A/N: I'm sorry! don't hate me D: I have a brief hiatus of a few months, and I'm sorry for leaving you without updates :( I hope you guys still remember the story, and will continue to give me the lovely reviews you did for the previous chapters :) Read on! xx
"Hermione!" Ron cheered, hurrying towards her and pulling her towards the red armchair by the fire. Hermione had just walked through the Gryffindor portrait hole when the red haired Weasley ran up to her.
"Hello Ron" she laughed, walking towards where Ginny and Harry were sitting, "hey guys! How are you doing?" she sat down happily and beamed at her best friends.
"The usual; Snape being a complete git and giving us extra homework!" Ron grumbled, while Harry scrunched up his nose in agreement. Ginny rolled her eyes but grinned sympathetically at her boyfriend.
Hermione chuckled and told them, "Well, it's punishment for not getting it right in class!" The boys groaned; no matter what, Hermione would always side with the professor. She smiled absently, and fiddled with the hem of her purple sweater.
What the hell was she supposed to tell them? How was she supposed to tell Harry that she was meant to become buddy-buddy with his nemesis, even if he did believe that he had changed for the better? She felt her colour rising as her nervousness slowly built up. The room was starting to feel too warm...
"Uhm, Hermione?" Harry's gentle voice interrupted her thoughts and she snapped her neck towards the black haired boy watching her with worried eyes. "Are you alright? You seem a little red…"
"Erm, ok, don't freak out, but I ran into McGonagall, and she told me that the reason why I'm in muggle studies, which is that I've got to become friends with Draco Malfoy, because she thinks that he deserves a second chance to become the man that he should be, not the one his parents moulded him as. I personally think that he should be given the chance to be a normal boy for once, so I just wanted to uhm ,let you know, that uhm-" Hermione voice was starting to climb, and took on the note of pleading near the end of her rambling speech, but she was cut off by Harry. To her surprise, (and great relief), he wasn't looking mad.
"Hey, Hermione, why were you nervous to tell us? It's not like you volunteered, McGonagall told you to do this. And I know you'll do a great job; I really believe that Malfoy could have changed, and is not the stupid, arrogant brat from our first year" he smiled, while Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.
"But I can add that his bad boy ways haven't changed much" Ginny put in, giggling slightly, "I saw him walking back to the Slytherin common room with Astoria last night; he's still very popular with the ladies" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Whoa, wait, let me get this right- McGonagall asked you to become friends with Draco Ferret Malfoy, to stop him from becoming a useless shell?" Ron abruptly interrupted. Hermione nodded, and reassured him that it would be alright. "So you have to spend lots of time with him, and try to become friends?" He said slowly.
"Yes Ron, I will be spending time with him. He is still my Muggle Studies partner" Hermione replied.
Ron stared at Hermione, his blue eyes occasionally flickering to Harry. Finally, he nodded, and said finally, "well, as much as I don't like you near that git, I trust you, so I won't get mad. But promise me that you'll be careful?" Hermione nodded and smiled, leaning forwards to hug her best friends.
"Thanks for understanding and not getting mad, it makes it so much easier. Well, I have to go, I'll see you guys as soon as I can, maybe tomorrow at lunch" Hermione smiled, standing up and dusting her jeans off"
She waved and was about to depart when Ginny called out, "Wait! Hermione, come to my room tomorrow and I'll get you fixed up with some clothes" She grinned mischievously, and Hermione scowled, but nodded. Tomorrow was a Saturday, which gave Ginny the opportunity to dress her up as her baby doll.
"Not that big of a change, but I agree my hair should be cut" Hermione sighed, but Ginny nodded in excitement, bouncing in her seat in anticipation.
Hermione grimaced slightly, and waved goodbye to the boys, who returned the gesture, snickering slightly. She walked out of the common room and hurried to the owlery, where she sent off an owl, requesting her laptop from her parents.
