As I’ve written in a previous post I have recently gotten into fan-fictions. These fan written stories are fun little dividends that explore ideas or paths not taken in the original tale.

Now for me, I am all about the heart of a story, but I think we have all had that moment where we wish a favorite story had gone a different direction. For me, that was Hermione Granger.

Don’t get me wrong, Ron is great, for the most part. But it’s one those things that when you get older, you start looking at things in a different way and one of those things is who Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age, ended up with.

It’s just not logical.

Those with even a little bit of relationship experience know that one of the most important parts of a successful relationship is being with someone who is your equal and when you really start dissecting the two of them it’s just… irksome.

Hermione is intensely intelligent. Ron is – not. He’s hot tempered, jealous, hypocritical, and often has undermined her knowledge know-how.

It just doesn’t seem like it’s a good match. I don’t want to say that she is settling, but it’s hard to see it in any other way. Granted, the Weasley family in general is fantastic. You have dragon trainers, bankers, government officials, business owners (joke shop or not) – and Ron is somewhat, meh. I’m sorry, I don’t want to say that. I even thought he was cute when I was a teenager myself and loved the whole little romance story between them. Now, it just annoys me.

To make a long rant short (too late, I’m sure) there were matches for Hermione that felt much more natural.

I get that her being with Harry was probably too on the nose and felt far too cliched to actually do. Although, putting them side by side they are very well matched together.

With that being said, she did have options that were… intriguing. And that is where fan-fics are these nice little off-canon spin-offs that play with these ideas. The what-if’s for fans that want to create a little alternate reality to settle those frustrated and curious thoughts in their heads.

Before I get into my favorite spin-off romance, I want to talk about the ones that have intrigued me from a purely canon perspective.

Harry Potter, as I’ve mentioned. In Deathly Hallows, especially, I felt that there was palpable chemistry between the two of them after Ron left them. That thought always sort of sat at the edge of my consciousness. “Under the Stars” is one I’ve been reading that actually plays into that and so far the writer has done a brilliant job of weaving the story through canon until they divulge to explore that romance. The stories they’ve made up to explain how things would shift because of it is really truly imaginative.

Now, one I just thought of while I was reading this, would be something between her and one of the twins. I mean, they were smart, but mischievous which would create this interesting dynamic where whichever one would always be forcing Hermione out of her comfort zone and keeping her from taking things too seriously.

The impossible one that some might say is absolutely crazy is Draco Malfoy. Yes, you heard me right. The stuck-up, child Death-Eater who only ever had it out for her. I accidently came across fan art on my Pinterest that piqued my interest. The enemy to lover thing is always intriguing; but I don’t like when it takes it to the point of borderline abuse and even rape. Beware, if out of curiosity you look into any of them, there are a few that are horrifying. “Manacled” was downright disgusting.

For me, I personally enjoyed two fan-fictions particularly and haven’t found any that I liked better at this time.

The first is “Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Of Being in Love” by isthisselfcare, set years after the final book. Hermione is a medical researcher working in both the muggle and magical world. When she makes a big discovery it makes her a target to certain members of the magical world and so she’s assigned an auror for protection: none other than Draco Malfoy.

The second is the “Eagle’s Nest” by HeartOfAspen. This is set in the ‘eighth year’ at Hogwarts after the final battle. McGonagall throws the school for a loop when she orders that everyone be reSorted into new Houses to promote inter-house unity. Hermione is put into Ravenclaw while her best friends, Ron and Harry, are put into other houses. Any guesses where Draco is put?

Honorable mentions: “Hermione Granger and the Two Vaults”, “The Olive Branch Apothecary”, “I’m begging you to not want me too”, and “the Right thing to do”.

I didn’t realize how many I had read through, it’s actually somewhat embarrassing. Haha. What you have to realize is that a lot of these are novelettes, if not full on books in and of themselves. Most of these, probably all, are explicit to varying degrees so make sure to double check that before you begin reading. For me, that sort of thing is a side-note compared to the actual romance, but to each his own.

Not whether or not you are into that sort of thing (fan-fictions) or not, you have to admit it is a fun thought experience.