Disclaimer: I own neither Veronica Mars nor Harry Potter.

Chapter 1:

Sooner or later the people you love let you down

...Steps, thundering steps...

Hermione looked up from her books to see Dean Thomas and his gang walking over. No one else was in the library not now, not even the Library, Madam Price. Price trusted Hermione to be alone in the Library with her precious books.

Now surrounded by fit shifty teenage boys might have frightened some.

Not her.

Her face was completely un-fazed. She put down her quill and watched their movements like a hawk.

"Well... this can't be good," Hermione commented to herself.

Finally they had made there way to Hermione's table.

"Trouble miss?" Thomas mocked.

'This is my school Hogwarts. It's a school deep in the Scottish wilderness it's also a school for witches and Wizards.'

'Back on point, how exactly does a girl end up surrounded by a gang at 4:00AM in the morning in all alone in the library.'

'For that answer we'll have to rewind to yesterday.'

Hermione walked into the crowded Great Hall struggling through the crowd to see what the the fuss was.

Hermione had to fight the shock as she saw Harry Potter butt naked taped to a pillar inside the Great hall. For some reason unknown the Professors weren't hadn't noticed yet.

"Who put him there?" asked a blond 4th year.

"Dean Thomas did it!" chirped in a curly headed 2nd year.

"Why doesn't somebody cut him down?" asked the blond again.

"Yeah I want to be the guy up there tomorrow," answered the curly headed boy sarcastically.

Hermione rolled her eyes and walked up closer then any of the other students dared.

Suddenly Collin Creevycame out of the crowd with his camera.

"Alright say cheese! Smile!"

Harry noticed Hermione before him and assumed she was getting ready to mock him as well. Hermione thought on it too but decided in the end against it.

"Move," she ordered Creevy roughly.

"Who died and made you the Queen?" He demanded but when Hermione flicked out her wand stepped away.

She quickly started to use a slow cutting charm to cut the tape at his hip which was the only thing covering up his father's day.

"You are a freak!"

The crowded booed and hissed at Hermione's actions.

"So you decided to come back?" Hermione asked but Harry didn't answer.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts"

Hermione turned back to what was left of the crowd.

"Go Gryffindor," she shouted with false cheer.

'That summer after Dumbledore's death had been hell. In the end we didn't come out together. The glorified Golden Trio had been destroyed.'

Hermione thought on this while Slughorn searched her bag. He suddenly pulled out a picture of himself cut in a heart shape.

Hermione blushed fakely, "Wow this is a little embarrassing," she said cocking her head smugly as Slughorn ordered her back to her table in the corner of the Potions room where she could sit alone. She grabbed a hair tie and pulled back her newlyshort cut curly hair.

'Harry had lost it after that he abandoned my ex Ron and I. In the end I suppose it was for the best. Voldemort was killed finally by Harry within a month. But it was to late by then for Ginny had a new boyfriend.'

'Enter Draco Malfoy.'

'I used to sit there.'

Hermione stared as she sat at lunch stabbing her meatloaf determinedly while studying the actions of her classmates.

'At that table.'

She was referring to where Draco Malfoy and Ronald Weasley were laughing it up at the end of the Gryffindor table.

'Let's be honest the only reason I was allowed past the velvet ropes was Ronald Weasley. Youngest son of the famous Pureblooded Weasley's who had recently hit it rich and now owned a Villa in Spain.'

'He used to be my boyfriend.'

Ron his arm slung over the neck of Hermione. She had her old long curly brown hair. Ron smiled at her as they strolled down around the court yard. He leaned forward and kissed her sweetly.

'Then without warning he ended things'

Ron laughed loudly with Draco Malfoy. They walked right past Hermione without noting her presence.

(end flash back)

'And let's not forget Draco Malfoy, Pureblood of course, his dad has the Ministry in the palm of his hand.'

Draco now caught where Hermione was looking and sat down on Ron's lap and rubbed himself. Once Ron realized what he was doing he pushed him off causing Draco to laugh insanely. He sat back down at his place and clapped his hands then pointed toward Hermione jeeringly.

'Every school has an obligatory psychotic jackass'

'He's ours'

Hermione fixed a harsh glare on him because of this she didn't notice Harry sit down across from her.

