Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Hermione woke up the next day before any of her dorm mates. Lavender had been giving her pitying glances and stares since she returned from her meeting with Daphne. Hermione had wanted to tell her to stuff it, but knew that would just make everyone think that she was interested in Ronald. Instead, she opted to go to bed early. She imagined that neither Lavender or Parvati had come to bed at a reasonable time.
Hermione decided to treat herself to a leisurely bath in the Prefects' bathroom, and to try out Daphne's hair potion. She was a little bit nervous that it was going to do something horrible to her hair, but she supposed that it was only Sunday, so she could hide herself away for the day if something went horribly awry.
After sitting in the bubbles until she was pruny and clean, Hermione got up and dried herself off. She dressed in her standard outfit for the weekend - jeans and an oversized jumper - she brushed out her wet hair and opened the vial. A few drops of pink potion deposited in her hand, she ran her fingers through the wet strands until it was evenly distributed.
When nothing happened, Hermione let out a sigh she didn't know that she was holding. Looks like she wouldn't have to hide out today. She used her wand to dry her hair and was shocked with the results.
It was subtle, that was certain, but her hair just looked so much better now. Without all of the excess frizz, her hair didn't look bushy at all, and instead fell about her face in voluminous waves. It was really quite nice actually. Hermione suddenly felt bad for doubting Daphne's good intentions.
Relaxation completed, Hermione returned to the Common Room to wait for Harry and Ron to wake up, so that the three of them could go down to breakfast together. She didn't have to wait long for the boys to come tramping down the stairs, but she was surprised when Lavender Brown shot out of nowhere to cling to Ron's arm. "Oh Won-Won, did you dream of me last night?"
"Err-" Ron's response was cut off by Lavender planting her lips on his in an obnoxious display of PDA before leading him by the arm out of the portrait hole, leaving Harry and Hermione staring after them.
Hermione tried not to seem upset by the display, although she found it a little nauseating. "Sorry about that, Hermione." Harry looked sheepish. She didn't know why Harry was apologizing for their friend. It wasn't as if he'd done anything wrong. "Breakfast?"
Hermione nodded and followed Harry out of the Common Room. When they arrived they sat by Neville and Ginny, who made a convenient barrier between the happy couple, who were currently feeding each other. Hermione struggled not to roll her eyes.
Ginny looked at her with scrutiny. "You look very nice today, Hermione. Did you do something different?" There was something different about her, but she couldn't quite place it. She seemed a bit more sure of herself.
"Not really, Gin. I had the most relaxing bath this morning, as I woke up pretty early." Hermione said with a shrug and a smile on her face. She happily tucked into her breakfast of eggs and toast and listened to Ginny and Harry discuss the game from the day before and what tactics they could try again for the next week. When she finished, she stood from the table. "Well, I am going to head to the library. I have to finish that Transfiguration paper."
Neville stood to leave with her. "I'll come with you, I have some herbology to work on." He said with a shy smile.
"See you around." Harry called after her retreating form, a bit dazed. "Okay, don't you think that was weird?" He asked Ginny.
"What, Hermione, going to the library?"
"No, her whole attitude. I mean, these two." He gestured to Lavender and Ron who were blissfully unaware of what was going on. "She left the Common Room last night and she was really upset. And then when I found her, she was happy, she said she'd been talking to a friend and...I just don't understand!"
Ginny snorted. "Maybe Hermione was having alone time with a boy." She said rolling her eyes at Harry. "Honestly, if she isn't broken up over my idiot brother, I think that's a good thing. She really deserves better. Fred maybe. Or Charlie. That is...if you are dead set on her dating one of my brothers."
Harry turned red. "What? No! It's just that...I thought that Hermione liked Ron." He tried to explain himself. Ginny just smiled back at him deviously.
"Let Hermione have her fun, Harry." Before she stood and left the table herself.
Harry sat there dumbfounded. Did Hermione have a secret boyfriend? Was that why she'd returned so happy last night? He shuddered a bit at the thought. Hermione was like a sister to him and he didn't want to think of her in the throes of passion ever. It would explain some of her odd behavior. He'd just have to ask her.
Hermione had a wonderful time in the library with Neville. He was a mostly silent study partner, only ever asked for her opinion now and again, and never asked for her to do his homework for him, like Harry and Ron were known to do. She had caught him staring at her once or twice, which was a bit odd, but he always ducked his head back to his paper immediately.
