Hermione Granger looked like a fish. A gaping fish out of water.
"I have to what?"
Dumbledore looked at a frazzled Hermione curiously. Hermione looked at Dumbledore as if he had just announced that he was a married cross-dresser.
"Professor," Hermione put her hands together in a little tee-pee under her chin, "there is no way, no way in -pardon my language- hell that I will do such a thing. Never."
He was asking her to disguise herself as a Slytherin and look for the darkest student, or ones that were already committed to the Dark Lord. Apparently, there would be workshops every week that emphasized inter-house communication and acceptance.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore started urgently, "It is rapidly becoming of the utmost importance to teach the students. Many in the Slytherin house have parents who are death eaters who have told them stereotypes of every kind since they could understand. It is crucial that we find out which students are the darkest so that they can have more guidance from our professors."
Hermione, perceptively aware of the sudden change in mood, stayed silent.
"I was sure you'd be against it, of course," Dumbledore continued after a pause, "but you are the only one qualified. I realize how much you wanted to become Head Girl, but you could make a much greater difference if you this. Miss Granger, do you realize the importance of this mission?"
Oh, Hermione thought sarcastically, it's a mission now. Sure, all i do is change my hair color and everyone will think I'm a totally different girl? And do I really want to give up my Head Girl position?
She really did want to help the school; she really did. But she wasn't sure this was her way to help. Sure, she could make up short little lies to get out of trouble and such. Yes, she observed things about people that most others didn't catch, but that didn't mean that she could live as a Slytherin while getting information at the same time.
However, she had gotten minutely bored of the life she was in, the boring repetition of it, day after day. She was ready for some change, and she was going to start by accepting this mission.
"So," she started, "when do I dye my hair?"
It was a very different looking Hermione that walked out of Dumbledore's office.
Jet Black hair, side bangs swept to her left, hair cascading down her back in lovely waves. Widow's peak, straight teeth, earrings, contacts so dark they made her honey eyes look purple.
Nothing had been done to change her face; she would have to take a potion every day, and Dumbledore didn't want her to accidentally forget. It had just been dye, a perm, and a little bit of hair growing salve that had been applied to her head to make the widow's peak.
She had transformed. She jumped with a shock when she saw Harry as she walked out. She gave him a small smile and a wave, but he looked at her, dazed, and walked into Dumbledore's office. He showed no signs of recognition.
Her transformation was complete.
Draco sat back in the Great Hall, disappointment clouding his features. He hadn't gotten Head Boy. Neither had Blaise, thank Merlin. And Granger was nowhere to be seen. He was torn between sadness and sheer glee. Sadness for losing his Head Boy position to Harry, or jumping with glee because Granger was nowhere in sight. Maybe she was pregnant with Potter's child and couldn't come to school for a year.
He was jostled by Blaise, and Draco's attention immediately went up to the front of the hall, where Dumbledore was speaking.
"-and I would like you to meet Alexene, a foreign exchange student from the United States. She'll be staying until the end of the year."
Hermione plastered a shy smile on her face and walked over to the Slytherin table, situating herself at the far end. Green, she thought, was not her color.
Draco saw her walk to the table and sit two seats away from him. She exuded a mysterious innocence that enchanted him. He saw her tuck her hair behind her ear gracefully as she spoke to Pansy.
"You can call me Lexine or Lexi, but please don't call me Alex," Hermione laughed.
Pansy gave her a charming smile. "Oh, sorry. I understand where you're coming from. Alex does sound boyish, huh?"
Hermione just smiled. Her attitude, according to Dumbledore, was suppose to be completely different as well. No late night studying, no know-it-all behavior, no raising her hand to answer every question in class. So, basically, she was suppose to act dumb. She was a dumb slytherin slut. Hermione scowled inwardly. Wait-- she couldn't act dumb. This was slytherin. She was suppose to be cunning. So she was a cunning slytherin slut. Hm. very well, she'd just learn from Pansy. She tuned into Pansy's enthused speech.
"I just absolutely LOVE your eyes! Such a pretty color..."
"Really? Thanks! You know, though, I don't think it matches with the green on my robe." She picked at the green listlessly.
Pansy sighed sympathetically. "Oh, you poor girl, you're absolutely right!"-here she lowered her voice to a whisper- "But don't worry. No eye color matches green anyways, so it's okay."
Hermione's grin turned to a gasp as she saw a blond head move out from behind Pansy's dark one.
"Draco." he drawled, extending his hand, "Draco Malfoy."
Hermione forgot all about her cover and gaped.
Was he-Was he being a gentleman? To her?
Then she remembered. She
was Alexene. The dark-haired Slytherin. Pureblood Slytherin.
She recovered quickly and sent him a dazzling smile.
"Nice to meet you, Draco." She shook his hand. "I'm Alexene. Alexene Bledel."
A/N: BOO!
Happy late new year :D
I kind of know where I'm going with this, since I'm basing it off of several dramas I watched and a couple books all shmooshed together. I'm still in the process of straightening everything out and such. :
R&R :P Cuz they make me so happy I could fly.