As Hermione walked back to the library, she was surprised as a fellow seventh year boy ran up to catch up with her, calling her name. It was Tristan Caan, a tall, handsome Ravenclaw boy that usually had girls fluttering their eyes at him as he sauntered past. "Hey Hermione" He smiled, walking beside her and reaching over to take her bag.
"Hey Tristan! How's it going?" she smiled back and blushed slightly as he slid her bag off her shoulder and onto his own.
"I'm great thanks; I actually wanted to ask if you wanted to go out with me?" Hermione's eyes widened as she took this information in. She looked at Tristan with shocked eyes, surveying him. He had bright, intelligent black eyes, and musky coloured skin. His dark brown hair was cropped short, and he was smiling confidently at her, while she stuttered (blushing of course).
"Oh! Uhm, yes, of course, I- uhm, would love to" She finally managed, while he grinned. The pair had reached the library now, and he returned her book bag back to her, shoving his hands in the pockets of his khakis.
"Great! I'll meet you in the three broomsticks this Saturday then, on the Hogsmeade trip" he smiled, and departed with a waved, leaving Hermione standing alone, smiling like an idiot.
0o0o0o0
"Ginny! What are you doing? Why are you cutting it all off?" Hermione shrieked, her hand jumping to her short, pixie-cut hair.
"Oh shut it 'Mione, I'm doing whatever remember? But I promise it'll look good when I'm done, Tristan will be gobsmacked!" Ginny pleaded, and giving her best puppy dog eyes; earning her the reluctant approval of Hermione. Today was her Hogsmeade date with Tristan Caan, and when she had told Ginny, the youngest Weasley girl had squealed and swooned over the juicy bite of gossip. Hermione regretted telling her, because it had made her more determined to turn Hermione into a masterpiece date.
The small red head continued styling her hair with her wand, shaving off the curly locks, leaving Hermione's head with a cute, gorgeous, pixie-cut.
"There! I'm done!" Ginny declared, tapping her wand on the table and conjuring up a mirror. Hermione glanced into the glass and gasped.
"Holy Hippogriff Gin! This is…amazing!" She gasped. Hermione looked like a whole new woman; her hair was short, but elegant. None of the untameable mop rested on her head (it was all on the floor now). "Thanks Gin, this looks really good" She beamed, extracting smiles and a 'you're welcome' out of the other girl.
"Okay, now for the clothes…"
Hermione sat on the bed as Ginny rummaged in her (magical enlarged) trunk for an outfit that was simple, yet gorgeous. Finally, she pulled out a pair of dark, artfully designed skinny jeans, and an olive green wrap top. As Hermione sighed and put them on, she was stunned by the simple complexity of it all. Her thin waist was brought out by the wrap top, and the olive colour matched perfectly with her creamy complexion. The jeans seemed to make her legs go on for miles, which were emphasised even more by the black pumps that were tossed in her direction. She observed herself in the mirror, and grinned in spite of herself.
The woman in the reflection looked like a supermodel, with gorgeous legs and stylish hair. The only thing Hermione had absolutely refused to allow was makeup. She couldn't understand why muggle girls and witches would put on that ridiculous powdery layer of artificial crap on their face. Ginny hadn't persisted, telling her that she had natural beauty, which only needed to be brought out slightly with the right clothes and hairstyle.
"Hey, Ginny, have you seen my white feather quill? It's my favourite, and I seem to have left it somewhere…" Hermione trailed off and shook her head. "You know what, never mind, I have to go, or I'll be late for Tristan. Thanks for everything Gin! Bye" she smiled and departed the room, walking down the stairs to the common room (still getting used to the heels).
Ron and Harry were finishing off their tonner weed essay for professor Snape when Hermione walked out of the room, rummaging through her purse, looking for something and cursing under her breath. The boys' jaws dropped as they took in her long legs and three inch heels complete with her new hair.
"Mi-Mione-wha-how-who-what di-did you do-wha?" Ron spluttered, his face turning red with his difficulty of forming proper words.
