Different Deep Down

by AngelzGaze



"Bye," they said simultaneously. Draco and Hermione wrapped their cloak around them and parted. Her heart was thumping with joy. She had shared her first kiss with Draco. It was wonderful. Practically skipping, Hermione walked up to the Fat Lady.

"Roxy."

"Very well," the Fat Lady said without opening her eyes. Hermione walked into the Gryffindor Common Room and took off Harry's cloak.

"Where were you?" a voice asked. Hermione whipped around.



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Chapter 6: Christmas Vacation



"Harry! Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, "I didn't know you were up."

"Déssie woke up and found your bed empty. Where did you go?" asked Harry.

"I uh...." stammered Hermione, "I went for a walk."

"Well we kinda figured out you went out for a walk!" said Ron, "What did you do?"

"Nothing! I just can't sleep! Excuse me, but I am tired right now, I'm going to sleep."

"But, I thought....."

"It's okay Harry. I am fine!"

"You know Déssie was really worried about you. Maybe you should tell her you're ok," suggested Ron.

"Like she would care!" Hermione accidently said out loud.

"Hermione, Déssie seems to like you, but you don't like her. She trying hard you know. She really wants you to like her. What's the problem?" asked Harry.

"She's the problem."

"Are you just jealous? Jealous because Déssie's smarter and prettier than you?" Ron asked. That one stung. She couldn't take it. Now Ron and Harry were starting to turn against her. She decided to play it safe and fake why she didn't like Déssie.

"It's just..... it's just...... I think both of you like Déssie better than me," Hermione stuttered. She had taken acting classes over the summer since she was eight.

"Oh Hermione? Is that it. You know Harry and I think you're the best friend we've ever had," stated Ron.

"Hermione, we'll all be friends forever," smiled Harry.

"Thanks you guys! Well, I better get to sleep. Good night!"

"Goodnight Hermione!" replied Ron.

"Goodnight!" Harry said.

Months passed and soon it was December. Hermione now was regularly seeing Draco every weekend. However, she was seeing less and less of Harry and Ron. Hermione walked into the Gryffindor Common Room. The first thing she saw was Déssie surrounded by boys, hanging by her every word. Many things had changed since she arrived. Fewer people went for Hermione for homework help. More people went for Déssie's help. Just then, something echoed into Hermione's mind.

'Jealous because Déssie smarter and prettier than you?' Ron. Hermione looked in the mirror. She did not like what she saw. She looked at Déssie again, surrounded by boys. Then Hermione felt something she had never felt. She wished she were Déssie.

'No Hermione, NO!' she thought. 'She just has more attention because she brings out her best features, if she has any at least. I do NOT want to be her.' The thing Ron said months ago still echoed in her mind. 'I AM smarter and I can be JUST as pretty. Harry and Ron just seem to pay attention to her because of those qualities. I wonder if they'll listen if.....I mean I don't want to sound vain or conceited or make Ron and Harry seem well like that (well it kinda is), but I need to find a way to get Harry and Ron to listen to me! Yes, if it's the only way, then it's final, this Christmas I am getting a make-over!' She was sure her best muggle friend could help.

Soon the last dinner at Hogwarts, until Christmas vacation, took place.

"Attention everybody!" shouted Professor Dumbledore. "Tomorrow some of, well most of, our friends will be leaving for Christmas. May this be a great feast! I have some announcements. In January we will have a Winter Ball. It's still winter in January you know," he added at the confused look on some faces. "Also, because of many eager suggestions," he said this time looking at Parvati and Lavender, "I will be allowing that all of you may wear muggle clothing whenever classes won't be taking place. This includes weekends and any holidays." At this moment, many fashion crazed people started clapping. Others, whom had worn wizard cloaks all their life, wondered where they could get muggle clothes, since they didn't want to be the only ones wearing cloaks. Dumbledore seemed to read their mind.

"There is also a muggle clothes shop in Hogsmead. Everyone enjoy!" Food appeared on everyone's plates and everyone started eating. Hermione peered at Draco. He smiled and mouthed 'I'll miss you! Merry Christmas!' Hermione smiled back. Over the last months they had been practicing lip reading. They were getting quite good. Soon the feast was over and Hermione went to sleep. She had a great dream starring herself. It ended with Hermione unmasking Déssie's true identity, an evil, ugly creature from the underworld. Before long Hermione woke up and loaded her stuff on the train and went home for the holidays.

Later on.....

"Mother! Father!" Hermione raced to them and hugged them both. She was going to have a wonderful Christmas.

"Hello Darling!" replied Mrs. Granger.

"We've missed you so," said Mr. Granger. Hermione rode home with her parents and went to her room to see Crookshanks. He had stayed home because Mr. Granger wanted him to get neutered and his appointment was when Hermione was in school. After she unpacked her stuff, she called Danielle, her best friend.

"Danielle?"

"Hermione?"

"How's it going?"

"Great! So you got back from that boarding school?"

"Yup! Can you do a favor for me?"

"I'll do anything for you! What do you need?"

"Well, I want a make-over."

"I'll be glad to help you! Girl, you called the right person! When do you want me to come over?"

"Hold on, let me ask my mom," Hermione answered. "Mom?"

"Yes dear?"

"Can Danielle come over?"

"Of course!" Hermione went back on the phone.

"You can come over now if you'd like!"

