Author's Note:
Sorry I haven't updated for a while, I'm trying to work out a schedule so I'll let you know about that later, I plan to make things up with a an extra long Chappy P.S. Did anybody listen to Muse's new song, unsustainable? Loving the new style.
The Time Traveller
Chapter four: Extreme Makeover: Bookworm Extraordinaire Edition.
Hermione sat in her room reading her favorite book, Hogwarts: A History when a small house elf came inside with a soft pop. The house elf had huge bat like ears and bright green eyes like Dobby which gave Hermione a glimmer of hope.
"Dobby, is that you?" she asked,
"No missy, Klinky is my name, house elf is my game, but I has cousin named Dobby, he be working for the Malfoy house when he grow up." Klinky said nodding excitedly.
"Dobby get to work for prestigious Malfoy house, but Klinky get work with lots of happy children, Klinky like children. Miss Fire is very nice to Klinky too." Klinky said proudly.
"Miss fire? You mean Arlette?" Hermione asked. This excited the house elf to no extent.
"Yes, Klinky like Miss Letta, all house elves love Miss Letta, she is very nice and likes our work. We love work, but some boys be to mean to us. Miss Letta ask Klinky, to please bring Miss Hermy food and I has your food." The little house elf said with breakneck speed before launching into the kitchen.
Just as quickly the house elf dashed in she came out, bringing in a nice dinner of soup, with bread and a salad on the side.
"Miss Lette told Klinky to bring you chicken soup, but the other house elfs wanted to give Hermy more. Klinky had to be very sneaky, not many children come in summer and house elfs get excited when guests come." Klinky said proudly, puffing out her chest. \
"This looks delicious Klinky, thank you. Tell all your friends I appreciate what you have done." Hermione said, trying not to feel guilty for accepting the house elves help.
"Missy Hermy, Klinky go now, Klinky has to go before more house elfs suspect, Bye now." Klinky said with a bow before apparating with another soft pop.
Hermione decided to dig into the steaming soup, Chicken soup was her favorite kind and it was honestly delicious,
"Mmm.." Hermione moaned appreciatively.
'The house elves outdone themselves this time'
she thought before draining the last dredges of soup left. Hermione couldn't finish the salad so she cast a cooling and a stasis charm on it to keep fresh when she realised, it was the first time since going back in time she had used magic.
Hermione reveled in the feeling of her magic humming through her, "Has it really been so long?" She asked herself quietly, performing simple spells to keep the feeling going. She cast conjuring charms on the books in the bookshelf. She used lumos to light the room, she also used different cooling charms on her pillow when it grew too hot for comfort.
After Hermione thought she had used enough magic already, she decided to go to sleep.
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"Wake up sleepy head!" Arlette shouted before whacking Hermione over the head with a pillow.
"Why are we waking up so early Arlette?" Hermione asked grumbling.
"Why sister, we have to go buy our school supplies, we wouldn't want to go to Hogwarts without our stuff! That would be embarrassing, plus we have to go to a couple of places as well." Arlette said mysteriously.
"Now eat your breakfast and meet me in the great hall in half an hour." Arlette said imperiously before she left.
Hermione ate her breakfast quickly and pulled on a pair of Arlette's jeans and one of her shirts. Since coming here, Hermione had only the clothes on her back and had been grateful Arlette had allowed her to wear some of her old clothes, but that didn't include undergarments.
Hermione had only one pair of underwear and was tired of having to use multiple cleaning charms when simply washing them under the sink wasn't enough. Although Magic was great, it could only go so far sometimes, So Hermione was glad they were getting a chance to buy new clothes.
But that left one more problem, Money. Hermione didn't have any money, during this time, she wasn't even born yet. So her parents couldn't have given her a gringotts account yet. Hermione fretted over this problem until she met Arlette in the great hall.
"I know what you're thinking Hermione, Don't worry. I have plenty of money to spare, but no one to give it to." She said assuredly.
"Now let's go, Dumbledore gave me permission to apparated us out of here." Arlette said cutting off what was about to be Hermione's protest.
"But Arlette, Hogwarts: A history says that nobody can apparate in or out of Hogwarts and its school grounds" Hermione said in her know-it-all tone.
