Hermione sprinted around the corner blindly, barely avoiding running into a bunch of first years. All she could think about was getting away, far away. Running and dodging students on her way down the marble staircase, she could feel tears starting to leak from her eyes. Angrily, she swiped at them, thinking, "Why the hell am I crying for?"
Finally, she reached the safety of the lake and a distant grove of trees. Hermione collapsed on to the ground and started sobbing. Five minutes ago, she couldn't have imagined this happening. But now that she took the time to look back, she could see that it was all starting back during the summer, on her trip to Diagon Alley.
"Hermione! Dear, please stand up straight. Honestly, I don't know how you think you are going to have a good figure, slouching like that," Mrs. Granger critiqued, completely unaware that her only child was rolling her eyes at her mother.
That summer had begun as normal, but it sure wasn't ending like normal. Sure, Hermione was excited to go back to Hogwarts and to see her best friends, Harry and Ron, but so much had happened that she just wasn't sure she was ready to go back yet.
The weekend after she had returned home, her cousin, Alice, had come to spend the summer, as a surprise for Hermione. Alice was as different from Hermione as could be. Where Hermione had bushy brown hair and somewhat outmoded clothes, her cousin sported the newest styles and sleek, long blonde hair that almost shimmered in the sun. Alice was outgoing, friendly, with a constant laugh gracing her mouth instead of her cousin, who was quiet and reserved, bookish, more at home in the library than anywhere else.
That summer, Alice had made many friends in Hermione's neighborhood, dragging her unsuspecting cousin along for the ride. That ride included makeup, colored and treated hair, shopping sprees, and parties. At the end of the summer, she had ended up with a new look and more confidence than she had ever felt before.
When Alice had left at the end of the summer, Hermione felt as if she had lost some part of herself. Now she only had her parents to talk to and the friends that she and Alice had made were leaving for private schools or too busy getting ready for school. Luckily, she still had Ron and Harry, who she would see today at Diagon Alley.
Hermione had made plans on this trip to Diagon Alley to meet up with Ron and Harry, and join them at Ron's house, the burrow. However, she wasn't so sure they would recognize her, with her long black hair that now was as straight as bone, eyeliner accenting her brown eyes, and the brand new clothes that her and Alice had gone shopping for on her last day with her cousin, a week ago. A tight red band t-shirt barely covered her belly button and her jeans were low rise, clinging to her skin. She wore sandals and shades, her hair pulled into a ponytail.
Stopping in front of the book store, she examined the books on display and her fingers fairly itched to pick up the books and read them. Smirking at herself, she mumbled, "I may look different, but I'm still the same bookworm."
Turning to see where her mother and father had gotten to, she ended up running into a tall blond man, who had stopped to check what appeared to be a school list. To her horror, it was Draco Malfoy, the boy at school that made her life a misery.
He looked up from the list as she bumped into him, wearing a scowl. "Watch it…" he trailed off, staring at Hermione. Clearly he didn't even recognize her. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Are you alright?" Malfoy asked, clearly trying to be gracious to the girl that he didn't realize he had been calling a mudblood for five years.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Now, could you please step out of my way? I have places to be, and here is not one of them," she answered huffily, wanting desperately to get away from him.
"Forgive me, but have I offended you in some way? I don't believe I have ever met you and I must say this cold attitude is not becoming on such a pretty girl," he rejoined rather gallantly.
Hermione signed and looked the boy right in the eyes, stating, "Yes, you have offended me many times, Ferret. I do believe it's frowned upon in your society to flirt with mudbloods. Now get out of my way!"
She watched as cold understanding reached his eyes, and watched as a sneer marred his features. Many times, she had thought that he would be handsome, if he wasn't so cruel. Strangely, she saw something else in his eyes, like a hesitation. She inwardly shook her head and brushed the idea aside. He would never hesitate to show his true self to her.
"My, my, the mudblood can clean up. Sick of having everyone over look you? I'm afraid that won't change. Everyone can still tell that you're garbage."
Hermione smirked. Her summer had at least provided confidence that she had never felt before. She sauntered around Malfoy and as she was walking away, looked over her shoulder at him, with a coy expression, said, "Jealous?"
She could hear his curses as she continued on her way, scanning the crowd for Ron and Harry. Right now, she would give anything for a friendly face. She passed many of her classmates, but heard none of the usual greetings. She looked much too different for any of them to recognize her; although she did see many of the boys perform double takes as she passed. At least, she thought, she would look good this year.
Finally, near Gringotts, did she spot the two that she had been looking for. Harry had grown and still looked underfed, but she could see his happiness radiating from his face, glad to be away from his awful aunt and uncle. His hair was still messy and his glasses were slightly crooked on his face.
Ron had grown also, much more than Harry had. He, however, did not have the underfed look, although his clothes were too small for him. He, too, was happy here in Diagon Alley.
Hermione watched them glance over the crowd and could tell that they were looking for her. Heading their way, she caught the end of their conversation as she weaved through the crowd.
"Mr. Granger had said she was right behind them. She should be here by now."
"Ron, you know Hermione. She probably stopped to look at the bookstore. She could be in there for hours," Harry said, scratching his head.
"You figure we should go looking for her?" Ron asked, clearly worried.
She figured this was the best time to speak up, before they took off into the crowd, looking for her. "No need. I'm right here."
Hermione watched as they turned together, looking at her. Their faces were blank at first, then, slowly, shock registered in their eyes.
"Hermione…?" they both whispered in unison.
Slowly, a grin spread across her face as she began to laugh at the idiotic expressions on her best friends' faces.
A/N: It's been awhile since I've written a story. Please review. I don't own any part of Harry Potter. Also, all my author notes and disclaimers will be at the end of a chapter. I feel it ruins the suspense of the story to put it first.