Disclaimer: As usual, only Persephone and what plot you find belong to me.
The jewelry is still all Kelly's. Both of those actually appear now.
A/N This chapter is the first one where they start getting long. I didn't plan this story as a huge one, but I have written up to about page 43, and it's still the first week of school! Also, the author of one of my favorite stories, animagus-steph, reviewed, so I am happy. Read her stories, as well as sherlockelly. I can't promise you chapters as soon as I'd like, because Kelly is still uploading them all for me. Warning, this may be where it becomes PG-13.
Chapter 3-Going Back
The summer passed in a mostly relaxed manner, as Hermione had made them finish their homework the first two weeks of holidays. Harry spent a month trying to teach Hermione to ride a broomstick. She wasn't good alone, but she could manage all right if was on right behind her. She still refused to tell them who was Head Boy, but Harry's whispered threat still stood.
One day in late August, Hermione had been going through the attic to try to clean it up, as a surprise to her parents when they got home. She found a small-ish box tucked away in the back corner. After dragging it into the light for a better look, she discovered it had her name on it. She opened it up, and found a small blanket, a piece of paper, and a necklace. Upon close examination, it was a silver chain with a five pointed silver star on it. There was a small stone in the middle of the star, circular, that seemed to be filled with swirling colors. She was entranced by it, and pulled it over her head. She liked the feel of it on her neck, slightly cool, and a bit heavy. The spot under the stone was quite warm.
Suddenly, there was a noise by the entrance. She tucked the necklace under her shirt, stuffed the note in her pocket, and closed the box. Ron's head appeared up the ladder, smiling at her surrounded by dusty boxes with a kerchief tied around her hair. "I suppose there's no need telling you to get your trunk packed so we can go to Diagon Alley tomorrow. You've probably had it done for weeks now. You want any help up here?"
She was surprised. It was unlike Ron to voluntarily clean. "No, it's all right. I'm mostly sorting through old things."
"Can I just stay to keep you company then? I doubt your memories are as entertaining as me."
"It's okay, Ron. You probably haven't started your packing yet."
He grinned sheepishly, shrugged, and headed back down the stairs. Hermione tucked the box back into the corner, and set to dusting the rest off. Soon, though, it was time to go to bed so she'd have energy for their trip the next day.
~~~~~~
The next day, Hermione drove them all into town in her parents' car, and they caught the train to London. After a short mix-up on the tube (A/N: tube=London subway, great word), they made it to Diagon Alley. They traipsed to Gringotts, where Hermione produced the boys' keys she had been holding onto. She held them back from over-filling their moneybags, and then they headed back out to find their school supplies. They got their books, potion refills, spare quills, ink, and parchment, pet food, and Harry treated them all to Florean Fortescue's ice cream.
After that they went to Madam Malkin's. They had all grown over the summer, and Hermione wanted some nice looking robes for special occasions, being Head Girl. It took her longer, since she was getting more new ones (and girls have more measurements), and the boys finished long before her. They left, with a parting "We'll meet you by Quality Quidditch Supplies!" She was also getting a few cloaks, as it was predicted to be a cold winter. Finally, having paid an extra 3 galleons a piece for the new clothes to have growing charms, she left.
When she reached Quality Quidditch Supplies, her arms were full of her trunk, and her moneybag was tied through the belt loop of her long skirt. She adjusted the trunk, and the necklace slipped out from under her shirt. The boys, who had turned around, saw it as soon as she approached. Ron just smiled and told her it was pretty, though he did stare at it, but Harry seemed to be trying to stare through it for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.
"You all right Harry?" Hermione asked him quietly.
"What? Oh, I'm fine, that just looks . . . I'm not used to seeing you wear jewelry, I guess," he blurted out, smiling.
They spent the of the day losing themselves in Diagon Alley. They ate lunch with Fred and George, who now lived there, fulfilling their dream as managers and masterminds of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Fred and George were also the Beaters for the Chudley Cannons, and had caused them to break their seemingly eternal losing streak. After lunch, they spent a few hours in their store, including the secret chamber where the twins worked on research of new products. Their money bags much lighter, they left for a bit more wandering, then snuck out to a Muggle restaurant for dinner.
