As Hermione walked into the girls dormitory Thursday evening, she steeled herself for the conversation ahead. It wasn't so much that she was afraid as that she was, well, actually yeah, afraid. The thought of asking the giggle twins for fashion and hair advice was definitely intimidating, especially since she knew that there were going to be questions as to why she wanted to look so nice. To be putting herself through this was yet another sign of her determination to date George, she thought.
"Hey Hermione," called Lavender as Hermione entered.
"Hey Lavender." Hermione paused to drop her books by her bed, then kept walking towards the other girl's part of the room. "Umm... Lavender, could I ask you something?"
Lavender looked up from the book she'd been reading, confusion visible on her face.
"Uh, sure. What?"
"Well, I was, uh, wondering if you could, um, show me some of your cosmetics charms" stuttered Hermione. "Like the one for making your hair go all smooth and wavy."
"Well, sure, yeah! Cool." Lavender tossed her book onto the floor and moved towards her dresser. "But why? I mean, why this sudden interest in your appearance? If you don't mind me asking."
"Don't mind?" asked Hermione. "I wouldn't have thought that would stop you." Lavender turned back to glare at her. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to be rude, but..."
"But you think I'm nosy and pushy, right?" She had stopped rummaging through the dresser and was glaring at Hermione.
"Well, you and Parvati are big gossips, and you do like to know everybody's business, and I just thought..." Hermione trailed off as the brunette sat down on her bed with a sigh.
"Yeah, you just thought that I was going to bug you until I learned all your secrets, I know." She shook her head. "I'm not really like that. I mean, I like a good gossip, and I like to know what's going on, but I'm not as empty headed as you think. Just because I'm not studying 24/7 like you are doesn't mean I'm brainless."
"I know. I mean, I should have known. I'm sorry, Lavender. I really didn't mean to offend you."
"It's okay. I'm just a little sensitive right now, I guess." Lavender sighed once more, then shook her head and jumped up. "But we have more important things to think about, like getting you looking your stunning best."
Hermione watched in awe as the other girl started pulling jars and bottles and sachets and a whole variety of funny looking brush things out of the top drawer of her dresser. Lavender hummed and muttered to herself as she sorted through the various cosmetics and potions, every now and then glancing up at her amazed friend. Eventually she tossed a last handful of small pots back into her dresser and turned to Hermione.
"So, what's the plan? Are we going for date night wow 'em look, or simply an everyday routine? Because there is a big difference. And if you know where the date's going to be, that would help." She paused for a moment. "I mean, if it is a date."
"Yeah," admitted Hermione, blushing slightly. "It's a date."
"Oooo! Cool." Lavender clapped her hands. "With who? Harry? George? Not Ron?"
"No, not Ron." Hermione grinned at the thought. "It's with George. I'm not sure what we're doing, but yeah, we're going on a date."
Lavender moved towards Hermione, paused, and then reached out and hugged her anyway.
"I'm so glad for you! You two are pretty great together. I mean, from what I've seen while you've been studying. And the first of us to really start dating. This is so cool. I can't wait to tell..."
"You can't tell anyone," Hermione interrupted her mid-flow. "We've decided to keep things low profile until Harry can break to news to Ron. Because we're thinking he might be upset."
Lavender sighed. "Yeah, I can see that. I mean, the boy is hopelessly in love with you, isn't he. Idiot." She blushed slightly. "Sorry, not an idiot for being in love with you, but, uh, um, well, just an idiot."
"Yeah," agreed Hermione. "He's a bit of a twit, isn't he? Sweet, but a twit."
"Yeah, an adorable little twit." Lavender turned to her selection on the bed and continued in a more business like tone. "So, do we want to start with hair, or with face?"
Hermione answered Lavender's questions vaguely, submitting to being placed on a stool by the window and having her hair tugged this way and that. In her mind, though, she was running over the last part of their conversation, trying to decide if Lavender had been implying that she was interested in Ron. It did seem that way. Which meant that this would be great for the 'hook Ron up to get him out of the way' plan. She decided to do some more digging, although she wasn't quite sure where to start. Well, the best place to start was with the obvious.
