The Handsome Harry

Later that day, the students were taking a trip to Hogsmeade. George reminded Harry of his promise to let George help him get a new look.

"I feel so stupid," Harry said as they entered Rodrick's Barber Shoppe, Harry being pushed in by George.

"You won't feel stupid after you see your new haircut."

"Can I help you boys?" asked a rather chubby man with a white smock on.

"Are you Rodrick?" asked George.

"Why, yes I am!" said the barber as he stood proudly.

"Well, in that case, yes," George said. "You see, my friend here is trying to impress a girl, and- ow!" Harry had just stomped on George's foot. "What I mean is, my friend wants to attract the attention of a-" George got the wind knocked out of him, because Harry's elbow had 'slipped' and punched George in the stomach. George tried to catch his breath and managed to say in a strained voice, "Harry needs a haircut," before dropping into a wooden chair by the door.

"Ah! I see," said Rodrick. "Well, I will be the one to assist you, young man." He pushed Harry down into a cushioned chair that instintly rose up so Harry could see himself in the speckled mirror.

"What kind of look do you want?" Rockrick said as he took out his wand.

"Well, er..."

"WAIT!" Rodrick said. He snapped his fingers. "I got it! I know just the look for you!"

Harry gulped and watched as the barber spun the chair this way and that, all the time pointing his wand to certain sections of his hair.

"There!" Rodrick said as he placed the chair back properly. Harry looked at himself and almost screamed. His hair had been gelled up in tall spikes and colored blue.

George fell out of his chair laughing. Rodrick was too pleased to notice.

"Umm, I was thinking about something a little less... blue," Harry said.

"All right, then!"

Rodrick waved his wand wildly again and soon Harry saw himself with a red moehawk.

"No, no... I just wanted it a little more... or a little less... no, just no," Harry shook his head, stunned.

In a few minutes Harry's hair had been covered in gel, shaved, lengthened, twisted, and dyed every color imaginable.

"Maybe if I could choose something out of a book?" Harry asked as he pushed long dreadlocks out of his eyes.

Rodrick looked very disapointed and sighed. "Fine!" he said as he tossed Harry a book.

Harry thumbed through the pages until he found something that suited his taste. Then he found what he was looking for. It was short, but not too short. Parted to the side, but looked even. It was perfect.

"Could you do this?" He showed Rodrick the picture.

"Sure," he said lazily. Within a few seconds, Harry was spun around to face the mirror.

"It looks great!" Harry exclaimed. He ran his fingers through his short hair. It fell back into place perfectly. "It's just that..." Harry looked at his forehead. His lightning scar stood out more than ever. "People can see my scar more clearly."

"Well, that can be a good thing!" George said brightly. "Now everyone will know who you are when you walk down the street."

"Great," Harry said sarcasticly.

·~··~··~·

George's theory had been proven right. People walking down the streets of Hogsmeade pointed and whispered when they saw Harry.

"See? Everyone thinks you look so much better with that new haircut!" George grinned.

"No, I don't think it's the haircut," Harry said as a little girl pointed openly at his forehead and squealed 'Potter! Potter!'.

"Now, about those glasses," George looked at him sideways.

"No! No way! I can't see without my glasses!" Harry held to the edges of his specticals.

"Sure you can! All you need are some... contacts," George pleaded.

Harry sighed. Lots of kids wore contacts at Hogwarts. He had thought about getting them many times, since his glasses broke so often, but never thought he would get them just to get a girlfriend.

"Well, yeah, I guess," Harry said vaguely.

"Good! Here we are!" George stopped himself and Harry. Harry looked at the building they were outside of.

"'Edith's Eyewear'?" George, you led me here on purpose, didn't you?" Harry couldn't believe this!

"No time to chat now, Harry! Your new eyesight awaits you!" George pushed Harry throught the door into the bright shop.

Twenty minutes later, the boys emerged from the shop (hey, it's magic... it doesn't take that long). Harry held his glasses in his hand, yet he could see perfectly.

"Wow!" Harry said as he read signs across the street without having to squint. "This is great!"

"Yeah, now you just sit back and let her fall in love," George told Harry.

"I have a question, George. Why do you want me to get a girlfriend so badly? Wouldn't you rather be at Zonko's than shopping for contacts with me?" Harry asked.

"Well, duh!" George said. "I told you, I know a girl who fancies you and I'm just helping things out a bit."

"But it's just not your style to- " Harry began

"Whoah! Look at the time!" George looked at his wrist, even though he wasn't wearing a watch. "Gotta go! People to see! Things to do! Places to be!" He ran down the street. Harry watched him go. George was hiding something, no doubt about that. But what was he hiding?

·~··~··~·

By the time Harry returned to school, almost everyone was back from the village. He was very aware of the people pointing at him as he walking by, and even the brightened eyes of the girls he passed. But he didn't stay to bask in the glow of watchful eyes. He went straight to the Gryffindor common room. He didn't know why, but he was very anxious for Hermione to see his new looks more than anyone else. His heart pounded strangly as he gave the Fat Lady the password ("Polka-snots") and climbed into the room. He looked around for his friend- no, friends... he was looking for Ron, too, he reminded himself.

He saw Ron and Hermione sitting by the fire together, talking. This wasn't so odd, they had done it millions of times before, but it bothered Harry for some reason.

Harry walked over and cleared his throat. Their heads turned and their expressions changes instantly.

Ron's eyes widened and he turned all the way around to get a better look at Harry. "Whoah!" he said. Hermione just looked Harry up and down and gaped.

Harry smiled. "What do you think?"

Hermione smiled with her mouth still open. Then she stood up. "You look great!" she said both quietly and amazed.

"What did you do with your glasses?" Ron asked.

"Nothing, see?" Harry held out his old glasses. "I got some contacts instead."

Ron's eyebrows rised at this comment. The last thing Harry expected him to say came out of his mouth. "Why?"

Harry furrowed his brow. "What do you mean, 'why'? Because I wanted to!" Well, George wanted me to. Close enough, he thought.

"You never used to care before," Hermione said skeptically.

"Well, people make changes!" Harry smiled. Then he went up to the dormitory.

For some reason, he didn't want to tell Hermione that George wanted to get him a girlfriend. He tried to figure out why not, and he was scared to think of the reason.

Stupid? I know... but I haven't had a lot of time to work on my stories. Please forgive me. By the way, I found the Snape Sucker story I was looking for. Thanks to Angelfall for that E-mail and Weasley Gurl. I can finally sleep soundly at night... anyway, I'll try to upload more chapters after Christmas break. Thanks for the reviews!

-Q,A?