Back at the entrance to Diagon Alley, they realized the Leaky Cauldron's few rooms would probably be filled at half-past six the night before Hogwarts term began. So, they wandered through the streets until they found a larger (and more expensive looking) inn, the Green Dragon. (A/N: whoops, forgot that in my disclaimer, the name comes from Tolkien's LOTR/Hobbit) As the rooms were a bit pricey, they agreed to share a double bed one with a couch. Hermione agreed to take the couch, as sharing was her idea in the first place. Once they got in and set their trunks and bags down, they began to get settled. Ron needed to shower first, as he had gotten a Dungbomb exploded on him. So he went into the bathroom, Harry settled down to work on a tower of Exploding Snap cards, and Hermione crashed down across Ron's bed with a pile of ready to be memorized course books next to her.
Hermione was 3/4 of the way through Death, Glory, Fame, and Much More, the potions text, when Ron came out of the bathroom, his hair sticking up in hundreds of tiny wet spikes, wearing a towel tied around his waist.
"Ron?" Hermione started tentatively.
"What?"
"Did you remember your pajamas?"
"Yes!"
"You might want to consider wearing them."
At this he looked down, blushed a brilliant scarlet, and dashed bath into the bathroom. A minute later he emerged, clothed this time in plaid boxers and a t-shirt.
Ron went over to his bed and was beginning to get in when he saw Hermione there, back in her book. He appealed silently to Harry, who gently picked her up with her books and laid her across his own bed. Harry grabbed his pajamas, and proceeded to go get himself showered.
When he finished, he got into his clothes and went to bed, only to discover Hermione asleep, A History of Magic, Volume 7 lying on her face. Harry chuckled to himself, and removed
the book. So as not to disturb her, he slowly and gently slipped under the covers, leaving her head to rest on his stomach.
In the middle of the night, Harry had a strange dream. There were two voices, a deep drawling one that he thought he should recognize, and a lowish female one. They were having a conversation somewhere that he couldn't see, he was only listening in.
"Her? Isn't she the one you've told me about? But she's not pure blood."
"I know, believe me, that I know."
"Then why'd Father pick her?"
"She's the only one he deemed capable enough to be worthy of me."
"Is she at least pretty?"
"Well, she could be. Yes, I do believe I have seen her looking mostly decent at least once."
"Those things can be fixed, you know. I suppose you'd have done it yourself if you knew. Bellus Infinitum."
"Thank you. That will make this a little easier, I hope."
"Hey, no potions, remember. You'll have to make it happen regularly. I'm glad I could help, and it's great talking to you, but I need to get to sleep."
"All right. G'night then."
"G'night."
Harry woke up, confused. Why couldn't he recognize that voice? And who had it been talking to? And who was "she"? He sat up for a minute, trying to work it out, but it was to no avail. A minute or two later, he lay back down, moved Hermione's head to a more comfortable position on his stomach, and fell back asleep.
Hermione, startled by his moving her head, woke up. She realized where she was, and despite Harry having a very nice stomach for sleeping on, reasoned that it would probably be a good idea to not be on it in the morning. She got up and moved to the couch, but after ten minutes of twisting decided that the couch was about as soft as a rock. Harry would probably wake up if she tried to return to his stomach, though.
So she went and took her bath. It was about two-thirty in the morning, and the warm water was very soothing to the tired girl. Soon she drifted off to sleep, and to a rather odd dream.
There was a boy, lying on his stomach on a bed. He was holding a wand, and muttered some sort of spell Hermione couldn't hear very clearly. Before she could get a good look at him, there was a sort of ripple through his body, and he looked different.
Once transformed, Hermione could look him over well. He wasn't wearing a shirt, but he had ivory pale skin on his arms and back, and capable, if not overly strong, looking muscles.. His legs were hidden under the bedcovers, but they seemed long and slender. His hair was a very pale silvery-blonde, to the base of his neck. When he spoke, it was with an unrecognizably familiar medium low drawl.
"I suppose as Father insists it be her, it would be easier if she liked me. There's always love potion or some such stuff, but that would be too easy to detect or make a mistake with. I may have to do this without using magic. I suppose I will have to actually be nice to her."
