silence; then, "Lav and I came back here last night."

"So I've heard."

There was another silence, though this one was much longer and more awkward. Finally, Hermione dropped her toothbrush to the sink. "I'll give you two some privacy."

And that, she decided as she raced back to her bedroom, was perhaps one of the worst

ways she could've started her day.

~*~

So, that was the first chapter. What'd you think? I hope you liked it. More coming soon—and if you review, that'd be really, really cool! Thanks!!