"You okay?" asked Harry.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"You look, I don't know, hypnotized," Harry explained.

Hermione angrily snapped, "Did I say you could sit here?"

Harry shook his head and started to stand up.

"Wait a minute..." Hermione said after thinking for a moment.

"Of course you can sit here. Sit wherever you want."

Harry promptly sat back down, "That was cool what you did cutting me down from that pillar even after how I acted."

"Well-"

"My bitch," came a voice behind Hermione.

"Weren't you supposed to wait for me in the front of the Great Hall?" asked Dean as he sat down beside Harry, "Not sure I could have made that any clearer."

A flash of anger flew through Harry's eyes but it quickly disappeared. He laughed.

Laughed.

"Okay, I get it. Very funny. I guess we're even now, right?" asked Harry.

"You get what? You get you're a dead man walking? Is that what you get?"

"Leave him alone," Hermione commanded calmly.

Dean shot her a look, "Sister. The only time I care what a woman has to say...is when she's riding my big long broom. Even then, it's not so much words... more a bunch of oohs and ahs you know?"

Hermione looked up at him seeing as he has stood and now looming over her.

"So it's big, eh?" She asked with fake earnestness.

Harry could hardly believe that his old Hermione was being so bold.

"Legendary," Dean answered.

"Well, let's see it. I mean if it's as big as you say, I'll be your girlfriend," Hermione chuckled before saying in a sickly sweet voice, "We could go to the Ball together!"

Dean laughed amused by her guts, "What seems to be the problem?" Hermione snapped growing tired. "I'm on a schedule here, Don Juan."

"Thomas, don't let smarty talk like that!" Shouted one of his gang members Hermione knew to be Ravenclaw Terry Boot.

"Sound like your buddy here wants to see it too," Hermione added as Harry held in a chuckle.

"Oh, hell, I'll show you mine!"

"Terry Boot!" they turned to see McGonagall striding down the tables.

"What in the name of Merlin is going on here?"

The boys leered as McGonagall shooed them away, "All right, gentlemen, move along"

"Hermione why does trouble always follow you around," McGonagall mumbled walking back up to the teachers table.

"So what did you do?" Hermione asked turning her attention back to Harry.

"What?"

"Why are you a dead man walking?"

"Oh yeah I was serving detention last night an-"

"Detention before classes start," Hermione commented taking a drink of her water, "You're getting worse and worse."

Harry grinned, "You know me"

"Anyways I had to dust the ingredients shelves. Couple of those guys came in and just started loading things into their pockets-"

"You didn't seem to mind stealing when we were doing that from Snape in 2nd year," Hermione commented bluntly.

Harry was looking annoyed now, "Okay, jeez, go on your majesty," Hermione rolled her eyes.

"So I signaled for Slughorn like he told me to do when I was done. Then he came and pulled us outside. Everyone was there Dean and all them."

"They said they didn't take anything is that true Potter?" Harry quoted mocking Slughorn's voice.

"I just nodded. Then Slughorn went inside andcame out with a tape of some sort. He let me go after that," Harry continued his voice growing slightly darker,"but first he said why don't you go see Godric Gryffindor ask for a little courage"

Hermione dropped her fork and raised her eyebrows, "Go see Gryffindor? He said that to you?"

"Yeah"

"Congratulations, sport. In your short time here... you've already managed to piss of Hogwarts own gang and old Sluggy," Hermione stated with false cheer.

Harry shook his head.

Hermione sat on the dock out by the Lake alone. Her bare toes dangled over the side drawing designs in the murky water.

(flash back)

"Hey Baby," Ron's wet red head popped out of the water, "I think it's time you come in!"

With that he reached up and grabbed Hermione's leg pulling her in.

"Ahh!" She let out a hit pitched scream as she splashed into the lake.

Once she popped back up to the surface her long brown curls reduced to waves she lunged at a laughing Ron and dunked him.

Draco and Ginny laughed and watched, Ginny on the dock beside where Hermione had been and Draco swimming in front of her.

"If you do that to me I will not hesitant to hex you Mr. Malfoy," she threatened in a teasing way.

Draco of course did it anyway.

Hermione and Ron by now had stopped splashing, were cuddled up and kissing each other sweetly.