"So Lavender, who do you think is the cutest boy in our house?"
Lavender stared at Hermione blankly, as though she'd just sprouted a second head. Hermione reached up to touch her scalp gingerly, in case the potion that had just been applied to her hair had caused just that result. Since there was no extra bits there, she decided to try again.
"I mean, I'm obviously biased, but I think that the Weasley boys are the best looking."
Again Lavender stared at her in silence, then shook her head as though to clear it.
"Okay," she said cautiously. "I'm confused. You want to talk about boys? You, Hermione, want to discuss boys?"
"Yeah. I figure since I'm dating one, maybe I should, um, talk about them" she finished lamely.
Lavender snorted. "Hermione, I'd have to say that was the stupidest excuse I've ever heard. But if you want to talk boys, why don't we give it a shot."
"Great." Hermione beamed at the other girl. "So, as I said who do you think is the cutest boy in the house?"
"Pffft, I don't know. I mean, I have to agree that the twins are really cute, but obviously now they're both taken." She tugged Hermione's hair gently and grinned at her.
"Well, what about the guys in our year? Like Dean or Seamus or Ron?"
It wasn't subtle, Hermione thought, but subtle wasn't working.
"Umm..."Lavender tilted her head to one side. "Well, Dean's okay. Seamus, he's a little short for me, plus he has a girlfriend, I think."
"Yeah? Who?"
"Oh, some Hufflepuff girl. Can't remember her name, you'd have to ask Parvati." She paused, reaching for a new pot of eye shadow. "I can't believe this. Are you gossiping?"
Hermione giggled. "I guess I am. And I giggled. Something in that hair potion is rotting my brain."
"Hey!" Lavender pulled a mock-offended face. "I'll have you know that gossiping and giggling is a perfectly healthy outlet of the stress of being a teenage girl. So there."
Hermione laughed again, then returned to her original mission.
"Okay, so since we're on the gossip train, how about the other guys our year: Harry, Neville, Ron?"
Lavender looked thoughtful as she brushed shadow across Hermione's eyelids.
"Well, I suppose Harry's kinda cute, in a messy way. But I just never thought of him that way. And Neville. Well, Neville's just Neville. He's like the klutzy brother I never had."
"I know what you mean," said Hermione. "He's sweet, but a doofus. Which leaves Ron. What do you think of Ron?"
This was starting to be like pulling teeth, she thought, as she tried to keep at least one eye open while Lavender attacked her with make-up brushes. Her hard work paid off, though, as the other girl started to blush faintly at the third mention of Ron's name. Hermione had to shut her eyes immediately after she noticed the blush when Lavender came at her with what looked like a pencil.
"Well, Ron, he's... Okay, yeah, I think he's cute" she admitted. "But he's totally into you, Mione. He wouldn't notice another girl if she hit him upside the head with a broomstick."
Lavender stopped fussing with Hermione's face and sat staring at her hands as they lay in her lap. Hermione grinned, then assumed a sympathetic expression. Feeling a little awkward, she reached out and patted the other girl's hand.
"Don't worry Lav, I'd bet that all Ron needs is a little push. Y'know, just open his eyes a little. And then he'll forget all about me."
"Sure," Lavender snorted. "Yeah, like he's going to be interested in me. I'm not exactly the great adventurer you are, or a brain. I mean, all I know is cosmetics and gossip. Not exactly much competition there."
"Hey, hey," Hermione protested. "You're great at this cosmetics thing. And really, there's nothing wrong with the gossiping. And I bet that if you and Ron spent some time together, you'd find there were lots of things you could talk about. I mean, if I managed to find something in common with George "dung bomb" Weasley, I bet you'll have no problems with Ron. At least he's sane sometimes."
Lavender finally looked up and grinned. "Sometimes? Barely ever." She stood up and took Hermione's hand. "C'mon, enough of this mopey girl talk. Come see the miracles I have worked."
Hermione followed Lavender to the mirror in the corner of the room, her eyes closed as instructed. When Lavender told her to open her eyes, she gasped with surprise. Her hair was lying in smooth waves, all its usual frizz completely gone. The powders and pencils Hermione had been sure would make her look like a raccoon had simply accented the shape and deep chocolate shade of her eyes. There was a hint of colour on her cheeks and her lips looked natural, but different, more there, she finally decided.
