MissMatched
Kneazle
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters, places, etc. belong to JK Rowling, Scholastics, etc. Avril Lavigne, "Skater Boy", owns the song from the CD "Let's Go". "Longview" is owned by Green Day, from the CD "Dookie", and "You Gotta Be" is by Des'Ree. New Found Glory belongs to whatever company owns them, as does Green Day, Sugarcult, and No Doubt.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: All Hermione wanted to be was popular, well liked, and considered "cool" – anything but the bookworm that she was labeled. Now, in her final year at Hogwarts, can she achieve that or is everything just mismatched?
Author's Notes: It's been a while since I wrote anything… and Girl Midget wasn't going anywhere fast, so here's my newest story and idea, warped into something that was experience, and well… common sense and logic. Also note that this story is FIRST PERSON, a.k.a., all in HERMIONE'S POV. Updates won't be too often, since it's only the second day of school and I had homework in all of my classes. School is my number one priority at the moment, and writing will just have to wait until I get a break to write, like now. Thanks for sticking by! ~ Kneazle
[Tuesday, October 15, 2002] Quick note – when I looked at this earlier on FFnet, the format was messed, so if that happens when you view it, I'm apologizing in advance.
CHAPTER THREE: Picture Perfect?By the end of classes, I was ecstatic. Harry, Ron, and Ginny made me feel better than I had ever felt before. They were my friends, and I had dreamed, prayed for that to happen since forever.
It seemed as if my wishes were coming true… now, if only Pansy Parkinson could turn into a real pug, things would be perfect. Then again, life is never perfect and I learnt that the hard way.
I was studying for NEWTs already, and of course; I said that I would help Harry and Ron in between my Head Girl responsibilities. I would be up late into the night, helping them catalogue their notes in the library under Harry's invisibility cloak, and we were nearly caught more than a couple of times.
However, I could hardly believe how well things were going around the school. Within a couple of days, things were looking up. People didn't call me any more names (unless they were in Slytherin), and some people even stopped in the middle of the hall to talk. It was a bit weird, but it still happened, and I loved the feeling. It always made my heart soar, knowing that I wasn't "invisible" or a "nobody" anymore. I was on cloud nine for more than three months, addicted to the feelings of elation and success of my newfound "popularity".
Ginny and I became close friends, and we went nearly every week together to Hogsmeade. We would sit in the Three Broomsticks, drinking Butterbeer and gossiping about the latest fashion fad that the wizardring world would have, or a new invention that manipulated a muggle device for the world I was now part of.
"You realize that we're having another Yule Ball this year," said Ginny one Saturday, while we were drinking our Butterbeer.
"Yes, I know," I replied. What was she getting at?
"And you know because you're HG you need a date for the ball to lead the opening dance," she continued gracefully. She never paused, and she never once looked up from Witches 17 magazine she was reading.
"I-I need a-a date?" I stuttered. I remembered the last Yule Ball I went to; fourth year, when I went with Viktor Krum, a famous Bulgarian Quidditch player. People thought I went with him because he was famous, but I didn't. He was actually really nice, and I even went to visit him in the summer, but it didn't lead to anything.
Besides that, I had always felt self-conscious in front of all the people at my school. What if they made fun of my choice of dress? What if… what if? It was always what if?
What if this year is different?
Well, then it would be different, I concluded in my head, oblivious of Ginny waving a hand in front of my eyes. "Hello? Mione? Anyone in there?"
"Pardon? Oh yes, what is it, Ginny?" I asked, blinking away the sudden image of me on my dream date's arm, being ooh'ed and ahh'ed over.
"The Yule Ball is in two weeks; have you gotten your dress yet?" she asked, repeating her earlier question which I had missed.
"I wasn't even aware of when it was being held, Ginny, I'm sorry. And no, I don't have my dress yet," I answered, sighing a bit while moving my straw around. I wasn't really rich in the wizardring world standards, and it would make it hard to pick out my dream dress plus dream date.
"Well, why don't we go over to Gladrags right now and take a look? Or how about Swingers?" suggested Ginny, downing the rest of her drink, chugging it.
"Well, Gladrags may be a bit… too expensive," I sighed, but I nodded anyway. "Sure, why not? I have enough on me to at least get a decent one, if it's not too outrageously priced."