At that he turned over and closed his eyes, seeming to be trying to fall asleep. He had a delicately handsome face, though she couldn't really describe what was so appealing about it. As best as she could tell through the covers, he had strong stomach and chest muscles. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't remember what his name was. She just waited there for a while, watching the boy sleep.
Harry woke up at about seven-thirty. He noticed the absence of Hermione on top of him, but figured she had woken up and moved to the couch during the night. His glasses weren't on the table by his bed, and he seemed to had a memory of leaving them by the tub before his bath the night before.
He went in to the bathroom and headed over to the side of the tub, where something small and black was lying. He leaned over to grab them, when he saw a fuzzy peach-ish shape in the tub. He realized what must have happened, and quickly started backing out.
"Oh, Hermione! I am so sorry! I didn't know you were in here. I just came for my glasses, I didn't see anything, I swear!" And with that he dashed out the door.
However, when no response followed him, no squeal, insult, or yell of anger, he realized something must be wrong. Feeling rather guilty, but rationalizing that he couldn't see anything without his glasses on, he went back in and leaned over the tub. The figure inside was barely breathing, and appeared to have been in the water for at least a couple of hours.
"Hermione? Hermione!" he shouted, shaking her by the shoulder. When she didn't move, he reached in and picked her up. "Accio towel!" He wrapped her in the fluffy bath towel and carried her to his bed. Once she was tucked under the blanket, he calmed down enough to listen to her breathe. It was very faint, and sounded a little raspy. He grabbed the towel he had used the night before, sat her up, and began hitting her back, trying to get her to cough up the water.
"Hermione," Harry whispered quietly. "Hermione, are you all right? Can you hear me?"
"Harry? What happened? Why are you hear? I was taking my bath," she replied weakly.
"Shh. You fell asleep in the bath. I went in to get my glasses, and you were lying half-drowned in the tub," he whispered back, with a hint of undiscernable mockery in his voice.
"Thank you," she said, a little stronger this time. Then, suddenly realizing something and feeling a little awkward, "You didn't, um, see anything, did you?"
"Hermione!" he exclaimed, sounding shocked. "Get your mind out of the gutter at a time like this. For heaven's sake!" Then he continued, quieter. "Yes, you were, er, naked, but I was more worried about whether or not you were alive. Besides," he continued, grinning sheepishly, "it's nothing I haven't seen before."
Hermione reached over to slap him, but he grabbed her arms and pinned her back down on the bed. "Well, you do swim in a two-piece."
Hermione glared at him, but didn't have the energy to try to struggle out of his grip. "We both know I'm half-blind without my glasses on," he shrugged, a bit guiltily.
"I didn't mean it like that, and you know it. It's just a little weird being rescued and carried around half-unconscious, and, um"
"Nude?" Harry suggested, making her blush and try to struggle one more.
"Yes, that, by a guy who is your best friend and might as well have been your brother for two years."
"Ah, so this would be less awkward if I was someone you disliked? Would you prefer Malfoy to save you from drowning naked?"
Hermione got her arm free that time, and pinched his leg hard.
"OW! Sorry, sorry, didn't mean it. You're just easy to tease. Look, let's not tell Ron about this, okay? He'll be jealous, and I just don't like people thinking of you like. . .oh crap. Forget I said that."
"Ah," she said knowingly. "You mean Ron wants you to save him from drowning naked."
"That's enough out of you." He then rolled his eyes to the other bed, seeming to be talking to Ron's sleeping form. "You are going to kill me when you find out I told. I'm so sorry, I know it's all my fault, I owe you majorly, but there is no other way to out of this from here." He turned his focus back to Hermione. "You know how Ron started acting odd, our fourth year, when Krum took you to the Yule Ball?"
"Mm hmm."
"You know why?"
"Probably."
"He was jealous."
"Oh, he wanted to go the ball with Viktor. If he had just told me earlier-"
"Hermione, shut up for once. You're not making this any easier, you know. Ron has had a crush on you for years."
"What?"
"Really."
"You mean I've been living all summer with a guy who likes me, like that?"
"Well, yes. I was careful though, I made sure he never got the chance to do anything."
"What do you mean, do anything?"
"Quit being daft, the kind of anything guys try to do with girls they like."