"Wow!" she said when she'd absorbed everything. "You're amazing at this, Lavender. Wow! I'm really, really impressed. Can you do this again for tomorrow? Wow."
Lavender smiled at her in the mirror.
"Sure I can. It's really not that much. You don't have to get all excited."
"No, seriously, Lav, this is pretty incredible. You really know your stuff. Can you show me how to do this? And tell me where to get all this stuff?"
"Yeah, it's easy. Although I actually made almost all of the stuff I used on you. But I can just make you some of your own."
"You made this stuff? You know how to make all these things?" Hermione turned to stare at the other girl, amazed.
"Yeah," Lavender shrugged. "S'easy. I just took some basic potions and reworked them. Not much."
"Not much?" Hermione stared. "This is a real talent. How come everyone's surprising me these days? This stuff is really impressive Lavender, really it is. You could start up your own line of products like this, wow."
"Well, actually," admitted Lavender. "I'd kinda thought of doing that. I mean, starting a make-up and hair shop, like a salon, when I finished here. But that's not exactly the kind of ambition to admit here, now is it."
Hermione had to agree. If Lavender had mentioned the idea before Hermione had seen her working her skills, she would have probably laughed it off. But now... Hermione tried to reassure the other girl and encourage her, but Lavender just laughed.
"Look, you can say all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that only big brains like you, or adventurers like Harry, get taken really seriously around here. But I'm okay with that. I'm happy with where I am. You don't need to reassure me. But thanks."
She smiled, moved to her bed and started to return her cosmetics to the dresser.
. . .
After further discussion, the two girls agreed that they would save the unveiling of the "New Hermione" until the following evening, so when Hermione ran down the stairs to the common room, she was make-up free and had tied her hair up tightly to hide its new look. She was hoping to talk to Harry about what she had learned about Lavender, but he was deeply involved in a game of chess with Ron, so instead she moved towards the fireplace, where the twins, Lee, Angelina and Katie were sitting. Although in Fred and George's case it was more like sprawling, she thought to herself.
"Hey guys," she said as she approached the couches.
"Hel-lo Her-mi-o-ne," chorused Fred and Lee.
She laughed and asked "Do they plan these things?"
"Very possibly. It's not as though they spend their time worrying about useless things like school or anything" answered Angelina, earning a glare from her boyfriend.
"Hey, I resemble that remark!" Fred protested jokingly.
"Very good, weirdo," she teased. "Soon we'll have you answering to your own name and dressing yourself in the morning. Because I'm hoping that you didn't choose your sock combination today. I don't know if I could date anyone who thinks that blue and orange are a matched pair."
As the pair continued to bicker, George stood and offered Hermione his seat. When she sank into the corner of the couch, he sat on the arm beside her and leaned to whisper in her ear.
"Ah, the loving relationship, as interpreted by my brother. So healthy, so sane."
Hermione smiled up at him, and he felt a strange catch in his breath. Strongly conscious of his younger brother sitting across the room, he returned her smile and restrained his impulse to stroke her cheek.
"So," he finally asked "are we still on for tomorrow?"
"Yes," Hermione answered, suddenly feeling shy. She could see in George's eyes that he wanted to kiss her, and to be perfectly honest, she wanted it too. But Ron was still in the room, and in the interest of avoiding his tantrums, she knew she couldn't kiss George. Not yet, at least.
"Oh, guess what?" she asked.
"What?"
"You know how we were talking the other day about distracting Ron by getting him his own girlfriend?"
"Yeah, kinda. Potter was going to play cupid, if I recall."
"Yeeps! The thought of Harry with a bow and arrow scares me" she shivered theatrically. "But my point is, I was talking with Lavender today, and I found out she has a crush on Ron! Which is perfect, don't you think?"
"Oh no!" groaned George. "Are you going to turn into a matchmaker too? Spare me, please!"
"Hey! I'm just trying to think of a way to make things less, y'know, awkward for us" Hermione said defensively.