"Hermione, while you are correct that nobody can apparate in or out of Hogwarts. Do remind yourself that the Headmaster has the authority to allow people to apparate as they wish, as the wards are keyed to his signature. As long as he gives us permission, we can apparate, but we have to hurry. It closes off soon. Besides, anybody can buy Hogwarts: a History, if they heard the headmaster has permission to allow others to apparate in, when Dumbledore dies, they'll appoint a death eater as headmaster, and do we want that to happen?" Arlette answered in her own know-it-all voice.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Arlette "Well then I don't need help, I can already apparate." Hermione said smugly, raising her chin.
"Not where we're going, were not going to Diagon alley first, we're taking a little detour first." Arlette whispered, before apparating herself and Hermione there.
Hermione felt as if her insides were about to combust. She had always hated the use of apparition, and apparating so soon after her accident and period of non-magical use wasn't doing her any good. Her lungs were squeezed of all oxygen and it seemed her breakfast wanted to come back for seconds. Hermione screamed in agony while she felt as if all her bones were about to break at once, and her eardrums burst with all the pressure being placed on her body.
Soon enough, Hermione and Arlette arrived at their destination which seemed to be a dark and dingy ally between a couple of buildings. It didn't seem as if the sun wanted to reach where the two girls had landed.
"We're here." Arlette's chipper voice said, while pulling Hermione out into the streets. Hermione looked around the alley in awe.
"What is this place?" Hermione asked.
"This, my little sis, is Erotica Alley. This is where the sexual freaks go, but that's not why we are here. To act like we are from beaux batons, we must look like we are from beaux batons. And for that my sis, we are going to give you a make-over." Arlette said, dragging Hermione through the crowds.
Hermione looked at all the stores, some of the stores you could tell, were for the kinkiest of the sexually active. Others were like the brothels and whorehouses were for the lonely. Hermione stared at all the women dressed like whores in the streets. Some wore so much make up in bright colours they looked like clowns, while others wore dresses that barely covered their arse. Hermione stopped to listen to the music coming out of the club, pulsing seductively, while mist crept out. Hermione swore she smelt a piece of crisp parchment, freshly mown grass and a few strands of-
"Hermione!" Arlette shouted in her ear, hoping to snap Hermione out of their trance. Arlette grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her away from the club. "What are you doing?" Hermione asked Arlette, angry that she had disrupted her.
"Saving your life." Was all Arlette said to Hermione. "Inside of that club are a group of notorious vampires named the meretrix. You would consider them mistresses or seductresses of sorts in the muggle world. You see, once you set foot in that place you can't leave until you sign a binding contract that will eventually end your life. You try to escape and they murder you and drink your blood. The meretrix are famous for seducing men and women alike and are likely what caused the legend of succubae and incubuses because after they are satisfied, they drink their victims blood. While male meretrixes impregnate females so they can birth their spawn, the females will return to the male they chose to satisfy their sexual needs and desires. Either way, it is more common for a meretrix to venture out into the muggle world because they won't recognize the signs so easily and they are forced to comply with the vampire / wizards relationship law. They can't ask out you for example on a date, you must go in there and since you either die or die later, you accept the contract. Another reason they are allowed to do this with humans is because they are considered a beast since they are sort of the primitive version of the vampire. It's also in their nature, and all magical beasts are protected under their natural habitat " Arlette explained in her bossy know it all tone than almost matched Hermione's
"So, you mean I was almost seduced into being impregnated by a male vampire so I can birth his spawn?" Hermione asked horrified.
"Well Hermione, what do you expect? Erotica alley isn't a place for anybody who isn't willing to sell their soul for a night of passion, or as much as your money can buy." Arlette explained nonchalantly "See that building there," Arlette said pointing. "It says couples sex therapy, but right inside, men can find women to hook up an affair with. They go in single, come out married. It's men like that I hate the most. That bar we just passed, the waitresses are purebred veela who are used to seduce drunken males. That brothel right in front of us, men go in to literally sell their souls for the best sex they will ever have, the building upstairs is a morgue. Erotica alley is no place for you, you're just lucky you're going here with me, anybody else and your face will be posted in the missing section of the daily prophet." Arlette said stonily coming to a stop in front of a tall, white store.
