A/N: This is a gift fic for Mereschino, also known as my dearest, darlingest Lisa. I don't usually do gift fics unless I'm begged or unless I really like the person and I usually wouldn't be caught dead writing the pairings they like. Li, this took a great deal of effort. It'll be a while before I get to stuff you haven't read, but I'm trying to space the postings. Sigh. I've written same-gen het. A lot of it. In one fic. I feel so… dirty.
Just kidding.
Anyway, here's the prologue. There's the first chapter, and there, right at the bottom, is the review button. Such a convenient and simple process. Make it work!
Enjoy!
-N
Disclaimer: Not mine. You know that.
If I Have To
Prologue: Extreme Makeover
"Hell no!"
Hermione Granger threw up her hands. "Well, what then?"
"Hermione…" Ginny Weasley got up off the head girl's bed and held the older brunette's head between her palms, "Darling, I want you to listen, and listen carefully. I know you're very conservative, but you said you want this, this… "Secret crush" of yours to notice you, right?"
"Ri-ght," Hermione said, her nodding impeded by the redhead's hands still cupping her temples.
"Well, the only way he'd notice you in that is if he was looking for a nanny." Hermione scowled.
"That is the nicest outfit I own! It's very fetching!"
"Did your grandmother tell you that?" Ginny laughed at her friend's scowl. "Okay… it looks like we're going to have to do a serious overhaul on your closet, but for now, let's take a trip to my room." Ginny began to gather up the various outfits that were strewn around the head girl's private room and heap them into a pile on the bed. Hermione simply looked her friend up and down doubtfully.
"No way," She said, shaking her head. "Gin, no offense, but your cloths will look ridiculous on me. We're completely different sizes in all the important places." Ginny turned to examine her friend's body. It was true; Ginny was petite, Hermione tall, Ginny had an ample bust on a curvy form, Whereas Hermione had a tiny, perfect chest and an almost boyish figure. Ginny shrugged.
"So we'll resize. Magic, remember?" She rolled her eyes. "Come on, before I catch the practical bug from being in this room too long." Hermione glared at her, but followed her out the door without complaint.
It was a very shy Hermione who tipped her head around the door into the common room later that evening. Ginny strode confidently out in front of her.
"Come on, no one's here… just Harry and Ron." Hermione tried her best to swallow around the lump in her throat.
"Okay…" She stepped out into the room. "Hi, Guys."
"Hey-WHOA!" Harry's jaw almost dropped to the floor. Hermione was dressed in skin-tight black jeans, a fitted scoop-necked black tank top and black fishnet elbow gloves. Her hair was wet, and fell in limp curls almost to her waist, and she'd done something funny with her make-up.
"Harry, what are you gaping for?" Scoffed Ron. "I mean, it's only Herm—whoa."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Close your mouth, Ron. You look like a fish. You too, Harry." The two seventh years immediately brought their lips together, but continued to stare wide-eyed at their friend.
"Well, hello to you too," Hermione said sarcastically. Ron nodded solemnly to Harry, his skin a pale, greenish tone.
"Yep… that's her, alright."
Harry had found his voice again. "Hermione, not that it isn't, well… impressive, but why the big…" He gestured wildly at her with his hands. Hermione shrugged.
"What, you've never felt like wearing something other than your uniform?" Hermione smiled at her two best guy friends. "Well, as lovely as this has been, we'd best be off to breakfast, don't you think?"
Ron made a funny squeaking sound and stared at her, wide-eyed. "You mean you plan to go into the Great Hall dressed like that?"
"And why not? Your sister does it every day."
Ron was about to say that his sister had never looked that good when he realized that she probably had, in fact, probably did at that very moment, a thought nearly twice as disturbing as the ones he was having about Hermione. All he could manage was, "Ew." Ginny rolled her eyes and snorted softly.
"C'mon, Mione, we wouldn't want to miss that secret crush of yours, now would we?"
"Secret crush?!" Ron screeched, "What secret--"
But the girls were already through the portrait and half way down the hall, giggling like a pair of first-years out past curfew.