"Hey, hey..." George looked down at her with concern. "I didn't mean it in a bad way. This is great news, really. I guess I'm just a little uneasy about the whole interfering in his life."
"So you won't interfere in his love life, but you'll bewitch his book bag to give him studying advice?" Hermione asked.
"Well, that's different, I mean, he was being a..."
She reached up and put her fingers over his lips. "Kidding, George, kidding. It was really funny when the bag started telling him that his library books were overdue. Most fun I've had in Potions class in weeks."
He took her hand away from his mouth and held it in his. Looking over his shoulder at where Ron was sitting, staring intently at the chess board, he asked
"So if you approved of that little trick, I don't suppose I could interest you in being an accomplice on our next adventure in talking objects?"
Hermione looked at him speculatively. "Well, I suppose I could at least hear what you're planning. Not that I'm saying I'll help," she said quickly, "but it wouldn't hurt to know which chairs I shouldn't sit in for fear of being insulted."
"Oh, it's nothing like that. We've figured out a way to enhance the charm on the chess set so that the pieces will, well, talk back."
Hermione snorted. "You mean, question the player's moves?"
George nodded. "Exactly. And since Ron always plays black, we wanted to enchant his pieces before his next game. But for that we need to get the pieces away from him long enough to work the charm. Any ideas?"
Hermione thought for a moment, then nodded decisively. She stood up from the couch suddenly, causing George to nearly collapse into the space she'd just vacated.
"All right. I think I've got a plan. Exactly how long do you need?"
George stared at her in awe for a moment, then poked his twin in the arm.
"Hey Fred, Mione's going to get Ron out of the way so we can enchant his chess set. How long should we have him stay away?"
Fred stared up at Hermione with the same look of amazement as his brother. Finally his brain seemed to process the information, and he spoke.
"Well, I think we probably need about ten minutes, but if you can get us twenty, that'll be plenty of room for error."
"Okay, twenty minutes," Hermione said. "Are you guys ready now?"
The twins nodded, still staring at her in wonder.
"Wish me luck."
. . .
As Hermione approached the table where Harry and Ron were sitting, Ron declared checkmate and watched smugly as Harry's king surrendered. Harry groaned and dropped his head into his hands.
"So that would be 28 in a row for me," gloated Ron. "You're really going to have to work on your strategy there Harry."
His friend raised his head to glare at the red-head.
"Well, I've been a little busy with the whole passing school, averting disaster, and dealing with life as a teenager stuff that keep getting thrown in my path," Harry said defensively.
"Yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses." Ron began to gather up the chess set to return it to its case. "Maybe I'll give you another chance later, after we've dealt with this impossible Herbology assignment."
"Hey guys," Hermione said, seeing her chance. "About that Herbology assignment. I was thinking that maybe we should go and check with Hagrid. I'm thinking he probably has a few ideas. And at the very least, we haven't been to see him in ages. He probably thinks we've forgotten about him."
"Hey Mione," said Ron. "Sounds like a plan. I could use getting out of here for a little while. Let me just go put these in my trunk." He gestured with the chess set.
"But I thought you were going to play again later," Hermione asked, trying come up with a way to keep Ron from locking up the pieces.
"Well, yeah," he admitted. "But I don't want other people playing with them, y'know. So I'll just run up stairs. Won't be a second."
"Oh, don't stress about that, Ron," said Harry, unwitting coming to Hermione's aid. "We'll just stick them under our book bags, no one will bother them there. Then we don't have to wait for you to try to remember whatever code word you've enchanted your locks with this time." As his friend blushed, Harry turned to Hermione. "Yesterday I had to lend him a full outfit of underclothes, since he couldn't remember whatever cunning word he'd used to lock up his stuff. Didn't fit so well."
Hermione laughed at the image of Ron wearing the other boy's clothes. Ron was several inches taller than Harry, and gangly where Harry was stocky. It would have looked like Ron's clothes had gone through the clothes dryer about ten times too many. At least Ron hadn't had to borrow robes as well; that would have been hilarious, she thought, with knobby wrists and ankles coming out where the difference in size was really obvious.