This store didn't look like the others did. While the other stores had dirty windows, and flashing lights, this store had tinted windows that only lets you see out but not in. There was only a small golden sign in loopy handwriting on the door, and while the other buildings were dark, dirty and grimy, this one looked bright , clean, and all around for the classy person, with white marble walls and silver with golden flecks in the walls.
This was Venerae's Vixens.
It looked exactly like it did in the future, only Hermione wouldn't have known. In the future she had to use a special kind of floo powder that connected you directly to this store, and to get that floo powder, you must have connections. Even today Hermione didn't know how Ginny had gotten the floo powder, but looking back on the building Arlette pointed out earlier, now she had an idea.
"This Hermione is venerae's vixens, and I know you are going to just love it" Arlette said with a happier voice before disappearing inside, Hermione following behind her.
Arlette was just about to reach the lingerie section when a voice called out.
"Arlette! How are you my darling?" A deep voice called behind the duet.
"Marco! I haven't seen you in, how long has it been?" Arlette said, with a strange expression on her. Marco's eyes flickered between the two girls.
"Too long my sweet Arlette. It has gotten boring without you here; it's like comparing a sunset to a cockroach, only I have to be nice to the cockroaches." Marco said, a deep laugh rumbling in his chest.
Marco was handsome, He had pale white skin and dark brown hair, and you could tell he had a lot of muscles under his shirt. But what struck Hermione the most was his red eyes.
"Hermione meet Marco, he's a vampire only but he doesn't drink human blood without consent. Though…He almost convinced me enough to give him my blood." Arlette said, rubbing her hands over Marco's well developed chest.
"I still am trying to drink her blood, it is so sweet smelling, but so is yours Hermione, Can I drink yours, perhaps?" He asked, arching a dark eyebrow.
Hermione paled in front of the two old friends who decided to burst out laughter.
"Oh Hermione, he wouldn't drink your blood. He's a vegetarian vampire. He drinks animal blood instead. He only uses those red contacts because the manager thinks that he will seduce more women that way.
Marco's job is to tell you how great you look while wearing different outfits, He only looks but doesn't touch. Some women swoon for the whole, 'Oh he's a veggie vamp, but he wants to suck my blood because I'm so sexy.' Thing." Arlette said with Humour Alight in her eyes. But this did nothing to soothe Hermione's mind. 'They allow vampires to work here? How did I miss that in the future?' she asked herself.
"He's not going to actually suck your blood Hermione." Arlette assured her. This only made Hermione feel slightly better. "Now come on, it's time to try on some clothes." Arlette said trying to take Hermione's mind off of Marco
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"Out on three, One, Two, Three!" Marco called, waiting for the girls to open the curtains and step out. Hermione wore a red babydoll with lace detail, while Arlette stepped out in a blue and black lace bustier with matching under wear and garter belts.
"You both look beautiful, but I am partial to Hermione wearing the red babydoll, it's something about the colour that stirs something inside me. While you Arlette look beautiful with the blue lingerie set. Both of your boyfriends are lucky men." Marco commented making both the girls blush.
"I still don't know how this is school shopping Arlette." A blushing Hermione grumbled shyly.
"We'll take it all then." Arlette said before stepping back behind the curtain totally ignoring Hermione. After Hermione and Arlette finished picking up everything they would buy, Arlette brought them to the cashier who seemed to be extremely happy.
"Who's the lucky guy?" the lady, whose name tag read Marge, said. "Oh, we don't have boyfriends. We're shopping for school and every proper lady needs proper undergarments to back her up." Arlette answered, staring at a humiliated Hermione.
"That'll be 200 Galleons please." The cashier piped up.
"200 Galleons, Arlette? That's too much. I could never pay you back." Hermione said worriedly.
"Hermione, you're my sister now, I grew up with no family, so, think of it as a make-up gift for all your birthdays I've missed so far. Plus, half of the stuff isn't yours. Please let me buy you this." Arlette pleaded, ignoring the huffing cashier.
"But, At least let me find a way to pay you back." Hermione argued.
"Hermione, you being my sister is enough payment." Arlette said, trying to win her over. Hermione stared stubbornly back with her arms crossed over her chest. "That didn't win you over?" Arlette said, staring at Hermione's impassive face. "Fine, I'll let you pay me back. But, on my terms and my terms only." Arlette said before Hermione could argue. "Here." She said to the cashier, throwing a sack of galleons to her. "Come on Mione, there's more waiting for you behind that door." Arlette said dragging Hermione behind her.
