Sorry its taken me a while to update.
"I can't wait for tomorrow to finally come, I'm shattered!" Megan moaned, gratefully awaiting the weekend.
Megan, Susan, Lisa and Tracey were sat on Hermione's bed whilst she and Fay occupied the armchairs next to it.
The boys had once again taken over their common room. The girls retreated to Hermione's room when they got fed up of the boys incessant complaining, they were playing a game of poker on the coffee table and moaned that the girls quiet chatter was breaking their concentration.
"You know, I think I'd quite like to get out of this castle for a bit! Does anybody fancy going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Susan asked
Everyone agreed. Hermione was delighted, not only did she want to get out of the castle for a bit of R&R, she was also looking forward to forging a few friendships, she knew trips such as these were great bonding activities.
Thrown together the girls had found they all got on very well. Hermione had never really had girl friends before. Her and Ginny, though best friends, did not really participate in girly activities, like gossip or going shopping. Ginny was a tomboy and liked being that way, she was after all raised in a house with six brothers. Ron and Harry were just as useless when it came to girls stuff, they became flustered and uncomfortable at the mere mention of things like make up.
Hermione had never really been that bothered about beauty or clothes, herself so she didn't mind that she had missed out on the girly activities growing up.
"Ooh I heard Gladrags has opened again, they have the best dresses. They'll even custom make anything you want" Lisa exclaimed
The air crackled with excitement, for the first time in a long time they were allowed to act as normal teenagers.
"I've been dreaming of Honeydukes chocolate for months!" Tracy shared to the amusement of the group.
Conversation flowed long into the night, as they made their plans for the following day. As Hermione began to yawn the girls excused themselves, leaving her to sleep.
As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out like a light.
The sun rose casting its light rays through Hermione's window. She leapt out of bed eager to start the new day. After taking a shower she ate in the comfort of her bedroom, she would not be meeting the other girls until 9, so spent the first hours of the day catching up on some reading and coursework.
A knock on the door broke her concentration, Susan burst in with Megan trailing behind her.
"Oh good you're up" she exclaimed "I've been ready since eight, are you nearly ready to go"
"Yeah, I'm ready now. Do you think I need a jacket?"
"No, it looks lovely outside. I'm going to knock on the others doors and then we'll set off!"
Hermione followed the girls out of the room as they gathered Fay, Lisa and Tracy.
" Where are you lot off to?" Dean Thomas called from the kitchen.
"Hogsmeade" Susan replied
"You could've invited us"
"Nah, its girls only, Sorry.' She replied giggling.
The girls left the castle, walking up the stone pathway to Hogsmeade deep in conversation. They pursued the shops with glee, Hermione delighted when Lisa requested a stop at the bookshop, though she regretted it afterwards when she was laden with very heavy bags.
Lisa became excited as the newly opened Gladrags came into view.
"Look, it is open!" She exclaimed with a squeal.
An older raven haired witch welcomed them as they entered.
"Good Morning, Ladies" she greeted warmly.
Hermione had never seen so many exquisite clothes in one place before. The girls tried almost every outfit available, taking over the only available changing rooms. Everyone left laden with bags, even Hermione had been convinced to buy a few outfits, though she did not know when she'd get chance to wear them. Susan led them on through the shops with the rest of the group happy to follow. Fay, Susan and Megan raced towards theit next stop whilst Hermione, Lisa and Tracy paced leisurely behind chatting about boyfriends and home. Hermione found she had a lot in common with the other two more serious girls and began to open up a little. She told them a little about her relationship with Ron and her subsequent doubts, they did not express their opinion but she did not ask, it was just nice to get a few things off her chest.
As they walked further up the little high street, towards Honeydukes, Fay noticed a shabby looking beautician's parlor. She signalled to the stragglers of the pack urging them to hurry.
" Ooh let's go in, I haven't been pampered in ages" she pleaded as they caught up with her.
The buildings exterior did it no justice, inside was palatial. From the bright white walls to the golden furniture that adorned the large room. Plush white leather treatment chairs sat in front of huge golden framed mirrors. The beauticians weaving between them working there magic.
A young blonde witch greeted them from behind a large glass counter at the front of the salon.
"Hi, my name is Kate, how can I help?"
The girls scanned the list of treatments and gave the receptionist their selections. Hermione said she was going to wait in the foyer flicking through magazines but after much protest from the other girls she chose a few treatments for herself, nothing too extravagant, a massage, hair treatment and make up application.
The girls were primped and preened as chatted amongst themselves discussing everything from politics to idle celebrity gossip. Hermione couldn't remember the last time she had had so much fun. She had laughed so much her chest and throat hurt.
When the time came to leave Hermione could not quite believe what was looking back at her in the mirror.
Her usual bushy, mouse brown hair fell in soft sleek waves to her shoulders. Golden highlights framed her face. Her usually pale skin now shimmered, soft rose blush accentuated her already defined cheekbones. Her eyes had been highlighted subtly with creams and soft browns. She glowed looking positively radiant.
For the first time in her life Hermione felt truly beautiful.
Susan had undergone the biggest transformation however, her usual red hair was now a chesnut brown with subtle steaks of gold and red weaved through. She looked stunning, her was make up a little more daring than Hermiones, slightly darker shades and glossy red lips.
Arm in arm the girls left and walked on to The Three Broomsticks for lunch. They sat chatting away the hours in bliss, only leaving for the Castle when the dusk drew into the night.