Ron grumbled for a few moments, and then agreed to Harry's plan, tucking his chess set under their pile of books and papers. Soon the three friends were on their way across the lawns to Hagrid's cottage, Hermione grinning to herself in anticipation of the look on Ron's face when he started to play his next game of chess.
As she had predicted, Hagrid was thrilled to see them, and offered them tea and rock cakes, which the trio were careful not to eat. As Ron and Hagrid discussed the Herbology assignment which was driving Ron nuts, Hermione snagged Harry's sleeve. The black haired boy looked up from trying to feed Fang a chunk of his cake.
"Yeah Hermione?" he asked.
"Shhh..." she cautioned. "I wanted to talk to you about the plan to get..." she jerked her head in the direction of Ron "a girlfriend. I was talking with Lavender this afternoon, and I found out that she had a crush on Ron. So I was thinking that maybe you could work on Ron, y'know, encourage him in that direction. Because the sooner we get this sorted out, well, y'know..." she trailed off.
"The sooner you can play kissy-face with George?" Harry finished mockingly.
"Harry!" Hermione could feel herself blushing.
"Yeah?" he asked innocently.
"Oh shut up! You know, if you weren't my best friend, I'd seriously consider dumping you in the lake some days."
"All part of my charm," Harry declared. "You love me anyway."
"Well, yeah," admitted Hermione. "Against my better judgment. So, do you think we've been gone twenty minutes?"
"Not quite, why?"
Hermione told Harry about the Weasley twins plan for Ron's chess pieces, and when he started to howl with laughter, Hermione was required to come up with some lame excuse for Hagrid and Ron. The four chatted for a while longer, but Hagrid finally shooed the students out, telling them to hurry home.
"Like we haven't been out after dark before," grumbled Ron.
"Well, Ron, he has a point. We haven't been having problems," pointed out Hermione, "but that doesn't mean we should get complacent."
"Well, yeah, but still..."
"Ron, stop whining. At least this way you'll be able to get your Herbology homework done and get another game of chess in."
This thought cheered Ron up and he started walking faster towards the castle. Harry and Hermione exchanged a grin, then hurried to catch up to their friend.
. . .
It was rather amusing, Harry thought, the number of different shades of red and purple Ron's face was turning. The chess game had started off normally, with Ron playing his usual cautious game while Harry attempted to force his moves. Things finally started to heat up, however, when Ron decided to abandon his chosen tactic of minimal sacrifice and recklessly moved a knight into a very vulnerable spot. Perhaps it was a sensible move, but the knight seemed to have problems with it. Which it expressed loudly and in scathing terms.
Ron's shock at being called a "sadistic, cruel taskmaster with no regard for the feelings of his loyal troops" was soon replaced by fury when several of the other pieces joined in, criticizing technique, strategy, logic, hair colour, and fashion sense. The red head finally exploded when the Queen called him "Ronniekins" and suggested that perhaps he needed to "toddle off to bed" and sleep on his decision. Harry leapt back from the table as Ron swept the pieces to the floor and lunged for his brothers, who were lying on the couch hysterical with laughter.
When Harry, Neville, Dean, Seamus and Lee finally managed to pull Ron off of the twins, they dragged him to one of the wingback chairs and pinned him there. George and Fred uncurled from their defensive positions and sat up.
"Hey little brother, it was just a joke," said Fred, rubbing the knot forming on his scalp.
"Yeah," added George, stretching the arm that Ron had tried to dislocate, "we were just having fun. We'll fix them immediately."
Ron growled incomprehensibly from his chair.
"C'mon Ron," said Seamus, trying to make peace. "If it had been Harry's pieces, you would have laughed with the rest of us. Don't get all huffy about it."
Again growling rose from the red head, but he relaxed into the chair. Dean and Lee carefully released their hold and when Ron didn't jump for his brothers, they moved to where they had been sitting.
"You have to admit it was hilarious," Lee said.
"And really, a great trick," said Dean admiringly. "You guys should keep that one for the joke shop. Or maybe next time we get to go to Hogsmeade, you could do the sets that they keep at the Three Broomsticks."
"Madame Rosmerta would kill you," Harry pointed out.
