"Hermione Granger! She's right!" Hermione told herself while Parvati was in the shower.
Hermione stood up and looked herself in the mirror.
I've changed a lot in the past years. I started wearing makeup. I got my teeth straightened and smaller. I even did something with my hair. Hermione reached up and touched her hair in front of the mirror. I did it all to impress someone... I did it all to impress Harry.
Then she spoke aloud again. "I did it all so that I would be better than the rest. I could be smart and beautiful... Of course I don't play Quidditch. Parvati does... Still... I helped Harry beat Voldemort numerous times. I helped Sirius, Harry's godfather... That should count for something. I was almost certain that Harry would ask me to the dance tonight. Then Parvati had to come in and spoil everything. Well, not anymore. I'm not going to be pushed under by Miss Parvati Patil. Tomorrow the world's going to see a new Hermione. That's right. A new Hermione Granger!"
Hermione closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep with that promise.
"Hey Hermione," Harry said as Hermione walked into the Great Hall for breakfast the next morning.
"Hey yourself," Hermione replied with a cute smile. She grabbed some toast and sat down next to him, what should have been Parvati's seat.
"Er, yeah. Hi," Harry said, a little bit surprised with Hermione's forwardness.
"So, what classes do we have today?" Hermione asked as she put jam on her toast.
"History of Magic and Charms," Harry supplied quickly.
"Sounds like fun. Boring Professor Binns..." Hermione trailed off.
"I thought you liked History of Magic," Ron said, coming up from behind them with five pieces of toast.
Hermione smiled again. "Well, if it isn't the human pig. Only five pieces of toast today Ron?" she asked.
"I've got more coming," Ron grinned. "One bowl of cereal and some fruit after this."
Hermione and Harry both laughed.
The good moment lasted too short. Parvati and Lavender entered the Great Hall and saw Hermione sitting next to Harry. Something had to be done.
"Hermione! Oh, Hermione! Thank goodness we found you! When you weren't in the dormitories, we got worried. Professor McGonagall said that she needed to see you immediately!" Parvati exclaimed.
Hermione slowly got up. "She did?"
"Oh yes," said Lavender. "Right away, in fact."
Hermione didn't believe them one bit, but she knew it would look bad if she refused them right in front of Harry. "Very well then, I'll see you all in History," she said.
Hermione left the Great Hall and went to the Transfiguration classroom.
"Professor McGonagall," she said half-heartedly. "Parvati and Lavender said that you wanted to see me."
"Why, they must be able to read my mind or some of that sort for I never sent word for you, but I certainly do need you," McGonagall replied.
Hermione was mildly surprised. McGonagall actually did need her. Of course, Lavender and Parvati thought they were telling a lie, but McGonagall actually needed her.
McGonagall continued.
"Sunday morning a new student is to be arriving at Hogwarts. She will be a Gryffindor. Her name is Cassandra Nicole Taylor, and she is a seventh year. I trust that you will be a guide and role model to her?" McGonagall said, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes, of course Professor McGonagall. I'll do my best," Hermione replied instantly.
"Very well then. Off you go to class now," McGonagall said as Hermione left the Transfiguration room.
~*~
Friday night Hermione was NOT a happy person. She was to be going to the dance with Ron. Oh, she loved Ron dearly. Just not in that way... Ron didn't like Hermione in that way either. He only pretended to... Harry was going with Parvati, and Lavender was going with Seamus. It was just the way Parvati had planned it to be. It was exactly how Parvati wanted it to be. It was precisely how Parvati planned to make Hermione's life miserable.
As they got dressed, Lavender and Parvati sang great Wizard songs and put on jewelry and makeup. Hermione could not deny that Parvati was beautiful. Neither could Harry when he saw her walking down the stairs to the common room.
All the third years and below who could not go to the dance were oohing and ahhing at Parvati's silk robe of shocking pink. Her hair was put up in a bun and she looked very grand indeed. Lavender had on a robe of plum silk and looked quite elegant. Her hair was down her back in ripples. She was a shade too plump, and that satisfied Hermione, for she had a slender body and a milky white throat. Lavender and Parvati were both wearing excessive amounts of makeup.
Hermione, who had not taken great care in getting dressed for the evening, dressed in a silk robe of a pale blue, a very pale blue. Her hair was also down and ripply. Her face was touched with light powder, some eye shadow and lip gloss.
Ron and Harry were sitting together. They looked as horrible as they felt. Harry wanted to go with Hermione and was complaining all day about it. That annoyed Ron, who wanted to go with Parvati.
Parvati walked up to Harry, completely ignoring Ron, and dashingly asked, "How do I look?"
Harry didn't have to lie when he said, "Beautiful," but how Parvati looked didn't matter to him one bit.
They walked down to the Great Hall which had been decorated marvolously. Hermione and Ron did not pay much attention to any of that though. As everyone danced and partied, they sat in one corner and moped around.
"Ron, why do I have to love him so much?" Hermione asked. "I don't want to, but I do!"
"I'm sorry Hermione. I don't even know the answer to why I love Parvati. It makes me so mad to see her with Harry. And then ignore me..."
After a while, Harry and Parvati walked through the portrait hole and entered.
Hermione quickly noticed them and nudged Ron to be quiet. Luckily the Common Room was dark and Harry and Parvati were too into each other to notice anything else.
"Harry! Tonight was wonderful! Thank you so much," Parvati said.
Hermione gripped the side of the sofa hard. Her nails dug into it furiously. How could Harry not see through that wicked creature???
"Sure Parvati. I had fun with you," Harry replied.
Hermione could feel the fluff coming out of the sofa as her nails dug in further when they kissed.
"Goodnight Harry," Parvati said as she walked up to her bed.
"Goodnight, er, Her - Parvati," Harry said in a half dazed manner.
As soon as he left, Hermione jumped up.
"He was thinking of me! Me! The whole time! I know he was about to say Hermione!" she exclaimed quietly.
"Maybe, maybe not," Ron replied.
Hermione didn't care if Ron wasn't totally convinced. She jumped up and down and with a slight grin she insisted, "There's still hope."