Hermione shuddered when realized what he meant. "Eww! The idea of that is so. . .ew."
"I'm sure Ron will be happy to know how well you think of him."
"You tell him that, and I will personally kill you in your-"
"Don't worry, don't worry. My gosh, you are the most gullible person I know."
"Oh, shove off. I love Ron-"
"Might tell him that, though."
Harry stopped, as Hermione looked about ready to kill him.
"Like a brother. I love you like a brother. We are friends, we stick together, we tease, and you guys are there to take care of me if something happens. We keep each other out of trouble, and the only reason we ever get jealous is because we think someone is going to come along and replace us. That's why I wouldn't let you act like idiots in front of the veela. And that's why Ron thinks he likes me. There's this natural 'big brother' instinct that made him want to beat up Viktor, because he didn't trust him and thought he might not treat me right. He just mistook that for romantic jealousy."
By now Hermione was sitting up in his bed, the covers on her lap. Neither of them remembered the awkward situation until the towel she had under her armpits started to slip. Harry covered his eyes, and Hermione ducked back under the covers, leaving just her arms and head out.
"You know, you should probably get your clothes on. It will be hard to hide this from Ron if he wakes up and sees you "not wearing anything" under the covers of my bed."
"Harry! You make it sound like something happened."
"Well, it rather looks like something happened, don't you think?"
"I don't even want to think about that."
"Look, what's say I cover my eyes, you get out, take your clothes to the bathroom, and I get mine on in here."
"All right. Wake Ron up so he can change now as well."
"Certainly. And if you don't mind, bring me my glasses when you come out. The world is still all fuzzy, and it's giving me a headache."
Half an hour later, they were all dressed and sitting in one of the booths in the inn. Their eggs and toast showed up soon after, and by nine- thirty they were standing outside the Green Dragon, heading back to the entrance of Diagon Alley. They went straight to the nearest Muggle tube station, so they could be at King's Cross early. Hermione and Harry were still acting rather odd, enough so that Ron noticed. He noticed something else as well, and had been trying to keep himself from staring at Hermione all morning.
"Are you all right, 'Mione? You look a bit. . .different."
"Is my shirt on forward? Are my shoes on the right feet? I was a little tired when I got dressed this morning."
"No, not like that, good different. You should probably just go look in a mirror in the washroom."
"Whatever. Watch my stuff."
Hermione left, rather confused. When she reached the washroom, she went over to the full length mirror. Was that her reflection? She supposed to, as it seemed to be moving with her. It looked different. Better, to say the least, but a bit unfamiliar. Her stomach had lost most of its roundness, and seemed to have small muscles. She was about two inches taller than she remembered. Her hair color was a little off, more of an red or auburn than her usual end-of summer lightened brown. It was also longer than usual, reaching all the way down her back. Her eyes had darkened from their familiar borderline hazel, and were now a sparkly dark brown. She felt thinner than usual, and her skin had lost its tan and faded to an almost ivory-pale.
It was not that she didn't like the look, she certainly thought it agreed with her, but she was rather confused as to what brought about the pleasant change. She knew that it had been some sort of magic, but couldn't recall having ever come across a Beauty Spell. Or at least not one that didn't require her performing it on herself, and she knew she couldn't have done this in her sleep. She smiled at herself with a sense of 'oh well, might as well take advantage', and went back to find the boys and her things.
A/N: The 'bath' scene is the first in a series of scenes I didn't really mean to write, that somehow got in here. I apologize to all who were offended by it. I promise you, 'nothing happens' in this story. Continuing, I don't cuss, neither do my characters, reviewers please return the favor. Also, I do not merit or want any "author's immunity." I do not have the right (or desire) to tell people that if I do something they dislike, I won't listen to them complain. I'm not guaranteeing any big changes, though. You will eventually discover most of the 'secrets.'
To my new reviewers:
animagus-steph-Thank you tons for reviewing. The morbidity will mostly stop, but we are in the middle of a battle against evil, here. The room thing is common in Hermione fics, but I was supposed to remove it from that chapter. I know it does not really fit the books but it is sort of important to the later plot. I promise to tell you what Harry said, I think in the next chapter.
lilgemini-Thank you much, I'm an over-achiever too! I love (and secretly am) Hermione. Don't worry, we will get quite a bit of Draco in this story.
