"Hey, Gin, wait up!" Hermione called, skipping down the steps from the upper level. In her arms were a set of robes, a bra and a pair of panties.
"Morning 'Mione." I said, pausing for her to catch up.
"So, first year at Hogwarts without any brothers: how does it feel?" Hermione giggled, linking her arm with mine as we walked back to my bedroom so that I could grab my trunk.
"Fantastic. I'm more than excited that you'll be there too though."
"Can you believe it? I'm only nineteen and an assistant professor."
"You're smart enough. And poor Professor Binns needs all the help he can get. You'll have to do a strip tease before they pay attention!" I said, nudging her with my shoulder.
"Great, thanks." she said drolly. I shoved some last minute things into my luggage and snapped them closed. I laid down on the ground, trying to locate my kitten.
"Welcome." I said as I captured a ball of black fur. Guinevere purred happily, kneading her paws into my arms. She wasn't too happy when I shoved her into the cat carrier.
"Hey, let's say we just apparate to Hogwarts. You don't have to ride that smelly train again this year without us!"
"Oh, awesome, thanks babe." I said, kissing her cheek to show my admiration. She flushed red and I laughed.
"No problem. Just let me take this awful potion."
"Professor Snape is so brilliant! I can't believe he would perfect something like the polyjuice in his spare time! He helped defeat Voldemort, was a spy, taught potions and still had the time to enhance a highly volatile potion." I said, watching Hermione place a curly black hair into the vial. It bubbled violently, threatening to spill over.
"Remind me to kill Professor-erm, Minerva when I see her next. Really, she thought it was necessary for me to change my appearance for the sake of some students being touchy. Honestly." Hermione ranted.
"Just take the potion."
"Bottoms up." she said, upturning the vial into her mouth. She shivered and then convulsed forward, her limbs shaking as they gained length. Her hands elongated, the fingers becoming more elegant, the arms longer and thinner. Hermione no longer had the upper arms that she had become quite vain of, in their place were model-esque ones, tapering to smaller set shoulders and a longer neck. Her torso made the biggest leap, changing from Hermione's slightly more voluptuous figure, although she was fat by no means, to a thinner one, her hips flaring more gently from a tapered waist and her breasts shrinking a good cup size and a half, more towards a B than a D. Her face and hair morphed too, the hair on her head was now longer, laying in loose curls to her shoulder blades. Her skin lightened several shades and her normally brown eyes faded to pale blue. Her lips were fuller, her cheekbones higher and her eyes were wider, set with dark lashes under brows as black as her hair topping them.
"Damn, Hermione. You definitely did pick a winner!" I said, gaping at her.
"Thanks. She was a salesgirl at Herrod's in London and I thought she was just yummy. So I had Harry work his wily charms on her and they ended up making out in a coffee shop a block down. He managed to get a good many of her hairs for me." Hermione smiled, "I'm just interested to see what my new body looks like!"
"Is it odd that I'm slightly interested?" I asked, giggling as Hermione took off her now loose and too short tee shirt.
"Not really. It's not like it's my body. It's a strange feeling, you know." she said, appraising her flat tummy, "Go ahead, sate your curiosity."
"Really?" I asked, feeling a little bit strange at wanting to see my best friend naked.
"Gin, really. It's not like you'd be lusting over my real body." she laughed, pulling down her sleep pants patterned in yellow ducks. I didn't say anything as she unhooked her own very much larger bra to reveal small, high perfectly formed breasts. The nipples weren't darker pinkish brown like I had expected, but very pale pink and small. The panties came down to reveal a very lightly haired pubis and a very shapely arse.
"You'll never get the boys to pay attention like that, 'Mione." I said, laughing. The new panties went on and she looped her arms through the new bra.
"Hook me?" she asked, gesturing to the straps.
"Sure." I obliged and we got the garment straightened out. She pulled the black teaching robes she had to wear over her underclothes and stood back for me to look. The robes were nice, with a high necked collar with about twenty small fabric colored buttons leading down to just under her bust. There was no real waist and the fabric just formed an A-Line dress from there, flowing to the tops of her bare feet. The sleeves were long and snug with a pointed cuff accompanied by more of those buttons.
"I think it looks pretty nice." she said, turning around in my mirror. She smoothed the dress and looked at me for my advice.
"Agreed." I said, "What name have you decided on?"
"I think I'll go with Jane Young, like I thought before."
"Why not something more interesting like Serepta Monpellion?"
"Because I've always wanted a normal name. Hermione is so wretched."
"But Jane Young is so boring. You could at least go out on a limb and do something like Raquel Young or Jane Carrington." I picked up the end of my trunk and Hermione picked up Guinevere, who was yowling steadily in her carrier.
"Fine. Just pick a name for me, I don't really care." She laughed as we levitated the baggage down the stairs into the kitchen.
"All right, let's go with Tatiana Gatsby." I said.