"Ewww!" Ginny cried turning away from Ron and Hermione, "Brother/Bestfriend PDA! Ahhh it burns!"

(End Flash Back)

"Ginny?" Hermione asked having sworn she has heard Ginny's voice.

"Miss. Granger, it's me Professor Sprout, could you move please? I need to get some algae for my 2nd year class," said the plump woman from the side of Hermione.

Hermione nodded numbly, getting up with her things, she walked back to the castle.

Hey Granger,

We were all thinking of having a party out by the beach tonight why don't you come? I heard you've been known to enjoy Firewhiskey.

C'mon, Granger, you used to be fun. Ron'll be there, and he promises to take his shirt off.

DM

The note had flown it's way to where Hermione sat with Harry in Charms in the shape of a small raven. Hermione looked toward where Draco was to see Ron shoving him and hissing, "Leave her alone!"

Hermione's eyes narrowed lightly in suspicion.

Hermione walked slowly toward the pitch to do her homework. Most of the students did it in the Common Room or under one of Hogwarts inviting trees but Hermione came here.

To the Quidditch stand's highest box.

Every once in a while a Quidditch team would come out and practice but they never noticed her.

Not Ron. (Who had become Gryffindor's new captain after Harry plus he was much better now.)

Not Draco.

No one.

Plus it was late now and she needed to finish her Astronomy chart. She pulled out her pair of Omnioculars she had used at the QuidditchWorld Cup. She didn't like the Astronomy tower very much. Too many reproductive fluids left over from countless horny teenagers.

Here at the top of the Gryffindor stands suited her fancy much more.

She caught something large moving on a broom and immediately tore her Omnioculars away from her face and had her handclose to her wand.

It was just Harry.

He smiled and waved hopefully. Hermione gave a small forced smile and waved shortly.

She was placing the Onmionculars back on her face when she took them off again slowly this time andwatched him zoom alone around the pitch before finally replacing the Omnioculars to her face.

'Arthur Weasley had replaced Fudge less then a week after he entered politics.'

'Voters adored the Weasley humble image, Mr. Weasley unlike his opponents had no scandals or secrets to follow him into office'

'He was beloved'

'I knew the family well Arthur's youngest son Ronald was my first and only love, his only daughter and his youngest child Ginny was my best most cherished friend'

Hermione sat right in front of Ginny in the History of Magic. They often shared giggles and notes so when Ginny tapped Hermione's shoulder there was no surprise.

Hermione leaned back and Ginny immediately leaded in closer to her ear, "I've got a secret. A good one," she teased in the most Ginnyish way.

Hermione's face became alight wanting to hear more. Ginny always had the best stories to tell. Her life was always exciting and dramatic.

"Girls, less talk more study!" snapped the ghostly Professor Binns.

Ginny smirked most unlike her and returned to her work, "Later"

(End Flash back)

'Those were the last words Ginny and I ever shared'

(Flash back)

A younger Hermione walked through the halls happily.

'Later that night, as I was heading back to the Common Room from sending Harry a letter, my Prefect badge buzzed'

Hermione looked down and read the badge with a worried look.

'The buzz was only used during extremely bad situation like if Death Eaters attacked again. The words Perfect disappeared and the "words disturbance at the lake appeared"'

'I ran'

Hermione dropped her books and ran back toward the schools doors.

'Ginny had said she was going to study at our usual spot on the docks after classes earlier at breakfast.'

Hermione was almost at the docks which was obscured from view by a large number of students when she spotted Ron.

'But when I saw Ron I knew this was more then just a disturbance'

He was under a tree his back supporting him, shaking.

'Something terrible had happened'

"What happened?" Hermione asked already knelt down in front of Ron.

Ron continued to shake and look straight forward not showing any sign of knowing Hermione was even there.

"Ron, what happened?" Hermione asked again a feeling of horror was beginning to creep over her.

Even though it had been less then a week since their break up she deserved to have an answer now.

Hermione looked around shortly before looking again at Ron, "Where's Ginny?" she asked.

Ron looked down at her suddenly then as if he were about to cry.

Hermione got up and ran to where the Professors and Prefects were blocking off something. Hermione finally reached where the barrier actually was and was now able to see what this was about.

