Chapter 1

Hermione's mystery summer

Hermione sat at her vanity another summer towards its end and wiped the eyeliner and mascara from her face. This summer is going to be different she told herself when the summer first began. She was correct with that statement. She went to the trial of Draco and the other death-eaters acting as a witness against Malfoy's case. When she was there she saw a sparkle in his eye, like that of a boy, almost man, about to cry. She saw the emotion in his face that just called out 'You could be the one to save me you know.' With that she couldn't dare face the council and tell them all the evil things Draco had done to her. She instead started a speech that changed the course of the trial off track. It was about how evil isn't in the blood but a grown into the soul by behaviors. In other words she told them that it wasn't Draco's fault that he was evil but the wrath of his parents. It was something he learned and that with help it could be taken out of him. All through her speech her friends and members of the order stood awestruck from their bushy haired friend and her plea to save their enemy. Hermione didn't care she kept on with her speech until the end. It was her speech that freed Draco from the dementor's kiss. He was to work for the order as a secretary or housekeeper of sorts for the summer. Hermione was there until the sentencing and then apparted back to her home. She severed all contacts with the magic world, scared of what they will think of her. What they will think about her new feelings towards them and Draco.

This summer was a summer of finding herself, and that is exactly what she did. She found herself through an American cousin, a punk-rocker with a nose ring. Hermione indulged herself in punk-rock and emo rock music and loved every minute of it. She became someone else, a girl in baggy jeans, and eyeliner way to thick and black hair. She didn't want this summer to end in America but soon July was heading towards its end and Ginny finally got a hold of her. Plus she knew that she couldn't miss her best friend's 17th birthday. So she sat, back in Britain, at her vanity washing off what was left of her new life. Her hair back to its unruly brown curls, no makeup, just pure Hermione is what she was when she headed to Grimuald Place. Knocking twice she stood outside anxious of what her companions will say. She didn't need to worry when she saw Draco open the door and she stepped through. "Thanks." Hermione muttered.

"It should be you I thank, but I wouldn't give you the pleasure." Malfoy snapped.

"Watch your arse Malfoy."

"See your giving our newest employee a warm welcome." Remus came from down the hallway.

"Remus.. I ah… How's Tonks?" Hermione stuttered trying to get on to a new topic.

"Nice try Hermione. Be nice to him from now you hear me?" Remus said sternly.

"I always will wonder why you didn't remain a teacher Lupin." Hermione said back. She knew from this encounter that the Order would not be greeting her with open arms like they had in the past. She will be on their bad side not only for the trial but for disappearing from existence. She walked into the parlor to see her friends.

"'Mione great to see you again." Harry remained calm like he could care less whether she was there or not.

"Happy Birthday Harry!" She yelled and wrapped her arms around her less excited friend. Hermione wanted to act like she had in the past, but knew that this wasn't going to be an easy task.

"You've changed." Ron stated and walked from the room without a proper hello.

"What does he mean? I am the same person I was a month ago." Hermione didn't want to have her friends know about her secret life.

"Hello Hermione. When I sent that letter the bird had a spell on it that took your picture. I wanted to make sure you were alright and you were… evil looking. We are worried about you. What did you do to yourself?" Ginny explained like usual. She always knew everything that was going on around. Hermione was shocked that her friend would do such a thing as spy on her friend.

"The look you mean?" Harry and Ginny nodded. "That was the real me. It isn't evil. It's a look teenagers in the muggle world dress. I found it comfortable and fun so I decided to look like that." Hermione said and put a few spells on and in front of them was the Hermione of the summer. "This is me. Take me or leave me."

Harry and Ginny stood awestruck by their friend's new appearance. They didn't know what to do with the new Hermione. Draco stood in the corner and looked at his archrival and thought that the look was good for her. So he stated this fact.

"Looks good Granger. Never knew an emo bookworm." He stated.

"Emo? Whats that?" Ginny asked.

"It is short for emotional. It is a slang term in the US. It is a group of people there who sometimes look like this and listen to the music that I listen to. I don't know why Draco would know such a thing." Hermione tried to explain the complex world of emo to her friend.

"I get around Granger." He snapped.

"Whatever Malfoy. Why did Ron run off like that?"

"Well he was going to finally tell you that he loved you, but when he saw the new you he freaked and pretty much broke his own heart over you." Harry explained. "If this is the new you, then I will accept it. Its different but I can adjust."

"Oh how sweet and Pot-Head and the mudblood in a loving relationship." Draco said spitefully as the two hugged.

"As a servant in this household, do not speak to members in that tone again Mr. Malfoy." Arthur told Draco and then turned to Hermione. "Dear Hermione, great to see again. I think that your hair is quite charming. Please tell me how the muggles do that." He took her arm as Hermione tried to explain the concept of dying one's hair. In which the wizard remained very confused. They all entered the Kitchen to see the meal that Molly had prepared.

Hermione was greeted by a mix of cold stares and worried faces. To the wizarding world she would look like someone who turned to the dark side. Tonks came running to her though.

"You're a metamorphagus? Why didn't you tell me?" She came up to the anxious Hermione and held her tight. "It's great to see you anyway!"

Hermione noticed the mood change that Tonks had been through. She used to be just there physically but not always emotionally. Hermione thought it was great that she was back to how she was when Hermione first met her. "It's not that, I dyed it, or in other words just changed the color of my hair." She didn't want to have to explain dying her hair to the rest of the Order.

"Well it looks good on you." Molly told her while serving her a hardy plateful of food. "You look a little thin sweetheart. Eat up I tell you that every summer."

"And I always gain 10 pounds." Hermione joked. The Order laughed with her, warming up to the new version of Hermione. They all ate and chatted, just like old times but one member wasn't there. Ron was sitting in the doorway, staring at the object of his affections become someone completely different. He didn't want to be near Hermione right now. He needed time to think about this. In the other end stood Draco hovering over the crowd. He was staring at Hermione wondering how different she might be. If she might be someone worth getting to know. Since he had to make friends here, his life was at stake. He needed the protection the Order offered. One more look into those honey-colored eyes and he made his decision. He would take Hermione as a friend, or as slytherins call them allies.