A new light.
It's 7th year and Hermione comes back to school looking different and Harry begins to see her in a new light. Totally h/hr! Please enjoy and review when done! Thanx!
EDITED
Chapter 1: the kiss
I looked at myself in the mirror. I had changed so much over the summer of my 6th year. I went on a diet as soon as I got home and managed to get rid of all of my baby fat, leaving me with a flat stomach. I also exercised, which slimmed my legs and hardened my now flat stomach. I worked a whole month on getting my hair less frizzy, which proved productive because now it's only wavy and shines golden brown. I even began wearing makeup, although not a lot because I didn't want to over due it.
"Hermione! Sweetheart, come on! You're going to be late for meeting your little friends." Mother called to me. I went down the stairs and grabbed my purse, slipping my shoes on before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I'll be back later, Mum!" I said, grabbing my small bag of Floo Powder that Mrs. Weasley had given me earlier that year and appearing in Diagon Alley in moments. Right away, I spotted a familiar brown haired head. He turned around and smiled at me.
"Hermione!" Oliver Wood called, pushing his way through the crowd and wrapping his arms around me, giving me a kiss.
"I missed you so much." I said, looking up into his chocolate eyes.
"I know, I missed you too. Are you ready?" Oliver asked me, his arms still wrapped around me.
"No, not really. But they have to know sooner or later. They'd kill me if I never told them. I imagine that they're already mad at me for not telling them sooner since we've already been going out for three months." Yes, it's true. I, Hermione Granger, am the girlfriend to Oliver Wood. We began dating just before my fifth year was over and I kept it was a good secret. I figured that there was already too much going on that the boys should have to be troubled with the news of my new boyfriend.
"Come on, Herms. Where are they waiting for us at?" Oliver asked.
"Florish and Blotts," I replied. Oliver nodded and we walked over to the bookstore.
"There they are," I muttered, pointing to my two friends. Harry looked less upset then he had at the beginning of the summer. He seemed to have gotten taller and looked stronger for some off reason. Ron was as tall as ever with his ususal unruly hair, although Harry's was messier then his own. I took a deep breath and approached them.
"Hey Oliver! How are you, mate?" Harry asked, obviously recognizing Oliver and not myself.
"I'm doing very well. You?" Oliver replied with a side glance at me.
"Been better," Harry muttered sadly.
"Who is this?" Ron asked, gesturing at me.
"Ronald Weasley! How dare you not recognize your own best friend! I'm insulted!" I scolded Ron playfully, knowing that I needn't say my name once he heard me yell.
"Wow Hermione! You look so different!" Harry said, looking me up and down shyly. I blushed slightly when I saw both boys doing it.
"Why are you here with Oliver?" Ron asked.
"Oliver and I are together," I replied.
"Well obviously! But why?" Ron asked.
"Ron, Hermione is my girlfriend. We're an item," Oliver said bravely. The shocked faces that Ron and Harry gave us made me feel very uncomfortable. Oliver spoke again, "Well, isn't this just lovely? Silence."
"Oh, sorry guys. I completely spaced out for a moment there. Congrats," Ron said with a goofy smile, shaking Oliver's hand and hugging me.
"Ditto," Harry replied quietly, doing the same. Although, when Harry hugged me, it felt different then all of his other hugs. It felt me feeling sad.
"Hey, how about we go to the Quidditch shop really fast? I want to check out something on the new Firebolt 3000," Oliver said, once again helping us out of an awkward situation.
"Sure!" Ron said. The four of us walked out of Florish and Blotts and over to the Quidditch shop.
"So, do you really like Oliver?" Harry asked me when Oliver went to ask the saleswoman about the newest broom.
"Of course! I wouldn't be dating him otherwise! He's such a sweetheart. I don't really know if I could have asked for anyone better for me. We do make quite the contrasting pair though, don't we? I mean, a pureblood and a, well, not pureblood," I said, refusing to call myself a mudblood.
"What difference should that make? You're the smartest witch in our school even without being from a pureblood family or even a half. You're better then almost every pureblood in all of Hogwarts," Harry told me. I smiled.
"Thanks Harry. You're really too sweet," I said. I stood on my tiptoes and to give him the slightest kiss on the cheek as I had done in our fourth year as a simple meaning of friendship. But that backfired for at the same moment he turned his head and his lips landed on my own. I blushed and pulled away, noticing a blush on his cheeks as well. Without saying a word I ran off to find Oliver. I couldn't believe that I had just kissed my best friend! I cheated on Oliver!
'No you didn't! It was an accident! You were only going to kiss his cheek and he just happened to turn his head. It wasn't you fault!' My mind scolded me.
'I shouldn't have been kissing his cheek in the first place! I have Oliver!' I argued back.
'It was merely a friendly gesture! You thought so yourself. I should know, I am your conscious,' My mind said.
'But, I sort of liked it! Oh no! I liked it! How can that be? I'm not the type to cheat, am I? Oh, I'm such a terrible person!' I anguished.
"Herm?" Oliver asked, poking my arm.
"Huh?" I replied dumbly, looking up at the much taller man.
"Come on, sweetheart. We're leaving," Oliver said, draping an arm over my shoulder.
"Right," I replied, walking out of the store with him. When I caught sight of Harry, I couldn't help but blush. How could I have kissed Harry and enjoyed it? I don't like Harry, do I?
End of chapter! What do you think, an improvement? I think so! Please review!
Serenity