A/N This chapter is the first one where they start getting long. I didn't plan this story as a huge one, but I have written up to about page 43, and it's still the first week of school! Also, the author of one of my favorite stories, animagus-steph, reviewed, so I am happy. Read her stories, as well as sherlockelly. I can't promise you chapters as soon as I'd like, because Kelly is still uploading them all for me. Warning, this may be where it becomes PG-13.
Chapter 3-Going Back
The summer passed in a mostly relaxed manner, as Hermione had made them finish their homework the first two weeks of holidays. Harry spent a month trying to teach Hermione to ride a broomstick. She wasn't good alone, but she could manage all right if was on right behind her. She still refused to tell them who was Head Boy, but Harry's whispered threat still stood.
One day in late August, Hermione had been going through the attic to try to clean it up, as a surprise to her parents when they got home. She found a small-ish box tucked away in the back corner. After dragging it into the light for a better look, she discovered it had her name on it. She opened it up, and found a small blanket, a piece of paper, and a necklace. Upon close examination, it was a silver chain with a five pointed silver star on it. There was a small stone in the middle of the star, circular, that seemed to be filled with swirling colors. She was entranced by it, and pulled it over her head. She liked the feel of it on her neck, slightly cool, and a bit heavy. The spot under the stone was quite warm.
Suddenly, there was a noise by the entrance. She tucked the necklace under her shirt, stuffed the note in her pocket, and closed the box. Ron's head appeared up the ladder, smiling at her surrounded by dusty boxes with a kerchief tied around her hair. "I suppose there's no need telling you to get your trunk packed so we can go to Diagon Alley tomorrow. You've probably had it done for weeks now. You want any help up here?"
She was surprised. It was unlike Ron to voluntarily clean. "No, it's all right. I'm mostly sorting through old things."
"Can I just stay to keep you company then? I doubt your memories are as entertaining as me."
"It's okay, Ron. You probably haven't started your packing yet."
He grinned sheepishly, shrugged, and headed back down the stairs. Hermione tucked the box back into the corner, and set to dusting the rest off. Soon, though, it was time to go to bed so she'd have energy for their trip the next day.
~~~~~~
The next day, Hermione drove them all into town in her parents' car, and they caught the train to London. After a short mix-up on the tube (A/N: tube=London subway, great word), they made it to Diagon Alley. They traipsed to Gringotts, where Hermione produced the boys' keys she had been holding onto. She held them back from over-filling their moneybags, and then they headed back out to find their school supplies. They got their books, potion refills, spare quills, ink, and parchment, pet food, and Harry treated them all to Florean Fortescue's ice cream.
After that they went to Madam Malkin's. They had all grown over the summer, and Hermione wanted some nice looking robes for special occasions, being Head Girl. It took her longer, since she was getting more new ones (and girls have more measurements), and the boys finished long before her. They left, with a parting "We'll meet you by Quality Quidditch Supplies!" She was also getting a few cloaks, as it was predicted to be a cold winter. Finally, having paid an extra 3 galleons a piece for the new clothes to have growing charms, she left.
When she reached Quality Quidditch Supplies, her arms were full of her trunk, and her moneybag was tied through the belt loop of her long skirt. She adjusted the trunk, and the necklace slipped out from under her shirt. The boys, who had turned around, saw it as soon as she approached. Ron just smiled and told her it was pretty, though he did stare at it, but Harry seemed to be trying to stare through it for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.
"You all right Harry?" Hermione asked him quietly.
"What? Oh, I'm fine, that just looks . . . I'm not used to seeing you wear jewelry, I guess," he blurted out, smiling.
They spent the of the day losing themselves in Diagon Alley. They ate lunch with Fred and George, who now lived there, fulfilling their dream as managers and masterminds of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Fred and George were also the Beaters for the Chudley Cannons, and had caused them to break their seemingly eternal losing streak. After lunch, they spent a few hours in their store, including the secret chamber where the twins worked on research of new products. Their money bags much lighter, they left for a bit more wandering, then snuck out to a Muggle restaurant for dinner.