Before long, Hannah Abbott had entered the library and nervously asked Neville for herbology help, which he was eager to give. He lead her off to the stacks in search of a specific book for her assignment. It was kind of cute, really, to see them together. She didn't think either one realized how much they liked each other.
She stayed at her blissfully silent table, happily completing her second roll of parchment, until Harry came in full of bluster and sat down across from her. "You don't have to lie to me, Hermione."
Hermione looked up at him shocked. "What are you talking about?" She asked, annoyed that he had disturbed her.
"If you have a secret boyfriend, you can tell me." Harry said with a finality that was usually reserved for assertions that Draco Malfoy was up to something.
She didn't know what to feel. Hermione felt her cheeks heating up a bit in anger. "I don't have a secret boyfriend, Harry."
"But...you told me you were meeting a friend last night, and you came back so happy, even after the thing with Ron." Harry was genuinely confused. When Ginny had said it, it had made so much sense to him. "I know Ginny was in the Common Room, and Luna...so who else could you have been meeting?"
Now she was definitely angry. "I can have other friends besides the four of you Harry! And my life certainly doesn't revolve around who Ronald is snogging." Her voice was deadly serious.
Harry thought it was a little odd. He supposed it was true that Hermione could have other friends...but, who could it possibly be? Also, she seemed a little too adamant about not caring about Ron. She must be overcompensating for her feelings. She had been upset when she left the Common Room. He just hoped that Ron would figure out what he was doing, and fast. He wanted his two friends to be happy together. "Alright, Hermione. If you say so. But, just know that you can talk to me...about anything. I'm your friend."
Hermione thought that was pretty sweet. "Thanks Harry. It's great to know I have your support."
The week had passed by with relative ease. Daphne's hair tonic continued to work wonders for Hermione's bushy hair, but no one was really able to identify what was different about her. It was very subtle, but effective. She would catch girls staring at her with discerning looks, trying to figure out what had changed, but they were unable to put their fingers on it. She hadn't noticed boys staring at her when she wasn't looking.
Daphne approached her in the library on Wednesday and asked her if there was a time when she could come by Hermione's dorm to review her wardrobe ahead of their planned outing to Hogsmeade.
They made plans to meet after class on Thursday, because Lavender and Parvati had Divination and would be out until late evening and the Quidditch team was practicing at that time, so she figured they would be mostly undisturbed. She felt a little bit silly when she led the blonde girl up to her Common Room and peaked inside to make sure they'd go unnoticed. Then she practically sprinted up the spiral staircase to her dorm room.
Daphne looked around the room with a little bit of disdain. She had that haughty look that it seemed most purebloods had. Even Sirius had had it before he died. "You have to share a room?" Daphne asked clearly distressed by the idea.
"Yeah, and with Lavender and Parvati. It's pretty awful." Hermione said, sitting down on her bed. "And I am an only child, so I am used to having my own room at home. Wait, you have private dorms in Slytherin?"
"Of course we do." Daphne said automatically, before moving to the little shelf that belonged to Hermione where her clothes were hanging. She didn't say anything for a while, just flipped through hanger after hanger of clothing. "Please bring all of your uniforms with you so that we can get them tailored at Madame Tailler's."
"Tailler's? Isn't that quite expensive?" Hermione responded. She did have the money for it, never really having spent much money on things other than books, but it felt so frivolous to spend money on clothing.
"Don't worry about it. Tabatha is an old friend of the family." Daphne replied. "Besides, once she sees you in those loose clothes she'll be begging to do it for free. Afterwards, we'll go to Bissette's for your lingerie."
"Lingerie?!" Hermione asked, aghast. "I don't need anything of the sort!"
"Oh, honestly, Hermione, it's just a fancy word for bras and knickers. Now, do you have anything to wear besides the hideous oversized jumpers in your closet?" When Hermione shook her head no, Daphne sighed. "Alright, after that we will go to Poppy Farina's for clothing. Besides, I have been wanting to look at her new winter collection anyway." Daphne said with a smile.
"Are you sure that I need a whole new wardrobe, Daphne?" Hermione asked. "It seems overindulgent."