Ginny grinned, stood and tipped generously. "Well, then what are we waiting for?"
Swingers was my shop; dusty, small, with out-of-the-ordinary dresses that we in and out of style too many times to count, but were so gorgeous it was simply irresistible to not try on at least one. I wondered out loud why no one had come in here and bought the whole stock out.
The saleswoman, a kindly, petit grandmother-type smiled at me. "We're hidden," she explained. "We're tucked between Vienna Chocolate's and Fhoto's For All Occasions, so no one really notices us – besides, Gladrags advertises so much more."
I nodded enthusiastically as Ginny ran around the narrow aisles, yelling out, "Ooh, this one – no, how about this?"
I followed the sound of her voice, before I spotted the most beautiful thing I had ever seen – a velvet blue dress, but what made it extraordinary was the cut. It looked like it was right out of a movie about the French Revolution, with empire waist, low square-cut neck with sewn-in sapphires.
The saleswoman came up behind me. "That was made for you," she breathed, her eyes trailing up and down my full figure in appreciation as I held the rack and dress against me. I looked at myself in the dressing room mirror and sighed in appreciation.
Ginny asked, "What was?" as she came up behind me from another side. I turned, smiling; I knew this was the one I had to get, it was too nice to let go, and I knew that she would agree with me.
But no – she wrinkled up her nose and said with obvious disgust, "No, Hermione, blue isn't your colour. This cut is all wrong for you, and Revolution went out for Yule Balls twenty years ago. No, honestly, you are much better off with out that rubbish."
"B-But, are you sure? I mean, it's so lovely, and I think it's perfect –" I trailed off, watching her face. Angry red blotches had begun to appear on her cheeks.
"Are you not trusting my judgment?" she challenged, her voice huffy as she placed her hands on her hips.
"I do trust it!" I burst out, and I meant it. I trusted her and Ron and Harry beyond anything in the world, but didn't she see how lovely the dress was?
That was when a very nasty voice in my head whispered, "what if she wants it for herself? You know she loves anything blue, and she'd look ravishing in this…"
I pounded that voice down and shook it out of my way – there was no way my friend, Ginny, would do that.
Finally, a few minutes later, Ginny calmed down enough to sigh and say, "please, just try this red one on."
Slinky, with red sparkles all over; I knew at once it was too thin for me. It wouldn't show anything that I had off, and I wouldn't feel comfortable with that knee-slit. Sighing, I nodded and tried it on, barely getting it up over my thighs. In the mirror, I wrinkled my nose, and the mirror wheezed, "You are right dear, that dress isn't for you. What happened to that nice blue one you wanted to try?"
I shrugged. "My friend didn't think it suited me." I couldn't lie, not to a mirror or anyone – one of my faults, I suppose.
"It was lovely, dear, do try it on in here and buy it. This one is horrid on you – oh, no offense," the mirror apologized. I smiled at my reflection.
"None taken," I murmured, just as Ginny shouted, "Hermione, how does it fit?"
I opened the door and showed her for her viewing. She clapped with glee and shrieked, "That's the one! That's the one you need to get!"
I winced. Surely she was joking, this thin piece of material? It wouldn't keep me more if we were to go outside in the winter, and where else could I wear it? Not to any of my parent's galas, that's for sure.
"Are you sure? I'm still saying that blue one…"
"Hermione, we've been over this. Blue is not you. Red is, and this is so nice," gushed Ginny, smiling convincingly at me. I frowned, and looked at myself in the mirror once more, the saleswoman glaring at Ginny behind her.
Red clung to me like I was wet, showing off my chubby waist and stomach. No, this wasn't for me, but I didn't want to lose Ginny's temper any more, or her friendship. So I'd buy it, just for her sake, and my ears.
"I'll get it," I whispered, dreading every word I said.
The saleswoman looked pained, and as I went back into the change room, I heard Ginny yell, "I'll be waiting outside!"
Taking it off, I glanced once more at the blue Revolution dress that was hung up on a hanger, looking prime and unique. That was the one I wanted, so much…
I reached out, plucked it off the hanger and took it with the red dress to the counter. As the saleswoman rang up the red dress, I felt a sudden tug in my stomach.
"No!" I gasped. "Not the red one… I can't bare the sight of it – the blue, the blue!" I nearly wailed the last part, so desperate to have the blue fabric in my hands.