As the boys discussed possible methods of getting their hands on the chess pieces kept by the other houses Ron's flush faded, and after a while he joined in enthusiastically. Finally, the twins removed the enchantment from the chess set and the group packed up their things and moved towards the dormitories, still plotting loudly. Once the fifth year boys were in their section of the dorm, Harry decided it was time to work on his plan for Ron.
"So Seamus," he called out. "How's it going with Claire?"
"Oh great," replied the other boy. "She's so much fun. And we can talk about all sorts of things. And she helps me with my homework. She's really great."
"Plus she's gorgeous," Dean pointed out.
"Well, I suppose, yeah."
"Suppose?! She's got to be one of the best looking girls our year!"
"Oh, I don't know," said Harry thoughtfully, "I happen to think we've got some pretty good looking girls in our house. I mean Parvati and her sister are the best looking girls our year. And Lavender's pretty attractive. Don't you agree, Ron?"
Ron's head came up from behind his trunk.
"Huh? What?" he asked. "Sorry, I was trying to get this stupid thing to open for me. What were you saying?"
Harry could have bashed his friend's head against the trunk. "I was asking whether you thought that the girls in our house were pretty, doofus," he said instead.
"Yeah, I suppose," Ron said distractedly. "Do any of you remember what password I used this morning?"
Harry groaned.
"I'm pretty sure it was Jelly Slugs," Neville replied agreeably. "And I think there are lots of pretty girls in our house. Especially our year and the fourth years."
"Which fourth year do you think is cute?" Dean asked curiously.
"Well," Neville blushed a colour previously only seen on Ron. "Um... no one in particular. I just think that there are lots of cute Gryffindors, that's all."
"Sure Neville," said Seamus, looking at the oblivious Ron understandingly. "I agree. None as cute as Claire, of course, but plenty of good looking ones. I'd have to agree with Harry and say that Lavender and Parvati are two of the prettiest girls our year."
Harry nodded in acknowledgement, but internally he was cursing Ron for ignoring the discussion in favour of carefully hiding his chess set. Finally he decided to take action, physical action. He walked over to Ron's corner and grabbed him by the arm.
"Look, the twins swore they wouldn't touch your chess set again. Calm down, lock your trunk, and stop being so anti-social."
"Who died and made you headmaster?" Ron asked, pulling his arm free. In the end, though, he closed his trunk and sat on his bed. "Okay, so what's the all important discussion we're having."
"Actually," Neville admitted, "we're just talking about girls."
"Geez, Potter. This is what I had to stop to talk about?"
"No, stupid," Harry said quickly, hoping to avoid suspicion. "You were just being paranoid and I wanted to stop you. Go back to fussing with the chess pieces if you really want to."
As he'd thought, Ron huffed briefly but eventually joined in the talk. Seamus was rhapsodizing about his girlfriend again and so for a while the discussion centered on girls from the other houses, but finally Dean brought up the subject of Gryffindor girls again.
"Well you can't talk about Padma without considering Parvati," he pointed out. "I mean, we have some lookers in our house too."
"Yeah," agreed Harry quickly, "Both her and Lavender. Don't you agree Ron?"
"Yeah, I guess so. They're a bit giggly, though. And big into all that gushy girly crap."
"Hey, that doesn't really matter," said Seamus. "I mean Claire gossips with her friends all the time. It's just a girl thing, I think. Their natural state is giddy."
"Well Mione's not like that," said Ron argumentatively.
"Yeah, well Mione's not your average girl, Ron," replied Dean. "And of course most girls are going to look silly compared to her. If that girl had a non-serious thought her head might explode."
"Dean's right, Ron," Harry said quickly. "Just because they aren't bookworms like Mione doesn't mean they aren't smart and interesting. It's just you've never got to know that side of them."
"Oh, and you have," said his friend caustically.
"Well, no, not really. Although Mione was saying that she had a great long chat with Lavender today and it turns out that Lavender has all sorts of talents we never even knew about. And that she's smart and funny."
Harry felt a bit silly singing Lavender's praises, but he figured that with Ron's thick head perhaps the blunt approach was best. And failing that, he was considering the blunt object approach.
