Title: Puzzle
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Hermione/Bill
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 522
Summary: Hermione wants to solve the puzzle.
Notes:

OTP AU Competition III: Round 5 - Red String of Fate!AU

Ultimate Hermione Competition: Round 8 - Hermione/Rare Pair (Bill/Hermione has less than 300 stories)

Ultimate Battle Competition 2: Black Market -

Hermione had always felt drawn to Ron. At first, she thought he might be her soulmate. She would gaze at her red string, but she didn't see a similar red string on Ron, connecting them together. And only soulmates could see the other's red string.

It puzzled her for so long. If Ron wasn't her destiny, then why did she find herself wanting to spend so much time with him? His company certainly wasn't more pleasant than Harry's company. Harry was her best friend, but she still sought out Ron's companionship.

Why? Why? Why?

Hermione enjoyed puzzles, and she usually figured them out, but this one was truly difficult, and she had never wanted to figure out something more. It was utterly frustrating.

It became even more frustrating in their third year when Harry noticed a young second year and with eyes big in his disbelief, he muttered, "I found my soulmate."

Harry's eyes kept going from his hand to the other girl's hand, and he knew he was following the red string that connected them.

Hermione watched as the younger girl, a Ravenclaw, came up to him. "I am Luna Lovegood."

"Harry Potter," he breathed.

And hand-in-hand they left together, both of them obviously anxious to get to know each other. She noticed Ginny's disappointment but ignored it. She had her own problems to deal with.

Although she knew Harry and Luna wouldn't do anything until they were both older, Hermione still found herself jealous. She didn't want Harry – he was her brother in every way but blood – but she was jealous that he found his soulmate.

When she first became drawn to Ron, she had thought she had found hers, only to be disappointed to not see the connecting red string.

Ron had never felt that same pull towards her, so Hermione had to deal with a one-sided tug. She just wished she knew why.

Was that such a hard thing? Could she just find out why?

She did find out why. It happened the summer before fourth year when everyone got to the Quidditch World Cup.

There was a tall redhead there, and Hermione instinctively knew him to be a Weasley. What she didn't count on was seeing a complete red string, from her hand all the way to his.

The older man's eyes were glued to hers. He ignored his mother's fussing and walked over to her. "Hello. I'm William Weasley, but I prefer to be called Bill."

'Bill. Ron's oldest brother.' She blushed. "At least now I know why I wanted to be close to Ron. I never even thought his brother might be..."

"Your soulmate," Bill finished when she trailed off."

"My soulmate," Hermione echoed.

She heard gasps from all around as the Weasley family and Harry anxiously listened to their conversation.

"I'm going to enjoy getting to know you," Bill whispered, bringing a hand up to gently brush her curly hair out of her eyes.

"I think I'm going to enjoy it as well."

Two things happened that day. Hermione met her soulmate, her other half, her destiny. And she finally solved the unsolvable puzzle.