Disclaimer/Authors note: I don't own Harry Potter. Adurrr. Umm, not sure how this story's going to turn out yet. Review if you can, muchly appreciated. +strikes superhero pose+ On with the story!!! )
The improvement award [if there ever was one for over the summer before 7th year, would go, hands down, to Hermione Granger. Let's begin from the top:
the mass of frizziness that she had called her hair was now transformed to almond-colored curls that caressed her back.
the eye bags she once had from late night studies were gone, since she now realized that sleep was important and had gotten more recently.
the chipmunk cheeks were no longer existent.
her body had soft curves in the right places, and she now wore spiffy clothes that fit.
Hermione hadn't seen her friends in a while, so she was eager that her parents drove faster to King's Cross. To occupy herself, she remembered her summer. She had gone to California on vacation, and while there, she went to a few beaches, where she got an even tan. Her confidence was boosted a bit, by the many cat-calls she got from hot, well-muscled, tall California boys.
Her thought were interrupted by her mom on her right, standing in the parking lot, opening Hermione's door and telling her to get her luggage out of the trunk. Hermione grabbed Crookshanks, who was currently sleeping on the seat to her left and stepped out of the car to be greeted with a chilly wind on a cloudy day with the sun barely peeking over a giant grey cloud. The new and improved Hermione placed her luggage on the trolley her father brought out. She continued to carry Crookshanks in her arms and her father lugged the trolley behind him.
After squeezing through the crowds of hurried people, Hermione and her parents arrived at King's Cross. Once there, she was launched with a certain redhead girl, when the girl pulled away, a second of confusion dawned upon her face. Ginny then squinted at the girl she just released, asking if she was Hermione. It was Hermione's turn to be confused. When she answered with a solemn yes and after a pause, Ginny squealed and hugged Hermione again. "Ohmigosh, Hermione. Hermione?! You look terrific! Wow. Wait til Ron and Harry get a load of you! They won't be able to stop drooling! Well, at least Ronald anyway. Well, let's get your luggage loaded up, we have so much to catch up on!!"
"Well, thanks Gin. You look great too!"
It was true, Ginny had gotten taller, her straight, sleek red hair worked well with her pale complexion and light sprinkles of freckles, she owned trendy clothes with the help of Fred and George's money, and she too had soft curves. The two girls loaded Hermione's school trunks, saw Hermione's parents talking with the Weasley's parents, then went and found Harry and Ron, talking with Neville, Luna, Seamus, and Dean. The two girls inserted themselves with the circle of friends. Soon enough, the talking died down and everyone's eyes were on Hermione with the exception of: Luna who was currently marveling at a ladybug that was on her shoulder, Ginny, who was eagerly watching everybody's reaction, and of course Hermione who was looking at her friends, confused.
Neville, Seamus, Dean, Harry, and Ron had expressions on their face that looked like they were looking at an alien goddess. Neville, Seamus, and Dean all wore the same expression of raised eyebrows and mouths slightly open, while Ron had his mouth fully open and bulging eyes, and Harry was mildly surprised with slightly furrowed eyebrows. Ginny however, was on the verge of cracking up with laughter and Hermione was still confused at the gaping of her friends. Just then, the train whistle sounded, signaling a warning for all of the students to bid their last goodbyes. Luckily the whistle also broke everyone of their trances. The befuddled boys left to find their family and Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione located two redhead parents talking avidly. Once all the goodbyes were said and hugs were exchanged, the students boarded the train as the last few whistles blew.
Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione found a compartment with Luna and Neville and were soon situated. An awkward silence lasted 2 minutes before Ginny decided to speak up. "So, how does everyone like Hermione's new look?"
Before thinking, Ron sputtered, "Hermione's beautiful!" Hermione blushed and murmured a thank you while Ginny raised one eyebrow. Harry just nodded and said something about Hermione really changing. Neville nodded along with Harry and Ron. Luna was watching the mountains pass out the window and humming an arrangement of musical notes. To get the attention of her, Hermione asked the group, "Ginny looks really good too, huh guys?" There were a collection of mumbling that said things like "not really," "she didn't change," or "you look better." Hermione slid down in her seat feebly and Ginny looked a little crestfallen.
Lavender Brown, Padma Patil, Pansy Parkinson, and Cho Chang, paraded past their compartment, gossiping loudly and acting as if they were better than everyone. Their chattering abruptly stopped as they backtracked and filed into a now overly-crowded compartment of Neville, Luna, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione. Pansy ordered that Neville and Luna remove themselves from the clique and find another compartment. Neville and Luna left, not wanting to mess with the Populars. The original members of this compartment all wore puzzled and outraged expressions at the squeezed in and highly made-up girls.
"Hello, what's your name?" Padma directed at Hermione. Hermione was shocked. I didn't think I looked that different... But by the way people are reacting, I guess I was wrong.. Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by a chorus of sugar-coated 'hello's. Hermione answered, "My name's H--," she was delayed by Ginny discreetly stomping on her foot and barely shaking her head 'no.' Hermione understood that Ginny wanted her to make up a name, but couldn't understand why. "Delia," Hermione finished. "Delia," Lavender repeated in thought, nodding a bit. The girls introduced themselves to Delia, welcomed her to Hogwarts, then left.
Once they were out of earshot, Harry and Ron bombarded Hermione with questions about why she lied about her name. Hermione ignored both of them and rounded on Ginny, "Why'd you want me to give them a fake name?"
"I don't know." Ginny said in a falsely sweet voice. Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"What've you got planned?"
"Nothing," she said, again in that fake voice.
"Liar. Tell me." Hermione commanded. Ginny sighed dramatically.
"I dare you to act along with them; as Delia, of course. Get in real close to them, inside their heads and --" Ginny clapped her hands loudly, making everyone jump. "Bam! Make them realize that they're not as great as they act. That looks aren't everything. That they should stop tormenting people."
"Ginny, you're crazy. No way. I'll tell them I'm really Hermione once I get off the train."
"Nooooo," Ginny whined, "You can't Delia. You'd be a hero if you brought those arrogant, pompous brats down! Please. You'd feel so self-accomplished. And it would be for the good of the common folk--" Hermione started thinking, Damn. Ginny's so convincing. And it would be a nice thing to do for those who have been trampled by them all these years. Hell, I was one of those people. Yeah, I suppose I could do this. When Hermione came out of her thoughts, Ginny was rambling about how Merlin did something that related to the goodness that Hermione would be doing.
Hermione butt in, "Okay Gin. I'll do it. But you have to help me out, alright?"
"You've got yourself a deal Hermione."
Ginny and Hermione shook hands. Ron looked like he was ready to laugh and Harry was shaking his head as if this was a bad idea.