The saleswoman said nothing but smiled, ripping the tag off the blue dress instead of the red one's. She rang that one up, and I was surprised to see it was less than the skimpy red one. I smiled as I handed my money over, and for once I felt good for buying something I had always wanted.
Now, as long as Ginny doesn't see it…
Two days before the Yule Ball, Harry Potter came up to me and asked if I wanted to be his date – as friends of course. I nodded, and understood right away but said nothing. He had wasted time playing Quidditch and all the girls he wanted to ask had dates. If it were anyone else but him, I would've sneered, "LOOOOOSER!" and turn away, but I didn't.
So, on the night of the ball, I put on my Revolution dress, knowing Ginny was going to throw a fit, and put on the nicest make up I could, did my hair in ringlets and stepped out of my Head Girl room and waited for Harry in our meeting spot.
He showed up wearing a muggle tuxedo and holding a white rose, handing it over to me and kissing my cheek when he saw me.
"You look great," he commented.
I blushed and smiled. "So do you," I replied, giving him a grin. "Ready, Mr. Potter?"
Laughing, he joked, "After you, Ms. Granger." And together we entered the Yule Ball.
Snowflakes fell softly from the ceiling, but never once touched our hair, and jingling from bells could be heard all over the place, but no one could seem to find the source. The two of us attracted a lot of attention, I noticed, and people were whispering.
Feeling as if I had been caught doing something wrong, I nearly lowered my head and blushed a deep red, but Harry put a stop to that, by guiding me over to the Head Table where the prefects, and Head People were seated with the teachers.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter!" greeted Dumbledore. "How nice of you to come together!"
"Yeah, how nice of you," sneered Draco Malfoy, glowering at Harry. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what were between those two, but said nothing.
We took our seats, and ordered our food by asking the plate what we wanted. I noticed that Draco and I were the only ones who said "please" and "thank you" – Harry just snapped, "lamb chops" and received it, but a much smaller portion that Dumbledore had.
"Chicken Fettuccini, please," I said as politely as I could. Draco copied me, and together we said, "Thank you", only to receive super-large plates in place. We grinned at each other, and dug in to our meal.
I was beginning to relax, not dreading the dancing, until Dumbledore stood and announced that The Vampires were going to start playing. I felt my palms going sweaty. I had no idea what kind of music The Vampires played – was it rock? Hip-hop? Pop, or classical? I had taken lessons, so I knew how to dance, but in front of so many people, I was sure to goof.
Instead, I heard the first couple bars to Latin and felt a smile grace my lips. Latin, how I loved those classes!
"Can you dance?" Harry asked, his breath smelling a bit like alcohol.
"Of course," I replied, slightly miffed. Was he drinking?
"Then let's go," he said, pulling me to my feet as we strolled down to the empty dance floor. I started in the first position, and he copied, doing the male equivalent. Then, as the tango came on, I found myself almost leading a drunken Harry Potter around the dance floor. There was no way I could perform a "sorberious" charm on him, until we stopped. Thankfully, the song was short and soon people join all around, swarming us.
I managed to drag Harry over to a dark corner to perform the charm, and when he sober up, a giggly girl showed up and asked to dance with him.
"You don't mind, do you, Mione?"
I shrugged. "No, not at all. Go, have fun Harry." I watched the two of them leave, and sat on a vacant chair. Most people were dancing, and the area I was sitting in was empty, the tables holding only half-empty cups and crumpled napkins.
Song after song Harry danced with new girls, and finally, as I lost interest and looked around the hall, I was Ginny. She was talking to Seamus Finnigan, another Gryffindor. I walked over and joined the duo.
"Hello," I greeted.
"Hi, Hermione," said Seamus cheerfully, while Ginny glared at me. I looked at her, my eyes and eyebrows clearly asking, "what?"
"You're wearing that horrid blue dress," she snapped. "What happened to the red one?"
I sighed. "I didn't really like it, so I bought this one instead. I think it's much nicer than the red one, it just didn't suit me, Ginny."
She glared, and turned her back on me. Seamus raised his eyebrows.
"Well, I think it looks great on you, Hermione," he offered. I smiled my thanks, but feeling that I had outstayed my welcome I said goodbye and quickly hurried back to the seat I was last in.
