Hermione

Today was just like any other day on campus in the spring. The trees and flowers were in bloom. The birds were singing. And as usual on campus, girls were dressing in less and less clothing. Shorts were one thing, but some young co-eds had it all hanging out.

This particular day I found myself going to the student center on campus where many of us hung out between classes. This particular day, I just finished my 11:30 class and decided to get some studying done at the center. I wasn't a regular, but many of the students that hung out there I'd known for years. I decided to sit in one of the empty class rooms to study, because there was little chance for me to be bothered there. Unknown to me, it was the site for a meeting for some of the fraternity members and their pledges about their upcoming mixer. One by one they began filing in, and suddenly I felt annoyed that I had to stop what I was doing. The center director came in. He saw me and smiled.

"Hermoine, I'm sorry, but the room was booked for 1 p.m. I'll have to ask you to leave so these guys can get started with their meeting. Please help yourself to one of the other classrooms or you can go to any one of the other study areas in the center, ok?"

"Sure thing."

The director smiled once more and exited the room.

As I packed up my book bag and prepared to leave, I received hungry stares from some of the frat members, and began to feel uncomfortable as they made cat calls and lewd comments about me. As I was leaving, one of them, named Marcus grabbed my arm, and tried to pull me into him.

"Hey baby, why don't you bring your fine ass over to my spot after this meeting."

I looked at him with all the disgust I could muster.
"Let go of me. I don't know you like that."
"Stop fighting the feeling, girl. You know you want to go out with me."

Luckily, Ron my friend Lavender's boyfriend, dropped in. He was like a brother to me.

"Marcus, what the hell are you doing, man? Let her go." Ron was well respected on campus, and as a senior frat member, he was always given respect. Flint, I came to give you the information you asked me for."

Marcus sucked his teeth and let go of my arm. "Whatever man."

I breathed a sigh of relief, told Ron thank you, and hurried out the door, but not without hearing Marcus say, that it wasn't over. I couldn't believe the nerve of that guy. I knew he was popular, and most girls threw themselves at him. But I wasn't one of those girls.

My goal was to get through my four years of university without getting caught up or having any problems or complications. I had big plans. And no knuckleheads were going to get in my way.

I found myself an empty space and a study table in a quiet corner. I set up shop going back to the last chapter in my business math book. After reading the chapter and completing the homework assignment, I decided to go ahead and do the next chapter's assignment. After an hour had gone by, I left the table and headed to the ladies room. On my way back to the study area, I grabbed a sports drink from the vending machine.

As I neared the table, much to my dismay, I saw some members of the same frat, and a guy I've known for years named Draco sitting around the table with another young lady. I was so stunned that I didn't realize that I had stopped walking. Draco and some of the guys turned to look at me. Not wanting them to know how nervous I was I strode confidently to the table and took my seat.

After I sat down, the conversation from the guys didn't break; they just kept on cracking jokes and trading stories about girls around campus. I knew Draco was trying to get in good with them to be a potential pledge, or as I had suspected, he was already on line. In an effort to score points with the fellas, he decided to try and play me in front of the group.

Now, I was by no means, one of the diva girls who always dressed to the nines and wore tons of makeup. That was never my way. I was very laid back and casual on campus, usually in jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc… regular college gear. And believe me, I had my reasons. Today, I had on a pink t-shirt and a pair of jean shorts and sandals. I topped it off with a red windbreaker perfect for the fickle spring weather and a university baseball cap.

"Hermione, are you working hard or hardly working?." Draco taunted me.
"I know where she can put in work," said Marcus playing his position in the background.
"Whatever. Can't you see I'm trying to get stuff done?" I said defiantly.

Draco looked at me with disgust. "What you need to do is find another outfit."
"Why do you have your legs all out? What? Are you trying to be cute? Because you're failing miserably." This earned some giggles from the group.

"First off, what I want to wear is my business. My clothes are comfortable, thank you very much. And why are you worried about my legs anyway, Draco? As long as I'm not wrapping them around you at night, they are none of your concern."

This garnered all kinds of heckles from the group toward him. I knew he was pissed. But how dare he try to play me.