There in the middle of the dock was the 16 year old body of Ginny Weasley. Blood had stained her bright red hair darker. Her hazel eyes were still open staring blankly to Hermione's left.

Hermione stopped her pushing against the other students, "Oh, My, God," she gasped faintly before moving her hands to her face and letting out a heart wrenching sob.

(End Flash Back)

'But everyone knows this story.'

'The murder of Ginny Weasley, The Minister's youngest child, His only daughter, ex of the Boy-Who-Lived'

'It was on the cover of the Daily Prophet, It made Headlines in six different continents'

"Mr.& Mrs. Weasley's marriage became rocky after that, they say the divorce rate is twice as high for couples who lose a child.'

'Lose a child, now there's a euphemism for you'

(Flash Back)

'That hardly takes into account the way she was found'

Hermione walked around the Library blindly but soon ran into Draco Malfoy. He was less tough more sad, weak maybe. Like a quilt with missing patches.

"So does Potter still thinks I did this?" he asked with dangerous undertones.

"That's my Girlfriend," he continued as Hermione was stunned to silence.

"Your friend"

"Ron's sister," Hermione could have sworn she saw tears in his greyish eyes.

Hermione only gaped, "Potter's destroying every thing and yet your sticking by him. He doesn't even return your pathetic letters"

He was suddenly very angry, "What's the matter with you people, huh?"

(End Flash back)

'Harry's belief that Draco was the killer became a moot point although Snape had already been arrested'

'Snape was tried and found guilty of the crime of murder. He was sentenced to life in Azkaban.'

'His wand was snapped'

Hermione looked up from her books to see Dean Thomas and his gang walking over. No one else was in the library not now, not even the Library, Madam Price. Price trusted Hermione to be alone in the Library with her precious books.

Now surrounded by fit shifty teenage boys might have frightened some.

Not her.

Her face was completely un-fazed. She put down her quill and watched their movements like a hawk.

"Well... this can't be good," Hermione commented to herself.

Finally they had made there way to Hermione's table.

"Trouble miss?" Thomas mocked.

Hermione smiled, "Yeah, as a matter a fact , Know-It-All Granger can't read a clock!"

She showed him her muggle watch, "Could you tell me what time that says?"

A Hufflepuff vaguely resembling a boulder stepped closer to Hermione.

"Hey, Dean, Who gets the first dance?"

Crookshanks hissed and launched his fat puffy body at the boys head his claws ripping into his face.

"Get off me! Get him off me!" the guy cried.

Hermione was undisturbed by the boy's cries and was fully aware as Boot stepped toward her.

"Girl, you best call off your pet!"

Hermione hit him witha spell that threw him back to the other wall which he hit witha loud crack. She then turned to the scratched boy and lazily called Crookshanks back to her.

"I'll tell you what, we'll call this a draw," she suggested patting Crookshanks on the head.

Dean shook his head, "Baby, come on, it's too late for that."

"Here's the deal," Hermione continued, "Leave Harry alone for a week and I'll make sure your boys walk."

"Why you care so much much about that has been Orphan boy anyways?"

Hermione was dying to yelled and say, "That Orphan Boy saved your sorry ass from Voldie, Jackass!" but held it back.

Dean continued smirking, "Things I here about you, He must really lay the pipe right, eh?"

Hermione let out a smile dripping with sarcasm, "Yeah, that's it"

Boot came closer to her again leering angrily, Hermione pointed her wand up at the roof showing him her wand which was spitting gold sparks dangerously.

"Alright, Alright, Alright. Right Terry we get it! Your a bad ass but for once don't be stupid!" Dean ordered harshly as Terry backed away.

Hermione nodded thoughtfully, "Not bad advice."

Dean returned his attention to her, "All right, one week. After that, we come for you... your boy, and your little cat too," he sneered.

Hermione waved her wand goodbye to them with a tight smile.

Dean continued, "You get lonely out here, remember, Dean love you long time," he said looking her up and down before leaving with all his buddies.

Hermione settled back down in her seat.

'Quite a reputation I've got eh?'

'Want you know how I lost my virginity?'

'So do I'

(Flash back)

The room of requirements had been fitted with bedrooms off the main party room and a hot tube. Malfoy brought the Firewhiskey and Blaisebrought the ladies. The music was blasting to a seductive tune.