Back at the entrance to Diagon Alley, they realized the Leaky Cauldron's few rooms would probably be filled at half-past six the night before Hogwarts term began. So, they wandered through the streets until they found a larger (and more expensive looking) inn, the Green Dragon. (A/N: whoops, forgot that in my disclaimer, the name comes from Tolkien's LOTR/Hobbit) As the rooms were a bit pricey, they agreed to share a double bed one with a couch. Hermione agreed to take the couch, as sharing was her idea in the first place. Once they got in and set their trunks and bags down, they began to get settled. Ron needed to shower first, as he had gotten a Dungbomb exploded on him. So he went into the bathroom, Harry settled down to work on a tower of Exploding Snap cards, and Hermione crashed down across Ron's bed with a pile of ready to be memorized course books next to her.
Hermione was 3/4 of the way through Death, Glory, Fame, and Much More, the potions text, when Ron came out of the bathroom, his hair sticking up in hundreds of tiny wet spikes, wearing a towel tied around his waist.
"Ron?" Hermione started tentatively.
"What?"
"Did you remember your pajamas?"
"Yes!"
"You might want to consider wearing them."
At this he looked down, blushed a brilliant scarlet, and dashed bath into the bathroom. A minute later he emerged, clothed this time in plaid boxers and a t-shirt.
Ron went over to his bed and was beginning to get in when he saw Hermione there, back in her book. He appealed silently to Harry, who gently picked her up with her books and laid her across his own bed. Harry grabbed his pajamas, and proceeded to go get himself showered.
When he finished, he got into his clothes and went to bed, only to discover Hermione asleep, A History of Magic, Volume 7 lying on her face. Harry chuckled to himself, and removed
the book. So as not to disturb her, he slowly and gently slipped under the covers, leaving her head to rest on his stomach.
In the middle of the night, Harry had a strange dream. There were two voices, a deep drawling one that he thought he should recognize, and a lowish female one. They were having a conversation somewhere that he couldn't see, he was only listening in.
"Her? Isn't she the one you've told me about? But she's not pure blood."
"I know, believe me, that I know."
"Then why'd Father pick her?"
"She's the only one he deemed capable enough to be worthy of me."
"Is she at least pretty?"
"Well, she could be. Yes, I do believe I have seen her looking mostly decent at least once."
"Those things can be fixed, you know. I suppose you'd have done it yourself if you knew. Bellus Infinitum."
"Thank you. That will make this a little easier, I hope."
"Hey, no potions, remember. You'll have to make it happen regularly. I'm glad I could help, and it's great talking to you, but I need to get to sleep."
"All right. G'night then."
"G'night."
Harry woke up, confused. Why couldn't he recognize that voice? And who had it been talking to? And who was "she"? He sat up for a minute, trying to work it out, but it was to no avail. A minute or two later, he lay back down, moved Hermione's head to a more comfortable position on his stomach, and fell back asleep.
Hermione, startled by his moving her head, woke up. She realized where she was, and despite Harry having a very nice stomach for sleeping on, reasoned that it would probably be a good idea to not be on it in the morning. She got up and moved to the couch, but after ten minutes of twisting decided that the couch was about as soft as a rock. Harry would probably wake up if she tried to return to his stomach, though.
So she went and took her bath. It was about two-thirty in the morning, and the warm water was very soothing to the tired girl. Soon she drifted off to sleep, and to a rather odd dream.
There was a boy, lying on his stomach on a bed. He was holding a wand, and muttered some sort of spell Hermione couldn't hear very clearly. Before she could get a good look at him, there was a sort of ripple through his body, and he looked different.
Once transformed, Hermione could look him over well. He wasn't wearing a shirt, but he had ivory pale skin on his arms and back, and capable, if not overly strong, looking muscles.. His legs were hidden under the bedcovers, but they seemed long and slender. His hair was a very pale silvery-blonde, to the base of his neck. When he spoke, it was with an unrecognizably familiar medium low drawl.
"I suppose as Father insists it be her, it would be easier if she liked me. There's always love potion or some such stuff, but that would be too easy to detect or make a mistake with. I may have to do this without using magic. I suppose I will have to actually be nice to her."