"Yes, you absolutely deserve to indulge every now and again, Hermione, especially with what you put up with." Daphne said, serious. "And if you complain anymore about it, I will pay for it all. It wouldn't even make a dent in my monthly allowance. Please, your clothes make me so sad."
"Alright, alright." Hermione replied. To be honest, she was a little bit excited to indulge in a shopping trip like in the movies. She was never really close enough with any female friends to go to a high street for shopping, and now she was getting her chance. Plus, Daphne was so glamorous that she was certain she'd look nice.
"Now, I am going to talk to you about makeup." Daphne started. "You have really nice skin, Hermione, but every witch could use a touch of mascara and lip gloss." Daphne took Hermione over to the vanity and sat next to her, showing her how to apply everything.
When Hermione was finished, she felt that she really did look nice. Just like with her hair, it was subtle but effective. The mascara made her eyes seem bigger and more sultry and the lip gloss drew eyes to her lips. The only problem was when she bit her lip, it would get in her mouth, but she supposed that was a habit she could live without.
Hermione had eaten breakfast with Harry and Ron before announcing that she was going to spend the day in Hogsmeade with her new friend. Ron was a bit too engaged with Lavender to really understand her words, but Harry was immediately suspicious. He was trying to be a good friend, so he didn't question her. Maybe she had a date?
But as soon Hermione jumped up from the table to head into the village, he locked eyes with Ginny. "So, are we going to spy on her, or not?"
Hermione was so excited for her little trip with Daphne that she'd barely slept a wink the night before. She had all of her uniforms shrunk and hidden away in the satchel on her hip. Daphne had told her she'd meet her in the Hogsmeade Square after breakfast, so Hermione got into one of the carriages with a couple of third years on their first trip.
She found Daphne quickly and the two made their way off the square to one of the side roads that contained Madame Tailler's shop. It was a very old shop, that really only the most exclusive of clientele could get into. It was owned by an old French woman called Veronique and her young apprentice niece, Tabatha. Hermione couldn't imagine just walking into the shop.
Daphne entered the shop first and as soon as the little bell rang signifying a customer was in, a plain, mousy girl with dark hair came out from the back. "Daphne! So wonderful to see you again." The girls kissed each other's cheeks.
"Hello to you too Tabatha." Daphne responded. "Now, I've brought a friend who has a school uniform in desperate need of tailoring." She gestured behind her to Hermione.
Tabatha took one look at Hermione standing in her oversized jumper and jeans and was pushing her into one of the little changing cubicles.
When she came out of the cubicle, she stood on a little platform while Daphne, Tabatha and Veronique circled around her, commenting, pinning and measuring. "I think a bit higher of a hem for the skirt." Daphne said, staring at Hermione's knees.
"Daphne, the school dress code specifically says that skirts should be worn past the knees." Hermione whined, not wanting to break the rules.
"One, that dress code was written before even my parents were born and you are the only one who follows it! Don't worry, I'm not going to let you look stupid. And two, it won't be too short. The key is for it to be just short enough that it hints at what's underneath." Daphne told her with a smirk.
Before long, the skirt had been hemmed to an appropriate length and her dress shirt taken in her and there and the sleeves changed, etc. Hermione left all of her uniforms in the capable hands of Tabatha and Veronique, who told her they would have the uniforms sent back up to the castle by Sunday evening.
Daphne was leading her out to another shop down the lane. Hermione was glad that it was further away from Hogsmeade square and so many students didn't venture down this way. She could only imagine what would happen if one of her schoolmates caught her going into a racy store like Bissette's Boudoir. To be honest, Hermione couldn't even believe that she was standing amongst the rows of lace and satin and cotton.
They were greeted by a shop assistant, whom Daphne proudly told they were for Hermione to get a fitting. The assistant hustled Hermione into another little changing cubicle and told her to undress. Once she was standing in just her knickers, a magical tape measure came to life and wrapped its way around her body, taking every possible measurement it could. Once it was finished, the assistant ooh'ed and aah'ed behind the curtain and left in search of several bras.
Hermione tried each one on under the scrutinizing eye of the assistant, until they found one that fit perfectly. Once that was determined, Hermione dressed and rejoined Daphne who was perusing the displays. "Alright, now that that is all sorted, we need to get the basics - nude, black, white - and some not so basics. I say, one set in each house color."
