I checked out my reflection in the mirror, realizing something for the first time. Something major. Something I damn well should have noticed a long time ago.

"When did this happen?" I muttered to myself in horror and shock.

Over the summer you idiot, myself answered.

Shut up, I told myself back.

Well, I guess it was possible. I hadn't really looked at myself at all this summer. Last year, my 6th year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter had killed Voldemort. When Draco Malfoy couldn't kill Albus Dumbledore in the Astronomy Tower, Voldemort had to step in. Voldemort thought the old man was defenseless. He thought wrong. Some say it was because of the love in the old man's heart for the students, others think Dumbledore was feigning being weak and actually had all his power. Either way, as Voldemort tried to kill him with avada kedavra, Albus Dumbledore produced the strongest shied ever in wizard history and countered the curse, sending it shooting off to kill Bellatrix Lestrange.

Harry was underneath them the whole time watching. When he saw Voldemort send the killing curse at Dumbledore, his rage got the best of him. He bolted out from his hiding place, with killing Tom Riddle the only thought on his mind. I suppose Voldemort was in sheer shock from his best Death Eater being killed and his enemy appearing out of thin air. He didn't even see it coming when Harry pulled out his wand and fired the unforgivable.

With all of this happening, the last few days of school left were a blur. Dumbledore was trying his best to get everyone home safely while Harry was hiding away from everyone. It was understandable, he had just killed Voldemort. Of course he needed space. But it left me and Ron all alone for a week. Strangely, we didn't fight, just sat together in silence, enjoying each other's company. Still, when Ron left with his family, I felt lonely. I decided that I wouldn't want to go home and deal with my muggle parents, so I spent the summer with my witch sister, Annabelle.

I snapped out of my thoughts of the war and back into real life. What the hell had happened? I mean, I was practically in my room all summer, so I hadn't bothered to glance at my reflection in the mirror. Who was I impressing, my pillow? This must be a dream.

I pinched myself hard and looked at my mirror again. Nope, not a dream. Wavy, smooth, light-blond hair fell over my shoulders in huge clumps. I have to admit, it did look nice with my pale skin tone and light green eyes. My hair was still really thick; nothing in the world could change that. It had grown tremendously in the past months, now hitting the small of my back instead of my shoulders. The growth and even the newfound smoothness was not awing me. It was the color. I was a blonde.

I screamed. Horror-movie style. Annabelle ran into my room at the speed of light. "Hermione! What the bloody hell is wrong with you?" my 25-year-old sister yelled at me before sighing in relief. "I thought you were being eaten by a acromantula!" I blinked at her. Didn't she see the difference? It was obvious! "My hair," I started calmly, but soon yelled, "IS BLONDE!" Annabelle crumpled her face in confusion. "No it's..." she started, but then actually looked at me.

"Oh my god, it is!" she shrieked. "It looks just like mine!" And indeed it did. My hair was the exact same color as Annabelle's, which was actually nice because I always thought Annabelle was the prettiest girl ever. "I guess you got it from me," she said. "Mine turned at 17 too." Curse you, I thought. But I didn't have time to say what I wanted to say to her because, yet again, I remembered something I had forgot.

"Shit!" I yelled. "Hermione!" Annabelle shot back at me with a look that said Where did you learn that language? even thought she knew it was from her. I ignored her. "School starts tomorrow! What will everyone think? What will Harry and Ron think? Do I have time to-" I was rambling away my worries when Annabelle stopped me.

"Did I hear school starts tomorrow? Well, we must go shopping," my sister said, examining my body. "You really have changed, and for the better too," Annabelle said with a smile and I blushed. "On shut up, I get to embarrass you at least once a day," she told me while tossing me a coat. "Let's go."