A couple minutes later as I sat all alone, Harry came staggering up with his arm slung across a blonde's shoulders. "Hey Hermione," he laughed.
"Harry," I greeted the two, the girl with a nod.
"Crystal's date passed out so I'm taking her back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Is that okay with you?"
Well, besides the fact that Crystal's a fourth-year Slytherin, yeah, go ahead. "No, it's not a problem, Harry. Be careful and have fun, you two."
"Great! Bye, 'Mione." Harry waved his goodbyes and together they left, leaving me alone, again.
As I sat in that seat, for the final three hours of the dance, watching everyone else have fun, I began to realize some things about myself, and my new friends. Maybe I trusted them too easily, or there was something seriously wrong with me. Either way, I knew I was going to find out.
Christmas Break was upon us students in mere minutes it seemed, and soon I was back on the train sharing a compartment with the other prefects and Harry, being Head Boy. He and Draco were on opposite sides of the compartment, both glaring at each other, but couldn't insult. I had placed them both under a silencio charm, and refused to take it off until we reached King's Cross.
Finally, I spotted the station and removed the charm, glaring at the two. "You are both Head Boy candidates – with you, Draco, as Harry's replacement if anything were to happen, and remove that glint from your eyes, this second!" I chided, pointing my finger at them both. "Now, shake hands and call a truce until you leave King's Cross."
They shook, grudgingly, and I nodded in satisfaction, the prefects looking on in wonderment as I handled the situation that had been on going since they first met when they were eleven.
I left through the compartment, leaving everyone else, and prayed that no one would notice my bounce. I was so happy; I was home for the holidays!
I spotted my mother and brother standing off to the side of the barrier between the muggle and wizardring world, and hugged them both with force.
"I missed you!" I laughed, hugging my mother. I turned to face Sam, and hugged him tightly too. "How is school?"
"Ugh, Hermione – not in public!" he groaned, wriggling out of my arms. I sighed and let him go, before following my mother and brother to our Buick.
"So Hermione how was school?"
Ooh, the dreaded question. I used to hate answering, but because it was a ritual in all families, parents just had to ask. So in the past I answered with a fine. This time, I answered with a "great!"
My mother's eyes flicked to the review mirror and widened when she caught mine. "Oh? What's different this year?"
I wanted to say everything, but with Sam in the car, I would have to… abridge a few things. Not like we did anything wrong, but my parents didn't really like hearing anything doing with magic.
"I made some friends," I started out, feeling weird and shifting in my seat. Yeah, that's just what you say to your mum when you're seventeen, I made some friends, mummy!
"That's wonderful, honey!" my mother cooed. Sam rolled his eyes but inputted his two cents.
"Are they like you?"
"Of course. I met them at school, didn't I?" I replied hotly, glaring at Sam. Where else would I have met my friends? Through Owl-Post? Honestly…
"Sam, be nice to your sister. Hermione, don't snap dear," came mother's voice from the front seat. I sighed and leaned in against the cool leather interior. The rest of the ride was quiet, and my head raced with thoughts.
Would my friends write over break? Would I get any gifts, even after I picked theirs out months ago?
I'd be finding out shortly.
Four days into Christmas Break, Boxing Day was upon us and that was when I received my first owl. I had gotten presents from Ron, Harry, and Ginny, although it was evident that Ron had written the Christmas card and not her. She was still mad for the whole dress thing.
The owl, sent from the Burrow (where Ron and Ginny lived), was named Pigwidegon and damn near impossible to catch. In fact, it landed in dad's oatmeal before I manage to catch the little bugger.
Dear Hermione, read the letter, Christmas just isn't the same without our brainiac bookworm! Mum wants you to come over so she can meet you – we had been telling her all about you and how much you've helped us with our studying! Anyways, we've added a pinch of floo powder in the enclosed envelope. If it's OK with your parents, why don't you come over for the day?
Ron
In the PS was how to use the floo powder and in my hurry to find my parents I nearly lost the envelope.
After my parents agreed to let me go, I changed out of my P.J.'s and hopped into the shower before taming my frizzy hair. I was going to my friend's house – I had to look good! After all, I was Head Girl.
Twenty minutes later, I fell out of the fireplace at the Burrow, and entered a whole new world. Two twins with shocking red hair, too many freckles to count, and mischievous smiles helped me up from the floor.