"Damn Draco. You gon' let her clown you like that?"

"It's not even that serious, Hermoine. I'm trying to help you out. You need to step up your game, is all I'm saying."

"Step up my game for who? These knuckleheads around here? Get real. I'm just trying to get through school and graduate."

"Spoken like the cold, heartless girl you are. I'm just saying, all this time here, and you still don't dress like a lady. What are you going to do when its time to get a job after graduation, huh? Wear sweatshirts and jeans? What you need to do is take tips from Pansy."

He pointed to a pretty young girl who was wearing a skirt, heels and a trendy blouse.

"Now she knows what time it is. Ay P, come here for a minute." He motioned for the girl to come over, and she being in love with the frat crew, wasted no time in complying to his request.

"Hey Draco. What's good with you?"
"Same thing, different day. Say there, do me a favor and model your outfit for us. I'm trying to school Ms. Granger here on what a real lady should look like."

As if on cue, this twit began showcasing the goods like she was a runway model at fashion week.

"Now see, that's what I'm talking about. Thank you Pansy."
"No problem, baby. She needs all the help she can get."

It took me every ounce of self-control I had not to slap her or say something mean to her. She was the village idiot, after all.

Instead I focused my attention back to my books.

"Oh, what? Now you don't have anything smart to say?"

My friend Harry joined us at the table, always loving to get in on some drama. He was sweet to me though, and would never disrespect me. I cleared the chair next to me and had him sit down. After he did so, I made a point of resting my feet on the foot rest of his chair. He looked down at my legs, surprised.

"Wow. You're wearing shorts." He didn't know the smile crept across his face. But Draco and the others did.

"Yes I am. But, Draco here seems to think I shouldn't be wearing them."
"Why not? You've got a great figure."
"Apparently, its not lady like enough. Imagine that."

Harry gave me a strange look. I shook my head no.
"Oh, he doesn't know?" Harry asked.
"Nope. And you don't have to tell him."
Lavender joined the group.
"What don't I know?" asked Draco.
"A lot of things," I said exasperated. "Look, if you feel so compelled for me to change my wardrobe. Put your money where your mouth is, baby."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Draco said looking angry and intrigued.

"I'm going to give you the opportunity to select and buy me an outfit of your choosing that I will proudly wear around campus. And I will tell people that you bought it and picked it out for me, so that I could dress more like a lady."

"Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack. The only catch is, it has to be appropriate for school. I will not be dressed like a ho. We'll go shopping in the next two weeks."

"And why would I agree to do that?" Draco said smugly.

"Because now, everyone here has heard that you've been put to the challenge. Your integrity and good name are on the line. I tell you what? I'll even sweeten the pot."

"I know how she can sweeten the pot," said Marcus.

"I'll drive so you don't have to waste gas, or should I say bus tickets to get us there." I said.

"And if I refuse?"

"Oh, well then everyone will know you were just selling wolf tickets, and you admit that I'm right and there's absolutely nothing wrong with my wardrobe."

Draco was hesitating. He hated being put on the spot in front of his boys.

I saw Harry trying to warn him not to do it, so I taunted him further. "Aw, what's the matter? You scared. We can even have Lavender come along as the chaperone, so that you can feel more comfortable."

"Oooooohhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!" His frat friends were chanting.

After mulling it over, and in order to not look like a punk in front of his potential frat, he raised up, wrapping his knuckles against the table. "Alright. I'm all in. We'll go on Saturday."

I stood up and extended my hand. He shook it and something that resembled a mild electric current flowed through. I think it was static from the carpet in the center. That had been known to happen before. "Email me the specifics."

I looked down at my watch and saw that it was 2 p.m.

"Darn. I've got to get to class." I gathered my things together, and packed up my book bag. After tightening the straps on my espadrilles, I got up, put on my jacket and turned to leave. "Bye everybody. And Lavender, Harry, not a word."

As I left, I saw all eyes on me. I just kept thinking to myself 'What the hell did I just do?' But when I thought about how I created a win-win situation for myself. I smiled.

What's the worst that can happen? I get a nice fashionable outfit or I get to be proven right. A smile spread across my face as the thought comforted me.