Hermione walked into a narrow room, both sides where filled with women getting their hair done.
"What is this place?" Hermione asked.
"This is Another part of Ven's Vixens. This is considered step two of mission: Make over. We are going to attempt to tame, that bushy mess of hair that you have." Arlette said, looking disdainfully upon Hermione's frizzy hair.
"Arlette, Look what my little Kitten brought in. Is this a friend of yours?" A tall man said. Hermione looked over at the other man who you could easily say was just as, if not handsomer than Marco. He had long black wavy hair and dark black eyes, he was just as muscled as Marco but was even taller than he was, there was just something about him that attracted Hermione.
"Georgiou, How are you! It's been a while since my last hair appointment, do you think I need a follow up?" Arlette said, worriedly grabbing her hair.
"Arlette, you are my worst customer, There is nothing wrong with your hair! It's shinier than ever and you're color is just so rich. Now, who is this little mouse my Kitten dragged in?" Georgiou asked staring over at Hermione's hair.
"This, George, Is my Sister Hermione. We're going school shopping and what better to go with a new year of education than a new look?" Arlette asked, looking for George's opinion.
"Well, my little kitty, it seems you're your mouse has a rat's nest for her hair, but don't worry. One appointment in my salon and you'll look better than ever. And since you are my little Arletta's family, I'll make yours even better than the others. Although, I don't quite remember Arletta having a sister.. " George said to Hermione.
"New addition." Hermione said sheepishly to George while he brought the two girls to his special "doctor's office" in the salon.
"This, is where all my serious magic happens. The only people who have ever been here, are wizarding celebs and of course, Arlette. It is extremely rare I ever let anybody who isn't famous in here, but for this extreme make-over, you're going to need it." Marco said. "Arlette, go call Rochelle, Bellami, and Alia, Tell them it's a class nine make-over." Marco said to Arlette.
"A class nine make over! But I've never heard of that being done before, is it really that bad doctor? Will she pull through? I've only had her for a little while Doctor, I'm not ready to let go." Arlette cried with mock horror.
"It's the only thing we can do." Marco said solemnly, placing a hand on Arlette's shoulder. "Tell them that they also need to contact Madam Malkins about your school robes. Grayson from the clothing store can take your measurements and owl them to Malkins while we are busy." George ordered Arlette before returning to Hermione.
"Now, back to you whatever have you done to your hair?" George said outraged.
"Well, I wash it every day with shampoo and conditioner and if I have time I try to brush it. I also try to straighten it when I can." Hermione said indignantly. "Is it really that bad?" asked sheepishly
"Darling, I've seen pig sty's which are neater than your hair. It's tangled, frizzy, stripped of nutrients and natural oils. You actually did more harm than good with your straightening, every stand of hair has multiple split ends, and it's a night mare. I think we are stepping it up to a level ten thousand instead." George said assessing Hermione's hair. " I need to restore your hairs natural shine, smooth it out, cut it, put multiple detangling charms for future reference. By the time I'm done, it'll be about four hours of sitting in the salon, so while I'm doing this, Rochelle and Alia will do a mani pedi while Bellami and Arlette go shopping." George said while sorting out all the thing he'll need for this operation on Hermione's hair. "Just sit and relax Honey." George said before sitting Hermione down in the massive chair.
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Hermione went through a living Hell, While Hermione was being lectured by an andry George, Arlette was Having a field day shopping for clothes. This Hermione admitted to herself, was the only day she would ever of chosen to go shopping instead of sitting in a comfy chair relaxing in what was supposed to be a comforting experience. The truth was, while Arlette was having fun, Hermione was sat getting lectured by Rochelle for not taking care of her hands better, Alia for not taking care of her feet properly and George, for not doing anything right when it came to her hair. The truth was, She just never care until recently, when she tried to impress a certain Ronald weasley.
