Hermione's breath caught in the back of her throat as she finally examined her reflection in the mirror. Ordinarily, she wouldn't describe herself as a vain person, but she was a person that took pride in her work. And, well… She felt beautiful. Truly radiant. Not exactly unlike her normal self, it was more like everything she liked about herself had been amplified and showcased.

Her hair had been coaxed into delicate ringlets that tickled instead of matting around her shoulders. Her eyes seemed to pop out far more than usual, turning into a soft chestnut color complementing the rosy lips. Her dress robes were no less than perfect, and glided across the floor as she walked.

Feeling suddenly girlish, Hermione picked up the skirt and swished it around. Hearing a little squelch, her eyes flew wide.

"Oh, shit! Please come out, please come out!" Her hands had still been caked in the oily Sleekeazy product and now the lacy robes were all matted together. Frantically grabbing her wand from the bedside table, she muttered a quick "Scourgify". The sticky substance disappeared from her palms, and the robes were left with only the faintest discoloration. Happy as she was to feel like a model, keeping up the appearance was hard work. With an exhausted sigh, Hermione collapsed on the nearest four-poster.

The bed was Lavender's, but she had left with Parvati fifteen minutes ago. They had headed off while giggling madly and swapping outrageous ideas over what their dates would look like. Hermione had nearly ruined her mascara dying laughing over thinking what Harry would look like, escorting Parvati in covered in glitter and long tassels. It was nice, just spending time with the other Gryffindor girls and helping each other get ready for the Yule Ball.

Hermione knew she didn't spend as much time with them as she would like, but when she thought of her best friends, she couldn't find a part of herself that regretted it. Although it was hardly healthy for her nerves, Harry did know how to make everything an adventure. Even though he was "The Boy Who Lived", a Quidditch prodigy, and the Hogwarts champion, he never let it go to his head. He seemed to forget about surviving Voldemort when he needed Hermione's help to survive Transfiguration and made staying up late studying almost fun.

Harry was an enigma to so many, but to Hermione he was a brother. It frightened her to death watching him with the dragons, all by himself. But it hurt more when he seemed so alone before. Without… well, without Ron. Ron who always made them laugh and made everything seem a little less serious. Ron who was kind and so good with red hair constantly getting in his eyes. Ron who stayed up with the both of them and somehow always convinced her to give her the answers. Ron who she couldn't say no to, except-

"Hermione, you're a girl-"

Ron who couldn't seem to take anything seriously, even Hermione. Ron with his stupid kindness that she bloody well knew she wasn't misinterpreting. Ron with his stupid brown eyes she sometimes saw looking at her, or his stupid smile hitching up on one side when she mastered a particularly difficult spell. Ron with his stupid hair that she wanted to push out of his face for him. And God knew why, because this was bloody Ron. Stupid Ron that her stupid heart couldn't say no to.

"Stupid," huffed Hermione, letting the words drift up to get stuck on the ceiling. It was all so very stupid. And Hermione Granger was not stupid.

So Hermione pushed herself to her feet and smoothed out her dress. Because the reason she had worked so hard on this outfit and her makeup and put so much goddamn product in her hair wasn't for Ron. Or Viktor. It was for her. And as she set out to find her date, and dance, and laugh, and smile until her cheeks ached, and just enjoy herself, Hermione was beautiful. Truly radiant.

Hogwarts: Challenges and Assignments Arts and Crafts Task 2: Paint