A/N: Never thought I'd write this much never having written a story before. It's amazing what the threat of having to study can do to you. ANYTHING is better than learning common polyatomic ions….also this is fun! *amazes self*. If you read this please review it, I don't care if you think it's bad, good, boring, whatever. I just want to know.

Thanks for r/v karenkate-kitty!!!

I've posted chaps 3&4 at the same time they originally started out as one chap but it was getting too long…

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Chapter 3

Hermione started at herself in the mirror. Reflected back was a tall, slim girl with gorgeous chestnut brown hair and large brown eyes. "I hate my hair!" Hermione sighed as she pulled a brush through her curls. Since it had grown quite long it was no longer bushy but instead fell in soft waves down her back. She debated whether to tie it back in a pony tail or leave it out. "As if it's going to matter anyway" she thought "Harry's not likely to notice". Deciding to leave it out she quickly applied some mascara and lip gloss. Her skin was naturally tanned with a light covering of freckles over her nose and she didn't need any other make up to look naturally stunning. Although other people had noticed how attractive Hermione had become in the last year she seemed oblivious to it and still thought of herself as an unattractive and bushy haired little girl. Her lack of awareness to her looks gave her an appealing sense of innocence. More than one boy had glanced her way appreciatively as she passed them in the corridors. Hermione's heart however was occupied by someone else.

~*~

"I wonder what Hermione's brought us to drink?" Ron said as he and Harry headed down to the Gryffindor common room.

"It better not be butter beer" Harry laughed.

The common room was warm and cosy. Although the three were the only ones staying over Christmas the fire blazed in the hearth and a large pine tree stood in the corner covered with dazzling red and gold lights. Harry and Ron headed over to the comfy red armchairs by the fire and flopped down.

"What's the time?" Harry asked .

"Nearly eight. Hermione better be coming or I'm going to personally drag her down here" Ron replied.

~*~

Hermione walked slowly down to the common room with a large bag under he arm. It was probably the first time she had ever felt scared of going to her own house common room she reflected. Well not scared exactly. Nervous, anxious, and, she realised sad as well. She knew that Harry would never feel the same way as she did and would most likely be shocked when she told him. "I doubt he'll really want to remain friends" she thought. "And Ron will make it worse constantly teasing him about it". "Maybe…maybe I shouldn't say anything" she pondered. "No. I have to tell him. I won't be able to move on otherwise. What he does is up to him".

Hermione brushed past the large gold velvet drapes and walked into the room.

"Hi guys" she said cheerfully though inside her stomach was churning.

Harry looked around at Hermione's voice. He felt a strange jolt in his stomach as he stared at her. The glow from the pine tree to her right lit up the chestnut highlights in her hair which tumbled over her shoulders, with a few soft waves falling over one eye. Her rich brown eyes glowed with a chocolate warmth but looked…Harry realised…somehow sad. In that moment Hermione looked like a different person. Harry realised that he was staring but found himself unable to look away. The silence after Hermione's words hung in the air.

"Hi Hermes" Harry managed, surprised at how normal he sounded.

"Great you're here" Ron said getting up out of his seat and walking over to Hermione. "So what are we having the pleasure of drinking tonight Miss Granger?" he asked. Hermione didn't reply. "Hermes!" Ron said loudly into her ear. Hermione jumped.

"Ron! Please don't do that! I'm not deaf you know".

"Sorry it's just that you and Harry seem to have a 5 minute delay in answering any questions tonight" said Ron. "It's like your IQ's have both dropped by fifty points or something."

"I think mine has" thought Hermione. "I must be crazy thinking I was going to do this. Harry looked at me before like there was something wrong with me. I must look really awful tonight or something". Harry looked perfect though she thought. When she had walked in and seen him turn towards her, and his emerald green eyes had sparkled and she realised that he had done his hair she had been unable to say anything. Hermione took a deep breath and tried to relax. She walked over to where Harry was sitting and put the bag down next to his chair.

"Well this place feels more like somewhere you'd like to snuggle up with a good book and fall asleep in front of the fire" said Hermione.

"See Harry, told you she'd back out!".

Hermione threw a withering glance at Ron. "Actually Ronnie, all I was saying was that for us to really enjoy ourselves we need something more like this". Hermione pointed her wand at the corner of the room where the pine tree stood and started muttering something under her breath. Harry and Ron watched in amazement as the pine tree seemed to melt and rearrange itself into new shapes. Before their very eyes the corner of the room became a long bar with funky red and gold lights above it and three barstools. Hermione opened her eyes. "Oh" she said in a disappointed voice "I wanted the colour scheme to be purple lights with red barstools. It was those gold Christmas tree lights that mucked things up!". She turned to look at Harry and Ron who were both standing together, Ron with his mouth wide open.

"Oh wow! I mean Hermione, I knew you were good, but I didn't know you were this good" said Harry with sincere amazement.

"Hermione I take back every mean thing I ever said about you" said Ron.

"Oh like what?" asked Hermione with raised eyebrows.

"Oh nothing. Just that you were a know it all. And annoying. And you were a real bitch when you told McGonagall about Harry's firebolt in fourth year".

"Right!" said Hermione raising her wand in Ron's direction "transfiguration isn't the only thing I've been practicing you know Ron".

Well practicing was a small understatement Hermione reflected. It had taken her weeks of sneaking down to the common room in the middle of the night to perfect this spell. But she had wanted everything to be perfect when she finally got Harry alone. Thank goodness for that dental conference she thought. She had almost died when her mother had insisted she come back for the holidays.

Ron cowered behind one of the bar stools. "Please, please mercy Mistress Granger, oh exhaulted one of great powers.. have pity on the weak and defenseless".

Hermione snorted and tried not to laugh. "Ron get up" she said walking behind the bar. "Oh I almost forgot!". She ran quickly over to where she had put down the bag before and brought it back with her behind the bar. From the bag Hermione took out a number of tiny bottles and placed them in a row on the counter top. Ron read out the labels.

"Vodka, Contrieu, Kahlua, Midori, …." He read. "Wow muggle drinks how cool. But this must be really strong stuff, I mean one bottle must be equivalent to ten normal drinks, the bottles are so tiny".

Hermione and Harry tried not to laugh.

"Actually Ron these are miniature bottles, I didn't want to lug back normal size ones with me all the way from home. Which is why I have to now do this" said Hermione swishing her wand.

"Amplifico!" she said as the bottles were enlarged to a normal size.

"Oh cool, so what do they taste like" asked Ron.

"Well" answered Hermione as she produced some bottles of juice, milk, coke and lemonade from under the counter "I thought we'd have cocktails. They're like a mixture of alcohol and some other stuff. They taste really nice".

"Wow Hermes you are awesome" Harry said in admiration leaning forward on the counter.

"I know. I can't help being great" she said with a wink.

Waving her wand and speaking to herself under her breath Hermione made three cocktails in minutes.

"Ok guys these are called Pina Coladas. It's a kind of tropical drink" said Hermione as she waved her wand again causing a mirror ball above the bar to reflect the pattern of little palm trees around the room.

"Wow this tastes fantastic" said Ron as he sipped his drink.

"Yes sensational" Harry agreed. "Hermes I know I said this before that I knew you were good at charms and transfiguration and well everything but honestly I seriously didn't realise just how good! You have to be the best friend to have ever."

"Thanks Harry" said Hermione, as she thought "Yeah a friend. That's all he's ever going to think of me".

~*~