And to think that She was here, years before she was supposed to be born, forced to live through life as an orphaned French exchange student all because of him and the least he could of done was compliment her on looking like a real girl. But Hermione finally realised that maybe she wasn't meant to be with Ron. As if this was a sign of something else. But then again, It could be the smell of nail polish mixed with the foul smelling hair potion Hermione was forced to wear for an hour getting to her head. Hermione thought drowsily before she heard the door open. "You know George…Hermione looks good with green hair, and look at that, Her afro totally accentuates her Body." A soft feminine voice called out startling Hermione.
"What?" Hermione shouted frantically.
"Hold your horses buckaroo, I was just kidding." Arlette said raising her hands in a show of peace.
" Your hair isn't green Hermione, Arlette was just joking, Why don't you take a look in the mirror." George said softly to Hermione glaring at Arlette.
Hermione raised herself off of the comfy salon chair and walked up to the mirror. What Hermione saw stunned her. Instead of a mass of frizzy, bushy Hair, Hermione saw soft, smooth ringlets of hair the colour of melted caramel. George had also brought out Hermione's natural highlights of gold and bronze that hid under what used to be a mess of untameable hair. Hermione could say that nobody would mistake her and Arlette for sisters, if Arlette was the flames of the fire, Hermione would be the cinders and ashes burning in the embers of the flames.
Hermione then felt her feet and hands, they were unnaturally smooth, or at least they felt that way to her. Gone were the rough callouses on her feet, and her skin felt softer than ever. Hermione then studied her nailed, which were all now even and smoothed out, and to complete the look, all of her nails had French tips.
Hermione's eyes started to tear up. Never had she ever felt so beautiful, so confident before, and she owed it all to Arlette. Hermione Ran to Arlette, almost knocking over George in the process and wrapped Arlette in an extremely tight embrace.
"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Arlette! I love all you've done for me, and there is no way I could ever repay this to you, you know." Hermione said with tears streaming down her face.
"Shh, Hermione. You being my sister is payment enough. I can finally have the family I always wanted, and although two main pieces are missing right now, We can become our own family." Arlette whispered quietly in Hermione's ear.
"I just love it when Family bond together." George said to himself, breaking the girls quiet moment. "And you George, I have to thank you as well." Hermione said, giving George a hug.
"It was nothing, Any family of Arlette is a family of mine. Did you know that Arlette is who hooked me and my beautiful wife Venerae together? If it wasn't for Her, We wouldn't be together and I wouldn't have my two beautiful children waiting for me at home. Oh and Arlette, About Marge, she didn't know who you were so I will return those two hundred galleons by owl soon." George said to Arlette before patting Hermione on the back. "Now, if you ever have to come back, Everything will be free of charge. Like I said, any family of Arlette is family of mine, and family shop free here." George said to Hermione.
"Now go on! Go snag some hot wizards, and give me a nephew in the future." George said to the two sisters winking cheekily.
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After the two girls left Venerae's Vixens. Arlette apparated the two girls into an abandoned alleyway in Diagon alley.
"Here, put this on." Arlette said handing Hermione a black coat, and beret before putting on her own. Hermione was about to leave when Arlette dragged her back in.
"What?" Hermione asked quizzically. Arlette didn't answer Hermione's question but transfigured all of Hermione's clothes to plain black clothes.
"There, now nobody will remember us." Arlette said, happy with her work while she tucked her fiery red hair into her beret. "Let's go." Arlette said to Hermione before stepping out.
"Arlette, Do you even know what we have to buy?" Hermione asked Arlette.
"First we need to buy a set of silver scales, a brass telescope, a copper cauldron, and pick up our cloaks, they should be ready by now. After that we need to get all of our level six text books for our Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, DADA, COMC, Herbology, History of Magic, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, astronomy and muggle studies." Arlette listed off, skipping off towards the different stores.
"Lette! Wait!" Hermione shouted after her.
Hermione ran after her sister chasing her through the crowds,
"Lette? Arlette!" She cried.
Hermione sliced through the crowds crying out her sister's name. She checked all of the different stores she would need to go to but could never catch up. She was about to give up when she saw a head with fiery red hair dash through the crowds and turn towards Flourish And Blotts. Hermione quickly ran after her when she ran head first into another body.
"Oomph." She heard deep voice grunt in pain. It was as if she fell in slow motion again, falling backwards arms flailing wildly while another body fell on top of her. Hermione's eyes fluttered closed while falling and opened her eyes and stared deep into the dark black, soul sucking ones of Severus Snape.
