Chapter One
Hermione stood at Dumbledore's side peering at the depleted seventh year class. Her fellow peers stared curiously between herself and the headmaster. She was suddenly self conscious about her bushy hair and the fact that like the other seventh year girls she didn't wear a trace of makeup. She bit her lip and Dumbledore's voice sank into her degrading thoughts.
"I'll just let you explain Miss Granger" he said beaming. She smiled up at him weakly and faced many eyes that were suddenly trained upon her. She cleared her throat nervously as Dumbledore left the room.
"Well I had an idea a few weeks ago that I presented to the headmaster yesterday evening. I thought that since we are living in a free world without much stress we might take a couple of weeks and dedicate them entirely to loosening up and having a bit of fun. I went to the headmaster in mind with an end of the year field trip. Two weeks spent in another country relaxing enjoying one last summer before we start our adult lives. I thought we might be able to go down to the states and visit the sunny beaches and amusement parks and shopping." Hermione said her confidence returning as excited whispers broke out.
"Where would we go Hermione?!" Pavarti asked.
"Well I have an aunt that owns a resort by the ocean she said she would give us a discount so I though sunny California" she said with a grin and was meet with squeals of excitement and much talk about tans.
"Does that mean it is a Muggle resort if its owned by your family?" came Malfoy's drawl. Hermione felt her face redden slightly but she raised her head high.
"Yes that's exactly what it means. Professor Dumbledore wants this trip to be educational and he wants us to learn real life situations so he thinks it best if we make it a muggle vacation." Hermione said and the whispers rose in pitch.
"We can't vacation amongst muggle's!" someone called out and Hermione frowned.
"And Why can't we vacation amongst them. They are normal people. The only difference is they can't use magic but you would be amazed at what they can do that is just like magic. If you guys don't think that being away in a different country, even if it is with muggle's, is a good idea then this trip can be called off before it starts." Hermione said her anger seeping into her voice. Everyone was quiet for a few minutes before another Slytherin spoke. Hermione remembered her as being in Pansy's old gang of friends but she couldn't recall her name.
"She's right you know. This is out last summer as students. Next year we will all be behind desks in the Ministry or pursuing different careers and will we ever have the opportunity to be irresponsible again. No this is our last shot to be kids, something that quite frankly we haven't been able to be in quite a while." she said and a flash of pain crossed her face.
The Dark Lord had been vanquished a few short months ago and the loss showed in the depletion of Hogwarts students. Gryffindor and Slytherin had lost the most the first with deaths the second mostly convictions. Long gone were Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy, however Malfoy and Blaise Zabini had remained. The whispers broke out again and they all stared at her.
"How would we pay for a trip like this Hermione, not all of us can afford something like this." Neville piped up quietly. Hermione nodded.
"I know which is why we will be fundraising the money for our trip, if you guys decide to do it. Anyone who does not want to participate in the trip does not have to participate in our fundraising ideas but those of you who want to go will have to participate in at least half of the projects. Also if your family is fortunate to donate money to our trip it would be more than welcome." Hermione said as she eyed the two remaining Slytherin boys before turning back to her peers.
"Now I just need a list of all that want to be on this trip and part of getting there" she said and she beamed when all the seventh years put up their hands even the Slytherin's in the back of the room.
"Excellent this makes things easier. Now we should start brainstorming ideas for raising money. We can do it after dinner I asked McGonagall and she said we could use her class room to brainstorm since we would be to loud for the library. Also if you guys want to ask parents about them donating feel free to do so… Well that concludes this meeting so I hope to see you guys in the Transfiguration classroom directly after Dinner" she said and rolled up the parchment in her hand. Harry and Ron came up beaming to hug her.
"You were great Hermione!" Harry said
"Yeah I can't believe you didn't tell us about all this!" Ron said and Hermione just grinned.
"I wanted it to be a surprise" she said with a grin.
"Course you did but lets get to dinner I'm starved" Ron said and they joined the bustle out of the small room and proceeded into the Great Hall for dinner. Hermione was too excited to eat and after she nearly choked on a piece of meatball she gave up eating and brought out the information packet on the resort her aunt owned. She left the hall early and was first to arrive in McGonagall's classroom. She sat alone for about ten minutes before the girls started to arrive.
"So what are we going to be doing Hermione like what kinds of fundraisers?" Lisa Turnpin asked.
"Well I don't know yet that's why I asked you here so we could brainstorm together. I have had a few idea's and I guess I can start as soon as the boys arrive. Oh look this is the resort that my aunt owns." She said laying the brochure flat for everyone to see. She heard many agreements on its beauty and spectacular view.
After twenty minutes of discussing the hotel the girls decided to brainstorm without the boys, which was a good thing since they didn't start turning up for an hour after the ideas started to flow between them. They weren't a lot of help anyway they sat at the back of the class talking in different groups like this was a social hour or something. Hermione glared at them over the top of Lelin Moon's head.
"So we should definitely do the spring dance. All we have to do is conjure the decorations and I can totally get my cousin to bring her band and play for us. She won't charge us." Lelin had been saying.
"Yeah so a galleon a person and all years are invited it leaves us with more profit and the younger kids will probably be off early anyways." said Padama
"I like that Pizza Café idea Lisa. I think if we do get your parents to donate that can be another great resource for us." Hermione said rolling up the parchment that harbored all of their brainstorming ideas.
"Cool I'll send them a letter tonight and I'll let you know tomorrow. Oh hey Lelin remember that one spell you used on my hair to curl it what was it again?" Lisa said turning to her Slytherin companion. It was at that point that Hermione snapped her head up with a brilliant idea. The girls all stared at her and her growing expression of excitement.
"I've just had an idea! All you girls know all kinds of spells and things right?" she asked the girls all nodded uncertainly.
"Do you think that between you guys you can come up with enough to fill a book?"
"Merlin yes! I think we could what are you thinking Hermione?" Pavarti asked excitedly
"Well what if we create these beauty books and sell them to the younger girls for a galleon a piece we could make tons and I'm almost certain I can get the owner of the book shop in Hogsmeade to donate a some blank books to us!" she said grinning excitedly.
"What a great idea!" Lelin said.
"Great then lets meet again tomorrow same place after dinner you guys try writing down all the spells and potions tonight and bring them along and I'll send a letter off to the owner." Hermione said jumping from her chair the boys had long left the classroom and the girls followed talking excitedly. Hermione went back to her dorm and wrote out a formal letter to the owner of Bazine Books asking about a possible donation.
She went to sleep that night feeling good and she actually felt a sense of acceptance among the girls. All her life she had felt more comfortable among guys preferring their bluntness to a girls secretive and somewhat backstabbing demeanor. For the first time she felt she might actually be able to get along with females and perhaps become a little more feminine herself.