At that he turned over and closed his eyes, seeming to be trying to fall asleep. He had a delicately handsome face, though she couldn't really describe what was so appealing about it. As best as she could tell through the covers, he had strong stomach and chest muscles. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't remember what his name was. She just waited there for a while, watching the boy sleep.
Harry woke up at about seven-thirty. He noticed the absence of Hermione on top of him, but figured she had woken up and moved to the couch during the night. His glasses weren't on the table by his bed, and he seemed to had a memory of leaving them by the tub before his bath the night before.
He went in to the bathroom and headed over to the side of the tub, where something small and black was lying. He leaned over to grab them, when he saw a fuzzy peach-ish shape in the tub. He realized what must have happened, and quickly started backing out.
"Oh, Hermione! I am so sorry! I didn't know you were in here. I just came for my glasses, I didn't see anything, I swear!" And with that he dashed out the door.
However, when no response followed him, no squeal, insult, or yell of anger, he realized something must be wrong. Feeling rather guilty, but rationalizing that he couldn't see anything without his glasses on, he went back in and leaned over the tub. The figure inside was barely breathing, and appeared to have been in the water for at least a couple of hours.
"Hermione? Hermione!" he shouted, shaking her by the shoulder. When she didn't move, he reached in and picked her up. "Accio towel!" He wrapped her in the fluffy bath towel and carried her to his bed. Once she was tucked under the blanket, he calmed down enough to listen to her breathe. It was very faint, and sounded a little raspy. He grabbed the towel he had used the night before, sat her up, and began hitting her back, trying to get her to cough up the water.
"Hermione," Harry whispered quietly. "Hermione, are you all right? Can you hear me?"
"Harry? What happened? Why are you hear? I was taking my bath," she replied weakly.
"Shh. You fell asleep in the bath. I went in to get my glasses, and you were lying half-drowned in the tub," he whispered back, with a hint of undiscernable mockery in his voice.
"Thank you," she said, a little stronger this time. Then, suddenly realizing something and feeling a little awkward, "You didn't, um, see anything, did you?"
"Hermione!" he exclaimed, sounding shocked. "Get your mind out of the gutter at a time like this. For heaven's sake!" Then he continued, quieter. "Yes, you were, er, naked, but I was more worried about whether or not you were alive. Besides," he continued, grinning sheepishly, "it's nothing I haven't seen before."
Hermione reached over to slap him, but he grabbed her arms and pinned her back down on the bed. "Well, you do swim in a two-piece."
Hermione glared at him, but didn't have the energy to try to struggle out of his grip. "We both know I'm half-blind without my glasses on," he shrugged, a bit guiltily.
"I didn't mean it like that, and you know it. It's just a little weird being rescued and carried around half-unconscious, and, um"
"Nude?" Harry suggested, making her blush and try to struggle one more.
"Yes, that, by a guy who is your best friend and might as well have been your brother for two years."
"Ah, so this would be less awkward if I was someone you disliked? Would you prefer Malfoy to save you from drowning naked?"
Hermione got her arm free that time, and pinched his leg hard.
"OW! Sorry, sorry, didn't mean it. You're just easy to tease. Look, let's not tell Ron about this, okay? He'll be jealous, and I just don't like people thinking of you like. . .oh crap. Forget I said that."
"Ah," she said knowingly. "You mean Ron wants you to save him from drowning naked."
"That's enough out of you." He then rolled his eyes to the other bed, seeming to be talking to Ron's sleeping form. "You are going to kill me when you find out I told. I'm so sorry, I know it's all my fault, I owe you majorly, but there is no other way to out of this from here." He turned his focus back to Hermione. "You know how Ron started acting odd, our fourth year, when Krum took you to the Yule Ball?"
"Mm hmm."
"You know why?"
"Probably."
"He was jealous."
"Oh, he wanted to go the ball with Viktor. If he had just told me earlier-"
"Hermione, shut up for once. You're not making this any easier, you know. Ron has had a crush on you for years."
"What?"
"Really."
"You mean I've been living all summer with a guy who likes me, like that?"
"Well, yes. I was careful though, I made sure he never got the chance to do anything."
"What do you mean, do anything?"
"Quit being daft, the kind of anything guys try to do with girls they like."
Hermione shuddered when realized what he meant. "Eww! The idea of that is so. . .ew."