"Calm down Ronald, honestly. It's just different clothes and hair" Hermione rolled her eyes, "I have a date with Tristan Caan in Hogsmeade, do you remember him? He is a Ravenclaw seventh year"
Harry's eyes widened at 'date' and 'Tristan'. "Hermione, you didn't tell us you were going out with anyone!" and Ron mumbled under his breath, "Yea, and he didn't ask us for permission before hand. He can't just date our 'Mione"
Hermione sighed and put on a stern face. "Look, I know you guys are just trying to protect me, and I love you guys for that, and thank you, but I really don't need you to help me find a boy! I am perfectly capable to find myself a boyfriend okay? You guys don't need to interrogate anyone who asks me out" Hermione sighed.
She walked over and hugged Ron and Harry (Harry was looking slightly sheepish, while Ron was still trying to calm down). She hurried out of the room before either could say anything else.
As Hermione made her way down the winding path to Hogsmeade, she attracted lots of stares and gapes (mainly from boys) as she approached Hogsmeade. She ignored them all, and stepped into the toasty atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks. Spotting Tristan in the corner, she made her way towards the small booth in the corner.
"Hey Tristan" she greeted him with a smile, while he gaped in response.
"I-oh-uhm-Hi Hermione, you look…beautiful" he said, smiling and gesturing for her to sit. "So, what do you want to drink?"
0o0o0o0
"Oh my god, did you see the mudblood? What do you think happened to her hair? Maybe a malfunctioning lawnmower? Though I must admit it's a surprise Tristan Caan is dating her, I mean, he could do so much better" Pansy sneered, while Astoria stroke Draco's arm lovingly.
"Oh please, the mudblood looks disgusting. And so is Caan; he couldn't compare to my darling Draco" She purred, her large eyes (framed with too much mascara) fluttering flirtatiously at the blonde boy sitting beside her.
Draco ignored all of Astoria's words, and instead focused on Hermione, who had just walked in and headed to sit beside the Ravenclaw- Tristan Caan. He didn't really care about who she was dating, but he had to admit; her new haircut and clothes brought out the beautiful girl that had been trapped underneath the heavy load of books and overly-large robes. Draco watched Hermione and the Ravenclaw boy talk and laugh, while absentmindedly stirring his drink. He ignored the persistent touched and nudges of Astoria, and stared idly at the Gryffindor bookwork that sat a few tables across.
"Draco, should we get going honey?" Astoria whispered in his ear, gently kissing his earlobe, while Pansy rolled her eyes and stood up. Draco jerked his head slightly and moved to his feet, while Astoria followed, looking a little put out.
"Yea, let's go, I need to finish my potions essay anyway" Draco replied, gladly untangling his arm from her claw-like clutch and walked towards the door of the pub. Astoria pouted, but followed him out, while a smirking Pansy followed behind. The three Slytherins walked quickly up the castle, not saying a word and walking stiffly.
0o0o0o
"Oh my gosh you did not say that to him!" Hermione laughed, tears forming in the corner of her eyes as she shook with laughter at one of Tristan's stories.
"Yes I did! I told him he was a slimy maggot and to leave me alone!" Tristan chuckled, while adjusting his blue and bronze scarf around his neck. Hermione giggled and looked shyly at the Ravenclaw.
"Thanks for today, I had so much fun" she began, but stopped when Tristan leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on her pink lips. When he pulled away, he was standing a little closer than two normal people having a conversation, but Hermione didn't mind. She liked having someone she could trust and laugh with.
"Yea, I had lots of fun too" Tristan added, and they both chuckled slightly, and started making their way up to the castle.
Tristan walked Hermione to the Gryffindor common room and kissed her goodbye. When he finally departed, Hermione grinned foolishly like a girl who had just been spoilt and given the time of her life. She sang the password to the fat lady, who smirked at Hermione, (having just witnessed the intimate situation between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, before admitting entrance to her. Hermione clambered into the common room, bracing herself for the explosion of questions that were sure to greet her as she emerged.
A/N: Did you like it? I'm sorry. I'm a little rusty :P I'll be back soon with a faster update! xx Review?