"Tatiana Gatsby?"
"Yeah. Tatiana's a nice name and 'The Great Gatsby' is my favorite novel."
"As good as any." she said as my mother came into the room, "Morning, Molly."
"Hermione?" she asked.
"Minerva asked me to not look like myself, remember?" she said, smiling.
"Oh yes, dear, I remember now. Are you and Ginny apparating to Hogwarts this year?" she asked. I swear, my mother knows us too well.
"Is that all right, Mum?"
"It's fine, Ginny. You girls go along and I'll send your luggage in a little while to your rooms." Mum dabbed at her eyes with the edge of her sweater.
"I'll be seeing you." I said, hugging her.
"I know, you're just the last one to finish Hogwarts and it's rather emotional, you see."
"I'll take care of her, won't I Gin?" Hermione said, putting another arm around Mum.
"Oh, you'd best be getting off, won't you?" she said, worrying her cardigan edge.
"I'll see you soon, Mum. I love you."
"Be careful." she said, dabbing at her eyes again.
With a POP Hermione and I reappeared at the Hogwarts' Gates. I looked up at the castle and smiled. It was good to be home. We walked up the path, relishing the sunshine that we knew would be gone soon. We walked past the graves by the lake, knowing that Hogwarts would never be the same after last year. I trailed my fingers across the white tomb of Dumbledore's and closed my eyes for the rest.
"Doing all right?" Hermione asked me
"It's still strange. Voldemort was a part of every year of Hogwarts until now. And now, my seventh year, he's gone. It's so surreal."
"I know."
We remained silent until we got to the front doors.
"Ready?" I asked, putting my hand on the handle.
"As I'll ever be." she smiled bravely. I opened the door to an empty foyer. Hermione sighed in relief. I saw her tense when a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Professor Snape. He strode towards us, looking from me to Hermione quizzically.
"Miss Granger?" he inquired softly.
"Yes sir, it's me." she said.
"I assumed that since you were with Miss Weasley that it was you."
"Congratulations on your enhanced polyjuice. It seems to be working very well." I commented, admiration shining in my eyes.
"Thank you, Miss Weasley. The enhancement was in actuality a lot simpler than I was expecting. I used several more complex processes until I realized that it was a very straightforward solution." he said, bowing his head slightly in thanks. Where was Professor Snape and what had this imposter done with him?
"I'll leave you to your potions discussion then, Ginny, Professor. I must go see the Headmistress."
"It's Severus." he said silkily.
"Then it must be Hermione to you when we're in private. Other than that it's Tatiana Gatsby." she said, smiling at him.
"All right, Hermione." he said, bowing to her again as she left.
"If you don't wish to speak to me about your potion any longer, it's all right Professor." I said meekly.
"It's quite all right. I'd like to hear your ideas on more perfections. I haven't even tried pitching it for sales yet, there's something not entirely right. It's perfectly fine as is, but I'd like to figure a way to make the transformation less painful."
"You're serious?" I gaped
"Close your mouth, Miss Weasley, you're liable to catch flies."
"It's just that you're usually so…well, you're usually not nice."
"Not nice, Miss Weasley?" he smirked evilly.
"Well, more snarky than not nice." I tried to remove my foot from my mouth to no avail.
And then, Professor Severus Snape did something that I have never witnessed.
He laughed.
"Come now, we've saved each other's lives in battle. I've lived solitarily for so long that I'd like company every now and again."
I gaped.
"I'm extending a hand of friendship, Miss Weasley. I'd very much like for you to take it. But be warned, I really am not a totally nice man."
I stayed silent.
"Would you like to see my notes on the polyjuice?" he sighed.
I mutely shook my head in the affirmative.
"Come on then."
I followed Snape down the steps, staying a good three treads behind him. Who was this man? I started fearing for my life when he took a left turn into a dark corridor. I sighed audibly when the lights rose up and I realized that we were headed for the library. He led me through past the restricted section to one of the study rooms. The wards were dropped on the wooden door and he opened it for me, allowing me passage before him.
The room that he let me into was comfortable, two blue upholstered armchairs rested in front of a large curved window with a cushioned seat in it. A mahogany coffee table sat between the chairs. The floor was dark wood with plush looking brown and teal Persian rugs scattered about. Then it dawned on me where I was when I looked over at Snape and saw him leaning against the mantle of the fireplace.
I was in Snape's private quarters.
"I shouldn't be here." I stammered.
"It's fine, Miss Weasley." He said, moving to another door. He moved to open it and I jumped nearly a foot into the air. "Just come in here and we can talk about the potion."
Not his bedroom, not his bedroom! I prayed as his fingers closed over the knob.
"I really have to go, Professor. I'm sorry." I said, getting up and running for the door.
"Miss Weasley!" He called. I didn't even look over my shoulder when he called my name. I flung open the door and ran. I ran until I almost collided with another body in the hallway.