"I'm sure Ron will be happy to know how well you think of him."
"You tell him that, and I will personally kill you in your-"
"Don't worry, don't worry. My gosh, you are the most gullible person I know."
"Oh, shove off. I love Ron-"
"Might tell him that, though."
Harry stopped, as Hermione looked about ready to kill him.
"Like a brother. I love you like a brother. We are friends, we stick together, we tease, and you guys are there to take care of me if something happens. We keep each other out of trouble, and the only reason we ever get jealous is because we think someone is going to come along and replace us. That's why I wouldn't let you act like idiots in front of the veela. And that's why Ron thinks he likes me. There's this natural 'big brother' instinct that made him want to beat up Viktor, because he didn't trust him and thought he might not treat me right. He just mistook that for romantic jealousy."
By now Hermione was sitting up in his bed, the covers on her lap. Neither of them remembered the awkward situation until the towel she had under her armpits started to slip. Harry covered his eyes, and Hermione ducked back under the covers, leaving just her arms and head out.
"You know, you should probably get your clothes on. It will be hard to hide this from Ron if he wakes up and sees you "not wearing anything" under the covers of my bed."
"Harry! You make it sound like something happened."
"Well, it rather looks like something happened, don't you think?"
"I don't even want to think about that."
"Look, what's say I cover my eyes, you get out, take your clothes to the bathroom, and I get mine on in here."
"All right. Wake Ron up so he can change now as well."
"Certainly. And if you don't mind, bring me my glasses when you come out. The world is still all fuzzy, and it's giving me a headache."
Half an hour later, they were all dressed and sitting in one of the booths in the inn. Their eggs and toast showed up soon after, and by nine- thirty they were standing outside the Green Dragon, heading back to the entrance of Diagon Alley. They went straight to the nearest Muggle tube station, so they could be at King's Cross early. Hermione and Harry were still acting rather odd, enough so that Ron noticed. He noticed something else as well, and had been trying to keep himself from staring at Hermione all morning.
"Are you all right, 'Mione? You look a bit. . .different."
"Is my shirt on forward? Are my shoes on the right feet? I was a little tired when I got dressed this morning."
"No, not like that, good different. You should probably just go look in a mirror in the washroom."
"Whatever. Watch my stuff."
Hermione left, rather confused. When she reached the washroom, she went over to the full length mirror. Was that her reflection? She supposed to, as it seemed to be moving with her. It looked different. Better, to say the least, but a bit unfamiliar. Her stomach had lost most of its roundness, and seemed to have small muscles. She was about two inches taller than she remembered. Her hair color was a little off, more of an red or auburn than her usual end-of summer lightened brown. It was also longer than usual, reaching all the way down her back. Her eyes had darkened from their familiar borderline hazel, and were now a sparkly dark brown. She felt thinner than usual, and her skin had lost its tan and faded to an almost ivory-pale.
It was not that she didn't like the look, she certainly thought it agreed with her, but she was rather confused as to what brought about the pleasant change. She knew that it had been some sort of magic, but couldn't recall having ever come across a Beauty Spell. Or at least not one that didn't require her performing it on herself, and she knew she couldn't have done this in her sleep. She smiled at herself with a sense of 'oh well, might as well take advantage', and went back to find the boys and her things.
A/N: The 'bath' scene is the first in a series of scenes I didn't really mean to write, that somehow got in here. I apologize to all who were offended by it. I promise you, 'nothing happens' in this story. Continuing, I don't cuss, neither do my characters, reviewers please return the favor. Also, I do not merit or want any "author's immunity." I do not have the right (or desire) to tell people that if I do something they dislike, I won't listen to them complain. I'm not guaranteeing any big changes, though. You will eventually discover most of the 'secrets.'
To my new reviewers:
animagus-steph-Thank you tons for reviewing. The morbidity will mostly stop, but we are in the middle of a battle against evil, here. The room thing is common in Hermione fics, but I was supposed to remove it from that chapter. I know it does not really fit the books but it is sort of important to the later plot. I promise to tell you what Harry said, I think in the next chapter.
lilgemini-Thank you much, I'm an over-achiever too! I love (and secretly am) Hermione. Don't worry, we will get quite a bit of Draco in this story.