"Yeah, actually, Lavender's pretty good at some stuff," Dean said. "She helps me with my Potions homework all the time. And I think she's pretty hot at Charms as well."
"See Ron," said Harry. "Now you have someone to ask about homework who won't insult you the entire time. Think of how calming that would be."
"Sure guys, whatever," Ron grumbled. "Well, sorry to cut off this ground breaking discussion, but I need sleep. Potions class first thing tomorrow and if I'm not fully awake, Snape always manages to trip me up. G'night"
A chorus of 'G'nights' answered him and the room went dark as each boy extinguished their bedside candle.
. . .
The next day at lunch, Harry laid out his plan to Hermione.
"Actually, it's pretty much a variation on what happened with you and George," he admitted. "I figure that if Ron starts to see Lavender in the same situations he sees you then maybe he'll sort of replace you with her. And you'll be off the hook."
"So we're going to get Lavender to teach Ron History of Magic?" she asked jokingly.
"No, Charms and Potions. You know, what she's good at. So when Ron next asks you for help on his homework, you just tell him you're too busy and send him to her. And I'll come up with a way of having her hang out with us in Hogsmeade next weekend. Just get them to be closer friends. Then maybe something will spark. At the very least, it will be good for Ron to meet a girl who isn't you."
"I'm really not sure if that was an insult or not," said Hermione.
"Oh shut up. You know what I meant," said Harry grumpily.
"Yeah I know," replied Hermione, grinning.
"Okay. Well now that that's out of the way, you have to tell me what you're doing this evening."
"Actually, I don't know," admitted Hermione, biting her lip. "All George said was that I'm to meet him outside the common room at seven. And to wear comfy clothes, whatever that means."
"No ball gowns, I'm guessing," said Harry. "Well, I hope that you have fun. And I expect a full report at breakfast tomorrow. I'll keep working on Ron, so don't worry about that at all."
"Thanks Harry. If you can't decide what to do when you graduate, I think you should set up some kind of dating service."
Harry glared at her
"Okay, okay, kidding," said Hermione with a grin. "But I'd give you a glowing reference."
She dodged and laughed as Harry threw a roll at her.
. . .
At 6:55 that evening, Hermione and Lavender stood outside the entrance to the common room. They had decided to do Hermione's hair and make-up in the girls bathroom on the second floor so that she could avoid the awkward situation of walking past the entire house with her new look.
"Okay," said Lavender. "I think you're all set. Just stop twisting your hands and biting your lip like that. You're ruing all my hard work."
Hermione pulled her hands to her sides and set her jaw resolutely.
"Much better," her friend said. "Now you know you have nothing to be nervous about. George is crazy about you, so just relax and have a good evening. I expect to hear all the details when you get in tonight."
"All right," Hermione agreed. "And thank you so much for doing this. I really appreciate it."
"Hey, no worries. Just go have fun. I'll see you later."
With that Lavender turned to the painting, gave the password and entered the common room. She was barely two steps across the threshold when she crashed into Ron.
"Oops, sorry Lavender. Not looking where I was going," he apologized. "Hey, have you seen Hermione?"
"Uh, yeah. She's, uh, gone to the library to, um, help your brother study," Lavender stammered.
"Oh. Okay. Well maybe I can catch her there. I'm kinda stumped on this Charms essay."
Ron moved to walk past her, but Lavender grabbed his arm.
"You know Ron, I don't know if you should bother her. I mean, it's pretty important stuff they're covering. Um, I'm pretty good at Charms. If you like, I could try to help you out."
"Could you?" he asked eagerly. "I heard you were good at this stuff. And you won't call me a dunderhead when I don't understand everything the first try, will you?"
Lavender laughed. "Y'know Ron, I don't think I've ever called anyone a dunderhead, so you're safe on that count." She took his arm and turned him back towards the room. "Why don't we see what we can do about this essay."
. . .
Outside the common room entrance, Hermione paced nervously, once again twisting her hands together. She felt a little ridiculous at being nervous, considering she's spent plenty of time with George, and even kissed him, for heaven's sake! But still, this whole first date business was a completely different matter. She had no idea what they were supposed to do, or talk about, or how she was supposed to act. She was running over a list of possible conversation topics in her head when she walked straight into someone.