"Wotcher, Ginny?" Tonks said, grasping my shoulders to keep my from falling, "What are you running away from?"
"Professor Snape!" I cried, looking over my shoulder to see if he had followed me.
"What are you running from Snape for?" she asked, peering down the corridor as well.
"Well, he was acting strangely. He offered to show me his research on the enhanced polyjuice and he took me to his private chambers! Then he wanted me to go into the other room with him! That's when I ran! Oh, Tonks, I ran for my life! He's gone mad, he has." I gasped, slightly out of breath.
"What did he say to you? He's a right bat and if he said anything mean to you, I'll hex 'im!" Tonks was livid, her hair turning bright crayon red with her anger.
"That's the problem, Tonks. He wasn't mean. He wanted my opinion on the potion. He was nice. He laughed for Merlin's sake!"
"He what?" Her face and hair went white.
"He laughed."
"You're kidding me, Gins."
"I'm not. He laughed. And it wasn't a bad laugh either. It was a nice laugh."
"Please be kidding?"
I shook my head no.
"Mercy." She choked, leaning on the wall for support.
"I wish I could. Come on, let's go to the Great Hall for some lunch." I said, taking her arm and leading her towards the doors.
"I was trying to find you, Ginny, when I ran into you. There's a copy of the Daily Prophet and you've got to see what's on the front page." Tonks gasped, remembering why she was trying to find her.
"All right. Let's see this article." I said, opening the door. Within moments Hermione was at my side, clutching the offending paper.
"Gins, oh my God, you have to see this." Hermione cried, her face wet with tears.
"All right, all right, let me see it." I took the paper from her and sat down. The headline rang out to me.
MARRIAGE LAW PASSES
In a 44-7 vote in the Wizagamot the Marriage Law has been passed. This law, affecting pure bloods and people of muggle or half muggle descent, will go into effect immediately. In an effort to boost the rate of magical births, one member of a pure blood family and one muggle-born of half-muggle will be matched accordingly to possibility that they will produce magical offspring. Only one person from each family will be selected for this first trial. Foreign Nationals and part-magical beasts such as veela, wherewolves etcetera will not be included. Matches have already been made and will be owled to the affected members within the day. This is a great step for…
See Marriage Law, page 3A
"What a funny joke- did Fred and George put you up to this?" I laughed, looking from Tonks to Hermione. They stayed silent. "Well?"
"It's not a joke, Ginny." Hermione managed to choke out.
"Very funny, really. Excellent acting." I said, looking to Tonks.
"Gins." She said
"It's not a joke." I said, slowly and evenly, letting the realization set in.
"No, it's not a joke." Tonks said gently.
"Well, I've got a five out of six chance of not being chosen." I laughed nervously, "Bill's already married and Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and I aren't. I guess the odds are for me."
"I've already gotten mine." Hermione said softly, looking up at me and handing me the letter. I unfurled the scroll and looked at the name at the top.
"Seamus Finnigan?" I marveled, "What about Lavender?"
"I don't know, Gins, I haven't spoken to him yet. He'll be devastated. Ministry put a ban on non approved weddings this morning, before the law was released. They won't even be able to marry."
"They must be doing this in alphabetical order." Tonks said, "I've not gotten mine. I hope I don't though."
As if on cue, two large tawny ministry owls swept in from the open windows.
"Here we go." Hermione said.
"Two? There's only Ginny and I in the room without one." The owls drew nearer. One abruptly veered off course, heading for the door out. We looked over our shoulders to see Professor Snape walk in the door. As my head was turned, I felt an own land on my shoulder.
"Oh, Gins, I'm sorry." Hermione said, a fresh wave of tears coming to her eyes.
"I'd better face the music now, I suppose." I took the letter and the owl flew off immediately, not even waiting for a reply or treat.
I broke the silver ministry seal and opened the packet. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
The name Severus Snape stared at me.
I started to laugh, really laugh this time. I had to seat myself at the table that I was by and put my head down. I was not steady on my legs. I laughed until tears came. They came in torrents, rushing in waves down my face. My body shook and my stomach ached. But I kept laughing. My face was red and my eyes were wet but I couldn't stop. Soon the laughter turned to hysterics, the tears never ceasing and they went into full blown sobs.
"Miss Weasley!" I heard Snape's voice say to me, rather sharply, "Miss Weasley!"
"They want me to marry you!" I howled, reverting to laughter again, "I'm seventeen and they expect me to marry you! You're old enough to be my father! And we have to consummate it!"
"Miss Weasley, come with me." He said, putting his hand on my bare forearm.
I couldn't reply, I just laughed.
"Ginevra Weasley!" Snape took me by the shoulders and shook me slightly. I sobered and looked up at him, saying just one thing before Hermione stupefied me.
"Imagine our children. My red hair and freckles and your nose."