Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with Harry Potter but a poster and a few DVDs and books. And soon, I will own the 5th book.(5 DAYS!!!) And yet...I don't own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does.

Chapter 3: A New You

"Dammit!" Hermione yelled. "What is his problem? Why does he always have to make me feel like I'm not good enough for anyone? He's so bloody full of himself! He doesn't even know me as well as he believes he does! Thank you." Hermione took the tissue from Lavender and blew her nose. She gently wiped away the traces of her tears and looked at herself in the mirror. "I know I'm not beautiful or even pretty, but I think I do have a good character, and that is what is important!" Hermione looked triumphant for a moment, then sat down and burst into tears once more. "Oh, who am I kidding? He'll never look at me the way I want him to! He'll always think of me as the boring girl who hangs about him and Harry!" Hermione buried her face in her hands as Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil looked on in sympathy.

"Come on now, Hermione, don't go to pieces over Ron! He's really not worth all this!" Parvati shut her mouth quickly as Hermione gave her a look that could kill. "All right, he is worth it...but how is blubbering away going to change his mind about you?" For once in her life, Hermione looked confused. Lavender sighed.

"She's right, Hermione. Crying won't change anything. What you need, Hermione," Lavender and Parvati exchanged a mischievous look, "is a new look. A new you." Lavender walked to where Hermione was sitting and sat beside her. "Parvati and I can help you." She pulled Hermione's hair back from her face and forced her to look in the mirror. Lavender leaned in close to Hermione and whispered, "Ron will never know what hit him when we get through with you." An evil grin spread across Lavender's face as Hermione nodded solemnly. Lavender is right, Hermione thought. I'll prove to Ron I'm the girl of his dreams. I'm gonna show that prat.

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"Yes! Beat you again Harry! What's that make, twelve in a row?"

Harry stared at Ron in annoyance. "Ron, hush up. Didn't your Mum teach you it isn't nice to gloat?"

Ron laughed at Harry and ushered his Wizard Chess pieces back into their box. "Sorry Harry...it's just that it isn't often that I get a chance to beat the wonderful, amazing Harry Potter! It's nice to be able to do something better than you! Harry? Hello, earth to Harry!" But Harry wasn't paying attention to Ron. He was staring over Ron's left shoulder with a dazed look on his face. "Harry, what in bloody hell are you..." Ron turned to look at what Harry was staring at and was stunned into silence. There, at the bottom on the girl's dormitory stairs, was Hermione...at least, he thought it was Hermione.

Hermione's frizzy hair was no more. It was now smooth and sleek, falling about her face in a becoming way. She wore a light pink tank top that fit to her torso nicely and revealed quite a bit of cleavage. Ron found his eyes traveling downward toward her middle and saw the tank ended right above her belly button. She was wearing a a pair of low rider jeans that flared at the bottoms, making her legs appear endlessly long. Her face was glowing. Her eyes looked a richer brown and her full lips were red. Hermione looked the spitting image of a model, confident looking and...nervous? Ron noticed her eyes kept darting back and forth between people in the room, trying to judge their reactions. The common room was silent for a whole fifteen seconds before Fred Weasley erupted, yelling, "Damn girl, you FINE!" Everyone started talking at once and crowding around Hermione. Harry practically jumped out of his chair for a chance to talk to her.

Ron was speechless. He just couldn't believe it. He stared at Hermione as she smiled widely, accepting her praise. Lavender and Parvati stood on the side, watching their experiment with pride. Ron's eye twitched. That's not my 'Mione, he thought. Where's my 'Mione? Who's this girl? What has she done with my 'Mione? She's some kind of evil Lavender and Parvati creation. Why is she doing this?! Why is she dressed like a slut?! So she can have any horny boy in this house?! I can't believe her! Dammit, I want my 'Mione back!

Ron stood and with a vicious snarl, proceeded to run up the stairs to his dormitory. The only person who witnessed this event was Hermione, who quietly stood watching his retreating form. She blocked out what everyone was saying as she stared after Ron. Hermione frowned to herself. How was she supposed to fix this?