"Having serious thoughts again, Mione?" George teased. Then his jaw dropped. "Wow!"
Hermione stood very still as George stared at her. After a few seconds, she could feel herself blushing.
"What?" she asked defensively.
"Wow!" he repeated. "You look great. I mean, you always look good, but now... Your hair's all different and... Are you wearing make-up?"
"Yeah. Don't you like it? Because I can go wash it off."
She turned in the direction of the bathroom, but George caught her arm.
"No, don't. I like it. It's really pretty. It just surprised me, that's all."
He smiled down at her and tucked her arm into his. "C'mon, let's go."
"Go where?" she asked.
"I'm not telling. Don't want to spoil the surprise. Just follow me."
Hermione and George wandered through the halls of the school in what seemed like a completely haphazard manner. After a while Hermione was totally disoriented, and when George pulled her around a final corner and said triumphantly "Here we are!" she stared in confusion.
"But this is the Great Hall."
"Exactly." He turned to the door.
"Okay, so how does this go?" he muttered quietly, pulling out his wand. He whispered a few words Hermione couldn't hear and tapped the door handle with his wand. There was a pause, then the huge door slowly swung open.
"Oh boy," said Hermione, quietly. "We could get in so much trouble for this."
"Relax Mione," said George as he pulled her inside. "I'll lock the door again and no one will know. Fred and Angelina come here all the time."
"Why?"
"Why? Just look."
He raised his arm to point and Hermione looked up. The suspended candles were all dark, but the enchantment on the ceiling was still in place, and she could see thousands of stars spread across the night sky. There were small wisps of clouds in some places, and the crescent moon hung low to one side. George took her hand and lead her to the raised section at the other end of the hall. On the floor in front of the head table was spread a blanket with a picnic basket beside it.
"Oh wow," whispered Hermione. "Wow George. This is wonderful. I love it. Thank you."
"Anything for milady," he said, with a sweeping bow. "Shall we stargaze?"
Hermione smiled at him in the starlight and allowed him to seat her on the blanket. From the basket he produced two goblets and a flagon, as well as a plate full of cookies and other sweets.
"Would milady like some butter beer?" he asked, raiding the flagon.
"To be sure," she replied, grinning up at him.
"And some treats? I made sure that we got lots of custard creams and jam tarts. Just in case we need to have a serious discussion."
"Oh, I think we can pass on serious discussion tonight," she replied. "But I'd love a custard cream."
He put down the plate and chose a custard cream. When she reached for it, he moved his hand until it was right in front of her face. She looked at him quizzically for a second, then realized his intention. After he fed her the sweet, she caught his hand and kissed his fingertips. He gazed at her mouth then lifted his eyes to hers. His hand slipped from hers to cradle her cheek. Hermione leaned closer and closed her eyes just as his lips touched hers.
After a few moments, George leaned back, his breathing slightly quickened.
"Y'know, I've been wanting to do that since yesterday evening when we were sitting on the couch," he said
"Oh, I know exactly what you mean. I keep thinking that everyone can tell exactly what's going through my head every time I look at you."
"You mean you think Ron can tell," he said.
"Well, I guess so. That's what I'm most worried about," she admitted. "I really don't want to hurt him. He is one of my best friends."
"Don't worry about it too much. We'll see how Harry's plan goes. And if it doesn't work, then we'll deal with it then."
"Stop being so sensible. That's my job."
George grinned at her and put his arm around her shoulders.
"I think that we need to share the sensible-ness. For tonight, why don't you just relax and go with the flow and I'll be the one who worries. We can switch back tomorrow."
"Sounds like a plan."
Hermione snuggled closer to George, enjoying the sensation of being held. He turned his head and kissed her gently on the forehead. She peeked up at him through her lashes. He was gazing down at her with a half smile on his face.
"I'm so glad that I found you, Stargirl," he whispered.
"So am I."
He kissed her one more time, then tugged her shoulders gently until they were lying back on the blanket. Hermione curled up against his side, resting her head on his shoulder. The couple lay there quietly, watching clouds chase each other across the starry sky.