"I'll be right over!" Danielle replied. "I'll bring all the stuff I need! Bye!"

"Bye!" she hung up the phone. Danielle had been her best friend ever since she could remember. Their moms were friends. In fact their grandmothers were friends. Danielle was always there for her. Of course she didn't know Hermione was a witch, but she practically knew everything else. Danielle was really energetic and easygoing. Hermione loved everything about her. Hermione got in the shower to get her hair wet. When she got out, she waited a few minutes, then Danielle arrived. They instantly hugged each other.

"I've missed you SO much!"

"I missed you too!" Hermione replied.

"Shall we start working?"

"Definitely!" The girls walked into Hermione's room.

"Ok, let's start on your hair." Danielle brushed it until it was tangle free. She put tons of this straightener product into Hermione's hair. She brushed it through and blow dried it. Amazingly, Hermione's hair was flat and straight!

"Wow! I need to bring some of that stuff to Ho - I mean my boarding school."

"Don't worry, we'll get bottles of it when we go shopping today!"

"Thank you SO much Danielle!"

"You're welcome! Now I'll do your makeup! Watch carefully! I've learned a lot of tips that you will need to know." Danielle did Hermione's makeup and when she was done Hermione looked fantastic.

"WOW!"

"Yup, I know I'm a miracle worker aren't I?"

"Thank you again! Danielle, don't bother getting me a Christmas present."

"Nonsense! Of course I'm getting you a present!" The girl's walked down the stair to go.

"Hermione, darling, you look marvelous!" called her mother.

"It's all Danielle's work mum! We're going to the mall!" she replied as they walked through the door. Their mall was very close to her house so they just walked there. When they got in, they went straight away to Hesperides, their favorite store. As a matter of fact, Danielle's mom owned that store and gave them many discounts.

"Danielle! Hermione is that you? Let me guess, Danielle right?" Danielle's mother called as they walked in.

"Mom, we're looking for some outfits for Hermione! She's kind of doing a make-over thing."

"Browse around! The new shipping we got in today is over there," she replied, pointing to the shelves on the right. The girls walked toward that section.

"Ok, what do you need? Dressy? Casual?"

"Well, I need one dress and the rest casual."

"Let's look at the shirts, sweaters, and jackets! Pick out ..... um.....five you like! That should be enough, eh?" Hermione picked out a burgundy tank top with ties on the side, a pink shirt with a big flower in the middle, a lavender flared sweater, a black fitted tank top with rhinestones on the sides, and a baby blue jacket with a hood that had "Angel" written on the front.

"Perfect!"

"Let's go to the pants section. I have a lot at home so I don't really need a lot." Hermione picked two styles of pants, a denim flared one with rhinestones on the sides and a black flared one with a snake print design on them.

"Great! Now dresses!" Danielle said excitedly. They went to the dress section and Hermione right away saw a dress she loved. She went up to it. It was a light blue dress that would lay right above her knee. It had short sleeves, which would flutter as she walked. It was really form fitting and she was sure it was the one, that is, until she looked at the price.

"Oh great!" she said madly.

"That dress is perfect!"

"I know," Hermione replied.

"What's wrong?" Hermione handed her the price tag.

"Perfect!"

"What's so perfect about it? It's way too expensive. I can't afford it."

"That's why I'm buying it for you!" Danielle responded.

"No, it's ok Danielle, I'll just find another one."

"Nonsense! It's going to be a Christmas present from me to you." Danielle finally convinced Hermione to let her buy it for her. Soon they were out of the store and into Hermione's house.

"Try on everything you bought! I want to see how it looks, especially the dress." Danielle sat on the couch waiting while Hermione went to her room to get dressed. Everything looked great, particularly the dress.

"Thank you SO much Danielle!"

"You're welcome. Now you're going to have a test!" Danielle said with excitement. Hermione looked confused. "Take a shower and wash your face. We're going to see if you can do this stuff yourself!" Obediently, Hermione did so and surprisingly she passed. She was sure she wasn't going to be able to do it.

Soon it was time to go back to Hogwarts and Hermione was wearing one of her new outfits for the occasion, the black tank top and the matching jeans.

"Bye Hermione!"

"Bye Danielle! Thanks a bunch! Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" Danielle had come to the train station with her to say their goodbyes. When they were gone, Hermione went through the barrier and onto the train. Many people complimented Hermione's new look. They arrived at Hogwarts and Hermione went straight to the Gryffindor Common Room. She said the password 'Aphrodite' and stepped in the room.



Disclaimer Poem:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I don't own anything at all

SO PLEASE DON'T SUE!



*A/N* I've decided to start putting these little note thingys! Thank you every SO much! Someone said Draco's kind of out of character so I'm going to try to make him well, meaner (not to Hermione of course!). About the disclaimer poem for this chapter..... well.... I kinda ran out of ideas for poems that plus I was too lazy to think of one! I'm sure when you read this chapter's disclaimer poem you were thinking "How original!" Hehehe hope not. Well thank you everyone for reviewing! Thanks a bunch Spair Llewillah/Moonstone, Stella Purosangue, Bunny, faeriegoddess, blood thirsty, Luna, Tara, HarrySilvertongue, LadyMalfoy, Icy Stormz, ????, dracoishot1326, annachan, Leah, and Myst Enchantress! Thanks again!!!!!