"Daphne! I do not need sets and I certainly don't need one in each house color. I only need the basics." Hermione tried to be insistent, but with Daphne it was a losing battle.
"Of course you need sets. Hermione, a girl should always wear matching bra and knickers - you never know who might see you in them!" Hermione couldn't resist rolling her eyes. "What if you get injured and some hunky mediwizard has to take care of you?"
"I guess." Hermione begrudgingly agreed before flipping through the racks. "But why does it all have to be lace and satin and frilly? What's wrong with cotton?"
Daphne frowned. "Well, I don't know. I guess knowing that I have on such sexy underthings makes me feel more confident. And that translates into people being drawn to you." Daphne handed Hermione a red satin bra, which she took with embarrassment. "No one has to know what you have on underneath unless you want them to, Hermione."
With that new found advice, Hermione decided to trust Daphne, as she seemed to know what she was doing. She was quite happy with her purchases, particularly a nude lace style whose inner cups were made of a really soft fabric that Hermione thought would feel divine on her skin. She even picked out a set in every Hogwarts house color. She chose to ignore Daphne's smirk.
Hermione left the shop with a bag stuffed full of bras and knickers and she couldn't help but be excited at the prospect of wearing one. But for now, she and Daphne were off to their last stop of the day, Poppy Farina's.
When they walked into the shop, they were immediately spotted by a redheaded girl who made a beeline towards them. "Daphne! I didn't know I'd run into you here. Who's your...friend?"
"Oh, Tracey, come off it. Don't pretend like you don't know who Hermione is." Daphne replied with a flip of her blonde hair.
Tracey Davis was a tall, thin girl with brilliant red hair and unremarkable eyes. Hermione had never really thought about her much before.
"But she's...she's a...a muggleborn, Daphne." Tracey hissed, quietly, but not really caring if Hermione heard.
"Oh, who do I look like, Tracey? Pansy?" Daphne turned to Hermione before quipping, "Merlin, I hope not!" Hermione tried to contain her unladylike snort. "You know Tracey, I think that for someone who is only a half-blood, you seem to take blood status very seriously. Hermione is a very nice girl and I find that I quite like her."
Tracey stuttered out an apology to Hermione before making her way to leave the shop. "Thanks for that, Daphne." Hermione was a little annoyed with how Daphne had said the word half-blood and the implication that she was nice for a mudblood, but she knew that she probably didn't mean it.
"Don't worry about it. I actually feel bad for Tracey sometimes. She tries so hard to impress people like Pansy because she is a half-blood, but most people just don't even care. And trying to impress me?" Daphne handed Hermione a blue dress. "The Greengrasses are in the Sacred Twenty-Eight, but we are not the most prestigious. There is a rumor that my great-great grandmother was born to a muggleborn mistress, and my father didn't fight for the Dark Lord's cause last time. It makes us undesirable allies."
Hermione nodded. She didn't really know anything about the Sacred Twenty-Eight. She'd have to look into a book about it at the library. Daphne had handed her so many clothes that she could barely see over the pile, while Daphne herself only had three or four things to try on.
Daphne turned to see her new friend struggling under the weight of the garments. "Well, shall we go try those on? I think that's good for a first pass."
Hermione tried not to groan, but made her way towards the changing rooms. She was enjoying having some girl time, but honestly, this was exhausting.
A/N: So here is chapter two. Hermione is certainly learning a lot from Daphne and I promise that the next chapter will have a little Draco/Hermione interaction, haha.
Thank you so much to those of you who favorited and followed - seriously, I was blown away! And big shout out to the reviewers from last chapter: laumirot, BeautifulRider (hear, hear...I am not a big fan of Ron either!), everlastingtrueromance, Pwrmom2, Kittyinaz, Beautiful-Liar13 (I know it - I think that her friends will come around, but not without some issues at first), HarryPGinnyW4eva, SereniteRose (Wow! Thank you so much - I am glad you are enjoying this and Back to the Future. As for the actresses, I thought they were pretty well suited. Emma Watson is of course gorgeous, but I really love Ginny's hair color! Anyway, in this story, Daphne is just helping bring out Hermione's confidence, which to a lot of people can make someone sexy. Glad you are enjoying!), BubaDictator, and Sapphire water goddess! You guys are awesome!
Please let me know what you thought of chapter two and be on the lookout for chapter three next week!