Hermione weaved her way through the crowd in a simple white baby doll dress with white spaghetti straps.

'I went to one of Malfoy and Zabini's famous parties just to show everyone that their whispers and backstabbing didn't affect me'

People threw Hermione rude looks and where ever she left there were whispers in her wake.

'It was a mistake'

People continued to to leer at her as she passed. She hurried byfast when she saw Ron with Padma sucking on his neck like a leech. The breakup was still fresh in Hermione's mind and still the material of many whispers.

She came out of the crowd with a drink in her hand. She looked at it in wonder for a moment.

'I don't know who handed me the drink. I wish I did.'

'It turned out to be you basic Firewhiskey, Butterbeer, and knockout potion.'

She quickly drowned the glass.

After a few minutes Hermione began to feel weak and dizzy. Her steps were clumsy as she made her way over to the fireplace. She then promptly passed out on the couch.

When Hermione awoke she saw she was in a bed, in one of the rooms off of the party room. There was something sticky between her legs, her head felt like it was covered in a thick smog. She leaned up and slipped out of bed noticing that her dress was pushed up to her thighs and one of the straps on her shoulder had broken. Once she looked down at the floor she saw her underwear. Hermione gently bent down and picked up the underwear.

She knew what had happened.

Hermione walked numbly to her dorm not noticing her luck with it being a Sunday and still quite early so no one saw her.

'I never told anyone.'

Hermione walked into her dorm room where Lavender and her other room mates snored quietly.

'I'm not sure what would have happened with that information but no good would have come of it.'

She slipped into her bed, closed her curtains and cried softly until sleep finally came and mercifully took her.

'And what does it matter?'

'I'm no longer that girl.'

Sitting down opposite Harry at Breakfast, Hermione took a bite of an apple.

"Hermione, you should hear the things people say about you." Harry told her quietly in honest wonder.

Hermione paused and almost laughed.

"Then why are you sitting here?"

"You sat next to me," pointed out a grinning Harry.

"This is my spot."

"And what a fine spot it is," Harry said before knocking onto the table with his knuckles, "What do you suppose this is made of? Oak?"

Hermione didn't laugh at this, "Listen if people are saying such awful things-"

Harry cut her off, "I figure I'vegot a choice. I can either go hang out with the punks who laughed at me and made fun of me when I went after Voldemort. Or I can hang out withthe girl who sent me letters although I gave her the cold shoulder. And don't look at me like that after yesterday I get to cut you off."

"But I cut you down apillar to which you were tapped stark naked," Hermione reminded.

"Touché" Harry nodded.

Hermione leaned forward toward Harry, "So you want to get Dean's gang off your ass?" Harry nodded happily before they both busted out laughing.

Harry bumped right into Malfoy.

"Potter!" He spat with great disgust.

"Malfoy," Harry countered with equal venom.

Through out all this Malfoy didn't notice the odd shaped object that had been dropped in his bag.

As Harry and Hermione settled into their seats in Herbology, Draco was having his bag searched. Professor Sprout pulled out the same object that Harry had dropped into Draco's bag.

At the look on Malfoy's face Harry had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.

"Well, what's this Mr. Malfoy?" she asked, "It would appear to be a device they use to smoke marijuana and I ought to know, I'm the herbs teacher!"

Draco looked around the room and spotted Harry would looked like he was about to piss himself and Hermione who was smiling evilly.

"Alright to the Headmistresses office with you!" snapped the plump Professor.

"Ooo Malfoy's busted!" yelled a Gryffindor.

"It was you," Malfoy said quietly looking straight at Hermione.

Hermione pointed to herself with an innocent look.

"Listen, I know it was you. This isn't over okay?" He stalked up closer to Hermione.

Harry grinned as Hermione made the motion as if she were yawning.

"Awww you're so cute. I'll get you!" Malfoy threatened.

"Mr. Malfoy!"

After classes Harry and Hermione hide outside the Headmistresses office. "We could get in a lot of trouble for this," Harry said.

Hermione looked non puss, "Okay I'll do it"

"Wait," Harry snapped, "I'm gonna do it. I just thought one of us ought to point out the obvious"

Rolling his green eyes he pushed his wand in the air and said, "Incendio," inside the office the bong of Malfoy's caught fire.

