AN: I am so grateful for the positive feedback, and am uber excited that you love the new/different Hermione. It really is so much fun to write, so that's why I update every 24 hours or so. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: see any of my other chapters

Chapter 7

The remainder of Potions passed uneventfully, and every group, save Neville's, completed the potion to Snape's standards. As the bell was ringing, Malfoy muttered, "Seven o'clock" under his breath to Hermione, who only winked suggestively.

"What was that about?" She turned to see Harry and Ron staring curiously at her. Ron raised his eyebrows, waiting for her response.

"Oh bugger off Ron. It's none of your business. Go snog Lavendar or something," she said casually, spinning around and walking out of the room.

"Ok, seriously, I'm starting to worry about her," Harry mumbled. "This is not the Hermione we know. I wonder if someone did hex her. And don't you dare tell her I said that." The two were about to walk out of the classroom, when they were called back into the room. Turning around, they found themselves face-to-face with Snape.

"I don't know what Miss Granger did to herself, but if she ever displays such cheek in my class again, there will be severe consequences. I am telling you this because I will hold you two responsible for keeping her in check in my presence. I will not have the incident in the Great Hall repeated in my classroom. Now go," he said, deadly calm, in the same creepy way that he always talks.

Feeling slightly threatened, Ron and Harry practically ran out of the room, right into Ginny.

"Where have you two been? I've been looking all over the grounds for you!" she exclaimed. When they opened their mouths to explain, she cut them off angrily. "What happened to Hermione?"

"We don't know. That's what we're trying to tell you. Do you know?" Harry asked, but immediately regretted it.

"OF COURSE NOT!! DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IF I KNEW, I WOULD WASTE MY TIME ASKING YOU?!" Breathing heavily, she glared at them, then closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and continued. "She went through my clothes. I was right, those are mine that she's wearing now. If she had asked, that's one thing. But it's one of the prime rules of girl code: you do not steal another girl's clothes without permission!! The real Hermione would never have done this. Something happened to her in the space of the past 24 hours. And as neither of you have any potential of being detectives, I figure that it has something to do with whatever she was up to last night. I need you two to smarten up, and figure out what it was before she does something to my clothes!" With that, Ginny stormed off down the hall, barking at a first-year who made the mistake of getting too close.

"Whoa," whistled Harry.

"Yeah," echoed Ron. "Try living with her."

Meanwhile…

"Hermione!" Upon hearing her name, Hermione stopped in the middle of the deserted hallway and turned to see a tall, dark-haired boy racing to catch up to her. Mmmm, he's not bad looking. I'd give him a… 8 and a half. And that's on my strict hotness scale.

"Hey," the boy said, slightly out of breath. "Not sure if you remember me. My name's Blaise. We're in Potions together?"

Smiling, Hermione nodded. "Oh yeah! Zabini, right? Slytherin? Can I help you with something?"

Initially hesitant, but growing bolder with every second, Blaise said, "I don't usually do this, but as you announced your availability…" and he trailed off, lost in looking at her.

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Cat got your tongue? Or better yet…" She grinned, as if struck by an idea. Extending one hand, she gently pushed him back against the wall, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, closed mouthed, but with a lot of passion. Blaise's eyes widened, then he closed them and enveloped her with his arms.

A full moment later, she lifted her head. Meeting his eyes, she winked seductively. "Meet me in the library at 7," she whispered, drawing out of his embrace. Leaving him out of breath and bewildered, she continued on her way back to her dormitory. He gazed after her. Hermione Granger, you will be mine. See you at 7.

Further down the hallway, Hermione was laughing to herself, partially in disbelief that she made the first move for her first kiss. He was actually really good. This could get interesting. Mmmm, sizzle.

AN: This was going to be a much longer chapter, but I decided to split it into 2 smaller ones, so expect the next one to be up relatively soon. After that, I probably won't post anything for a few days, due to the phenomenal event occurring later this evening!!! HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS!!!