"Why, you must be Hermione Granger," said one. The other nodded on my other side as I croaked out a, "Yes…"
"I'm Fred," said the first.
"And I'm George," chimed in the second, before feigning a confused look. "Wait, no, I'm Fred, and you're George."
"That's right! I'm Gred, and you're Forge," answered Fred—er, no, George, er… Gred… I gasped and backed away from the two.
"Really, I'll just call you Twin 1 and Twin 2, fair?" I asked, shaking a bit. Were these two Ginny and Ron's older brothers? How odd were they really?
"Hermione, is that you?" came Ron's voice, and moments later he and Harry stepped through the family room archway. "Ah, there you are. I see you've met Fred and George, our resident troublemakers."
Both twins bowed, and I found myself placing a hand on my forehead in confusion. Harry followed my movement and grinned.
"Yeah, they do that to you. C'mon, meet the rest of the Weasleys; they're in the kitchen," he said, guiding me towards wherever the kitchen was.
When I stepped into the small, yet comforting room, I saw another big shock of red hair. The whole family was pure redheads! Gods above help me get through this, I nearly wanted to scream.
Ron cleared his throat, and pointed from left to right, in a clockwise motion around the table. "That's Charlie, Percy, Bill's the oldest, that's Mum, and there's Dad, yes, she's Muggleborn you can ask her things later; you know Ginny already and Harry and I, and you've met Fred and George so now you know the family."
He said that all in one big rush, so technically, I only heard a jumble of mush, but that wouldn't stop me from being polite. I wouldn't ask, "Come again?" plainly.
"Sit down," offered Harry, and I sat in the chair he offered. As soon as I sat, the twin crowed with laughter, and Ginny, Ron, and Harry split a grin, while Bill and Charlie frowned.
"She fell for it! She fell for it!" the twins chanted.
"Fell for what?" I asked uncertainly. As I moved to sit up again, I heard something rip and tear, before I quickly sat again, my cheeks flaming red. There was some sort of glue on the chair, and it had ripped my favorite pair of jeans!
"Fred! George! That's no way to treat a guest!" yelled Mrs. Weasley. Where was I? What kind of nuthouse was this? Ron and Ginny weren't like this, and Harry – well, Harry never acted like this…
Mrs. Weasley came over and mumbled an apology, waving her wand and fixing my jeans so they were as good as new. I thanked her quietly and switched seats, my head looking at my hands. They rested in my lap, shaking slightly. I wouldn't let anyone in this household see how close to crying I was at that moment. I would have preferred Pansy Parkinson sticking another "Kick Me" sign on my back before doing this in my life. Who would've thought people I trust or like would do this? People I call my friends?
After listening for a couple minutes of what was going on at school, Gringotts, or Romania, I felt the sudden urge to lie and say I had to go. I couldn't stand it in this house, knowing that I was going to be teased by "friends". Something was right here, and I needed time to think it over.
The chair tipped back as I stood. The conversation around me stopped as Bill asked curiously, "Where are you going?"
"My mother wanted me home early because of family coming over late this year. I'm sorry I can't stay longer, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you very much for the invitation, though," I responded, my cheeks turning a bit red. I backed out of the room, "I'm sorry, very sorry. I'll see you three at school, okay? Bye then."
I bolted from the room, took a pinch of the floo powder in my pocket and shouted, "Granger Residence, Surrey!" I disappeared in a swirl of colours and houses, before landing with a thud in my living room. Not wanting my parents to know of my arrival, I raced up to my room and shut the door.
Leaning against it, I wondered, what's going on with my friends? I intended to find out soon.
*
Whew! Sorry this took so long to come out, people – I've been a busy girl lately! Anyways, I hope you all liked chapter three. I'm made the outline for the story, and it's only going to be 6 chapters, so I've hit the half-way mark… tell me what you think, and leave feedback – you all know I love it! ^_~
PS, do me all a favor and read Redemption and Sanctuary or at least leave a nice, itsy bitsy review?? Pwetty pwease??? For me?? **bats eyelashes**
Right – well, off I go! Have a great Thanksgiving (you Canadians) and Columbus Day (you Americans) and good Monday (the rest of you, hee hee)! ~ Kneazle