No less then two minutes later McGonagall came rushing out and Ministry Members went in and searched the office. On his way out Percy Weasley came and winked at Hermione.

At least some of the Weasley's still liked her.

Later on that evening it was heard that the only evidence against Deans gang members had been lost from it's place in the Headmistresses office.

Hermione however had the evidence in her hands cleverly disguised as a Numerology text book. She made her way to the middle of the Pitch where Harry was currently flying.

Hermione whistled loudly calling his attention.

"I've got a present for you," She said once he was on land, handing him the text/video.

Once Hermione tapped the book with her wand it turned back into it's video form.

The tape from Slughorn's office.

Harry's shoulders lowered in relief, "I owe you big time," he said.

Hermione shook her head modestly, "I had my own reasons for doing it, trust me"

It was now Harry's turn to shake his head, "Oh, no, your don't. You think I'm going to let you get away with that?"

"That might play with the masses," Harry continued, "... but under that 'Angry Young Woman' shell. Is a slightly less angry young woman who is just dying to bake me something!"

Hermione laughed, "You're a nougat, Hermione Granger. A Bon-bon!"

Suddenly the Slytherin Quidditch team came out of there changing rooms. Malfoy spied Hermione first and stalked over.

"Hey, Hermione Granger," the tall blond greeted, "You know what your little joke cost me?"

"Well I'm pretty sure you won't be getting your bong back," Hermione answered smugly.

Draco flicked his wand and Hermione's 50 ft essay on the history of House-elfsappeared. Witha second flick the paper caught fire and was reduced to 15 ft.

Hermione glared but other then that just crossed her arms.

"Wrong answer. Would you care to guess again?" asked Draco obviously enjoying himself.

"Clearly your sense of humor," she answered still smug.

The essay was now no more.

"Nope, and you're usually so good at pop quizzes," he tossed this wand around showing off for his buddies, "No the correct answer is my broom.

Hermione put out a fake pout, "That's right, My daddy took my Nimbus Nova away. And you know what I won't be having?"

He was now much closer to Hermione then she would have liked and was staring at her intently, "Fun, Fun, Fun"

"Ah, Draco?" Zabini called looking toward where now Dean's gang had joined them on the pitch.

Draco was annoyed and stepped back to face Dean.

"Listen, man. I don't have a problem with you."

Dean stepped closer to Malfoy, "That's where your wrong."

"You say your sorry," Dean demanded, Draco just laughed.

"Rub a lamp"

Smack!

Hermione jumped as Dean sucker punched Draco and watched as Draco quickly recovered.

"I said, say your sorry," Dean repeated.

"Kiss my ass," was Draco's reply, crack Dean had hit Draco in his jaw.

Harry was enjoying the show but Hermione on the other hand was seeing that this wasn't getting anywhere.

"Let him go," Hermione ordered.

Dean turned to her, "Are you sure?"

"I could do this for a while," Dean's gang laughed at their leaders joke.

"I don't want his apology," Hermione supplied looking at Draco's bloody lip.

Malfoy stomped off to the changing rooms anddisappeared beyond a sea of forest emerald.

Dean moved closer to Hermione and Harry, "So that tape just eh? Poof?"

"That's fortunate," Hermione commented.

"Now you apologize," Hermione ordered gesturing to Harry.

"To him?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "No to the my imaginary friend Ted of course"

"Right, no," Dean laughed.

"Fine. He has the only copy of the tape," Hermione turned to Harry, "Harry let's go decide what to do with it," they both nodded and turned.

"Okay, wait, wait, wait. Look, Sorry about hexing you to the pillar, I'm sorry," Dean admitted.

Harry tensed and nodded.

"Can I have the tape now?"

Harry pretended to think, "Nope."

With that both Hermione and Harry laughed as they returned to the castle.

'I used to think I knew what tore us apart. Now I'm sure I don't But I promise this'

'I will find out what really happened to Ginny and I will bring this friendship back together'

'I'm sorry is that mushy?'

'Well you know what they say Hermione Granger, she's a Bon-Bon'

There it is tell me what you think I really need to know.

Elaina